Last year I remembered 2010 in food and as this is Food Photo Friday I thought it would be fitting to start where I left off.
Food is the foundation of culture and most of my memories in South America and Europe are about the delicious and not so delicious things I ate.
January
I knew Peruvian food would be good but I had no idea how much I would love it. One of the first things I ate was sudado and to this day it is my favourite dish in South America.
February
Working at a hostel in Cusco was definitely an interesting experience, but having one of the local bartenders take me out to eat a ridiculous amount of meat, including the fried cuy above, was an amazing experience.
The restaurant was famous for locals but impossible to find as a tourist.
March
I ate a lot of ceviche in Peru but one of my favourite weeks was spent with Mica from KayPacha Travels, we lazed around on the beach for the week and when we got hungry someone brought us beer and ceviche.
It doesn’t get better than this.
April
I really do love soup and my favourite in Chile was Caldillo de congrio which is traditional to Northern Chile. Not only was it so photogenic, this king crab soup was delicious.
May
I am not the biggest fan of food in Argentina but I ate a ridiculous amount of steak, this bife de chorizo was one of many I ate in Argentina which lead to a 30-day meatless challenge.
June
Despite my underwhelming commentary about food in Argentina, I did eat somewhere that was absolutely amazing. If you are going to Buenos Aires you absolutely must make reservations at Cafe San Juan in San Telmo.
I loved this pumpkin gnocchi so much I brought Lengthy Travel and The Travel Chica back to try it out.
July
Returning to Canada for the summer I gave up meat for 30 days which meant heading back to my roots with my grandmother’s chowder recipe – a staple of life in Nova Scotia.
August
I don’t like everything and food in Austria did not impress me. I don’t know why I thought I would like schnitzel as I wasn’t a fan of milanesa in Argentina but I have given up on eating deep fried, breaded meat.
September
I was blown away by food in Jordan, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had no idea I’d love it so much. I thought I hated eggplant but mouttabal above was so delicious I will be making it at home.
October
What can I say about food in Spain? There is a wall of pork legs in the grocery store!!! I have eaten a ridiculous amount of pork here that it deserves the 3 exclamation marks.
The end of the year was filled with lots of pork and tapas. It is impossible to go hungry in Spain. I may need to head back to a country where I dislike the food just to shed some pounds in 2012.
That was my year in food, what was your most memorable meal?
mMmm.. (drool) Sounds like a delicious year you had. Lol. Most memorable meal in 2011 for us would be Togu sushi in Rio de Janeiro. Our first meal for the New Year and it was mouth-watering good. Thanks for making me hungry all year round. 😉
I have heard of that place, and hopefully will go in 2012…
I can’t wait to get to Jordan – my mouth is watering every time I see pictures of the food there! Our most memorable meal was at a pizzeria in Tuscany where we both had an amazing pizza – it was huge and just delicious.. and we’re still thinking about it A LOT!! 🙂 (http://flic.kr/p/aZYW6c) Happy New Year!
I looked at the photo, I can see why!
Awwwweeee still remember our awesome week on the beach as well. We ate and drank and slept. Nothing beats it huh? I admit I’m also a huge sucker for Peruvian food but we’ve had some tasty dishes in Malaysia. The curries are delicious! I’m slowly getting used to the heat in the food too so I can enjoy them so much more now.
I went to Malaysia years ago and unfortunately don’t remember any of the food! How sad is that.
I can see why you weren’t impressed with the food in Vienna if that photo is anything to go by! 🙂 Happy New Year to you and here’s to a successful 2012!
Julia
It’s not very photogenic is it.
I gots to get me one of dem beach tables!
I know, they were awesome!
Mouthwatering!
What a lovely idea for a post! My favourite meal this year was Kleftiko by the beach in Greece. I absolutely adore greek food.
I also discovered that after 32 years of believing that I don’t like steak, Argentina was able to change my mind!!
Happy New Year 🙂
I’ve enjoyed following your travels and culinary experiences, Ayngelina. Thanks for the recap of 2011 highlights — looks delicious (maybe not the fried cuy, but that’s just me..)
Would you try cuy cooked in an oven? It does taste better.
I am super hungry from reading this … and super jealous of the ceviche and beer you and Mica got to enjoy!!
It was definitely a highlight of the year, now I just need to track her down in Asia!
I am determined to eat that pumpkin gnocchi at Cafe San Juan before I leave Buenos Aires.
All the food there is good, you may want to go several times.
I was going to claim that my most memorable meal of the year was at a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix, but now I think it might be your Grandmothers chowder. That looks amazing!
It really is so delicious.
oh wow that’s a variety of food from different parts of the world… wishing you more adventures and more cuisines to try this 2012 🙂
Wow you seems to have try so many great food in so many places.
Hope you will try even more in 2012… Happy new year, all the best
I had a SourTow Cocktail in Dawson City, YT. THAT was my most memorable dining experience.
You had that! Wow that definitely tops the list.
It all looks so good! I think I get almost as excited just looking at food as I do eating it! Hmmm… I think I’d have to go month to month also, but a few highlights: fish tacos and tacos al pastor in Playa del Carmen; Vaca Frita in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and shrimp and grits in New Orleans.
Fish and tacos are on the top of my list too, especially in Mexico.
All that food looks delicious. I’m sure 2012 will be a year with more culinary delights.
For me most of my favourite meals involve seafood, including eating tuna tacones in Victoria, and having a big fish dinner in Mexico with my family. Since I’m from Alberta I take advantage when I can get good, fresh seafood.
Sad to say it, but I don’t remember any memorable meals in 2011. I agree with food in Jordan, though. Arabic food is the best. And for some reason, I always manage to lose weight whenever I’m in the Middle East, without even trying. The food must be just the right combination of … everything.
That is sad to say Sophie. I did not lose weight in Jordan, I ate too many falafels!
Yum! Now you’ve made me hungry!
My favorite meal was probably a plate of game meat my sister and I shared in Colorado. Keystone Resort put us up for 2 nights, and treated us to a fancy dinner. Since we knew we’d never pay for it on our own, we got a meal of buffalo, elk, and pheasant. The buffalo and elk were both delicious!
I love game when it is cooked well, in fact one of my other favourite food memories from New Zealand is the venison.
Always fascinating! Happy New Year!
Yum! All of these food photos are absolutely gorgeous. My overwhelming “food” memory will be cafes in Melbourne: countless beautiful lattes and amazing brekkies!
I haven’t been to Australia but I heard the coffee is amazing there.
Oh no! Austria has amazing food 🙁
Maybe..the only good thing I ate was gelato, everything else was salty and flavourless.
Mmmm…. pumpkin gnocchi. If (I should say “when”) I go back to BA, I will definitely treat myself to another meal at Cafe San Juan.
Definitely the best food in BA that’s for sure.
A perfect plate of Lasagna in Bologna, Italy.
For what it’s worth, we feel the same way about Schnitzel and Milanese.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
So jealous that you went to Bologna, I guess there is always a next time for me.
What a great way to look back at the year! My favorite meal was definitely our incredible lunch at the Lapostolle winery – that one will be hard to top in 2012.
OMG. I am so inadequately fed. I must get to South America. Soon. Lovely pics as always! Happy new year!
That all looked so delicious. My most memorable meal this year would have been a slow cooked lamb dish we cooked at home. To be honest I’ve had a number of disappointing eating out experiences this year which I guess put a bit of dampener on the idea and we’ve just been cooking nicer food at home.
Wow what a great selection of different dishes. I think it is a good idea to remeber a year in food experiences. When I think of 2011 I also remember the food I ate or more the restaurants I tried.
Food is always at the forefront when I remember a country, especially great restaurants.
mmm..my be I should also check my food photo collection 🙂
You and Jodi constantly make me HUNGRY with your posts!!!!!! Another great one lady!!
Well Canadians know how to eat!
Thank you for your year in food. My year was basically the same old same old. I suffer from celiac disease which means that I am on a restricted diet: no wheat, barley, etc. I can only eat food that is “gluten free” so rice and corn are safe. The meals I tend to remember are the ones where I accidentally get exposed to gluten, as happened this Thanksgiving (November). It was a sad meal anyway because of the loss of an important family member. Sorry to be such a bummer! –Russell
Wow Russell I am so sorry to hear that. I have to admit that I am very lucky is that I have a strong stomach with no issues. I always feel terribly when I discover people have food allergies. I hope this year has been kinder to you.
I love the idea about looking at the year through the lens of the foods that you were eating each month. Sounds like a delicious year! My latest new food love is Thai food (we just got back from a trip to Thailand.)
Real Thai food is so delicious, now your challenge will be to find a real authentic restaurant and not the kind that make pad thai with spicy ketchup!
Wow, a fabulous year of food. 😀
I think eating chilaquiles on my first day in Mexico was the most memorable meal of 2011 for me. It was a great welcome to the country.