The Food Meter

Food. An extremely important character-building reference of a culture. I tried to make sure that I had "native" or "known" foods in each major city that I went to (without gaining 100 pounds), and have decided to commemorate their savory deliciousness with a meter of praise.

Here they are, best to worst (well not exactly "worst" but just, "I might not eat it again if I don't have to):

the Big Rig pasta and Pizzookie - Oregano's (Phoenix)

Fresh mangoes - almost anywhere (Manila)

Dad's home cooked food - Home (Manila)

GELATO - almost anywhere (Rome, Cinque Terre)

Chocolate Chip Cookies & Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies - Paradise Bakery (Phoenix)

Macaroons - Lauderee (Paris)

Pesto & Gnocchi, Mussels - Ciak (Cinque Terre)

Pasta - practically anywhere (Cinque Terre)

Mozzarella (in Caprese salad) & Bufalo mozzarella- almost anywhere (Rome)

Grilled Prawns with dipping sauces - Theo's (Cape Town)

Carpaccio with arugula - Max's home cooked food (Rome)

Lime sorbet (after dinner dessert) - the pizza place down the street from Max & Chato's (Rome)

Really creamy ice cream - somewhere in Bath (Bath)

Pork & apple sausage - the fine sausage shop that I can't remember the name of (Bath) [with Kara's couscous, of course]

Zimbabwean Chicken - Mama Africa (Cape Town)

Pizza - almost anywhere (Cinque Terre)

Mango Bravo cake - Conti's (Manila)

Grilled Calamari - Ocean Basket (Cape Town)

Lobster Spaghetti - the restaurant with the star lanterns (Cinque Terre)

Chocolate Soufle - Vin & Maree (Paris)

Prawn Curry - Bo Kaap Koumbis (Cape Town)

Banana crunch cake - Red Ribbon (Manila)

Cappuccini - almost anywhere (Rome)

Macaroons  - Pierre Hermes (Paris)

Hummus - Hotel Intercontinental (Dubai)

Hotel buffet breakfast - Hotel Margherita (Cinque Terre)

Cheese Grillers - Finest Sausage stall in St. George's Square (Cape Town)

Creme Brulee - the Amelie Restaurant (Paris)

Boerewors - street stalls (Cape Town)

Malva Pudding - Bo Kaap Koumbis (Cape Town)

Sourdough Bread Bowl with Clam Chowder (San Francisco)

Tacos -- Mexican Food almost anywhere (Phoenix)

Frosty (Friday's) - Wendy's (Phoenix)

Fish & chips - practically anywhere (London)

Cream tea & scones with salted butter and jam (Bath)

Chicken pasty - most snack shops and Cornwall's (London)

Escargot - Vin & Maree (Paris)

Limoncello - almost anywhere (Cinque Terre)