Last Updated on November 6, 2016 by Nancie
Appetizers
Where in the world can you go and not find appetizers on a restaurant menu, being sold on the street, or in the local market? Welcome to week 285 (7/7/2016) of Travel Photo Thursday. Enjoy this tour of some of my favorite appetizers from around the world.
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Moo Ping from Thailand
I love love this stuff! I discovered it a few years ago when I was wintering in Chiang Mai, and I ate it almost every day. One of these days I am going to make my own so that I don’t have to be in Thailand to enjoy these delectable little morsels of grilled pork goodness!
Tod Man Pla (Thai fish cakes)
Here’s another Thai appetizer that is almost impossible to pass up. This one is probably quite a bit more fattening than the moo ping, which is grilled, while these are fried in oil. Difficult to do, but a tad of self-control is probably in order. I don’t eat this everyday when I’m in Thailand but succumb to the temptation now and again.
Portuguese Grilled Sardines
Before my stay in Portugal this past winter, the only sardine I had ever tasted was from a can. I am not a fan of the tinned variety! Being in a country where freshly caught sardines are often on the menu, how could I resist? What a treat! I cannot wait to get back to Portugal to indulge again. These are very high on my list of favorite appetizers.
Pie Tee from Malaysia
I learned to make these at Pearly’s cooking school in Penang, and they are an impressive appetizer. I’ve never made them again because I seldom deep fry at home, but should I ever get back to Penang I will be on the look out for them!
Gyeran Mari from Korea
You will not find appetizers on a menu in a Korean restaurant! Here, they are known as banchan, and they come as part of the meal. Gyeran Mari is one of my favorites. Discover more about this delicious appetizer here (including a recipe).
Olives in Spain and Portugal
Restaurants in both countries serve up an appetizer of olives without you even asking. Be careful, they aren’t free. If you decide to eat them, they’re added to your bill. But, can you resist?
These beauties were served up in a bar in Seville, Spain. Trust me on this, once you eat a locally cured olive, you will be spoiled for life. Canned or bottled olives, meh!
Time to stop! I want to rush to the airport right now and start an around the world appetizer tour. You may have noticed I don’t have any Canadian appetizers on show. Shame on me! I went through my Canadian photos and cannot find one shot of anything that even resembles an appetizer. Hopefully, I’ll be able to rectify that soon@
Do you have any favorite appetizers from somewhere in the world? Share it in the comments, please!
Please welcome our co-hosts this week: Jan from Budget Travel Talk Ruth from Tanama Tales Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations
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Shared with Weekend Travel Inspriation on November 6, 2016.
25 responses to “Enjoy Tempting Appetizers from Around the World”
I love appetizers!! the only thing I won’t eat at olives! I detest them.
Hi Jackie. I think olives are one of those things that you either love or hate. Although, I felt the same way about sardines until I ate then fresh. Totally different!
Well I must balance out the ‘Jackie’s’ among you and say I love olives. . .but then your post had my mouth-watering long before you even mentioned olives. (I am a food-aholic, I think). Fun post Nancie!
Hi Jackie. I know I am a food-aholic. It’s nice to be in such good company. I am going to be in Vancouver for ten days beginning July 21. Should be in Washington State for a couple of those days. 🙂
Mmm, Thai Fishcakes always get me in! I also imagine that those olives were delicious. I love the salty taste of olives. Nice pics.
Hi Kathy! Ah yes, Thai fish cakes. I have more than one love affair with these fine morsels! 🙂
You made my mouth water. Lucky that dinner is almost ready…
I agree: once you’ve tasted pickled olives at the source the ones on the supermarket shelf lose all their appeal.
Hi Jurgen. You’re so right. Once in a while I give into the bottled ones, but only when the craving is much to ignore 🙂
Previous to Croatia, I’d not eaten fresh sardines either Nancie. They call them blue fish on Vis Island and cooked over an olive branch fire they were superb, with a smoky delicate flavour. Our host served them with a warm salad of mashed potato garlic olive oil and zucchini which complimented the fish beautifully. I loved your delicious post Nancie and followed the link to the Gyeran Mari recipe and pinned it to my food and drink board. I am awaiting your Canadian Appetizer – surely it will be lobster!
Hi Jan. I have to get myself to Croatia to sample those sardines. They sound divine! The Gyeran Mari is fab, and not that hard to make. The most difficult part is the rolling. That takes lots of patience. I can think of a couple of Maritime appetizers to add to this list. Lobster must not be left out! I am on a mission. 🙂
Actually I lied in the comment above because I have eaten the tiny sardine (like the one in your photo) as free Tapas in the village of Moclin near Granada, Spain. The village tradition was to through the leftovers onto the terrace for the village cats to devour. It was a totally different dish to the Blue Fish.
Learnt about being charged for olives after paying up a couple of times. 😛 but then as you said they are irresistible. 😀 I had boneless sardines in Thessaloniki Greece, still haven’t been able to forget them. The other appetizers I am yet to taste. Great post with yum pics. 🙂
Happy TPT!
Hi Indrani. I never pass up the olives. It’s such a small price to pay for such deliciousness 🙂 I never ate sardines in Greece, but I do remember that I had my first fresh prawn at a seaside restaurant in Piraeus. I was hooked for life! 🙂
I love snacks too! It is a delicious way to sample the local culture. The only thing is that they can be quite addictive. My husband is crazy about olives too. As you can imagine, he loved Spain (and its markets).
Hi Ruth. Yes, I agree. One is never enough! Your husband and I would get along very well 🙂
Sometimes it’s fun to make a whole meal of appetizers. It’s sardine season here in the Algarve again (6 to a plate for 7-8 €) so we are pigging out on these salt-encrusted beauties! And I agree with you about the olives – who knew they could come in such a variety of flavors? Loved this mouthwatering post!
Hi Anita! I am jealous! Have a sardine or three for me 🙂 Olives are amazing. I had so much fun buying them in the markets in Portugal. I loved how you could buy a cup full for next to nothing. I have a really cheap ticket to Portugal on my radar. My finger is hovering over the buy button! 🙂
Oh my! I’m about to go to sleep and this is making me hungry. Most of them look delicious especially the ones from Thailand. I’m simpler and go for eggrolls or cheese. My husband enjoyed those sardines when we were in Portugal. Have a safe and wonderful trip back to Canada.
Hi Mary! Love egg rolls and cheese, too! 🙂
Mmmmh, that’s the way I love to eat! Moo Ping from Thailand, Olives, Sardines … great post. I’m hungry now!
haha! I made myself very hungry writing this. I wanted one of each to be delivered to my desk! 🙂
Oh yay, Pearly’s Pie Tees! They are delicious, aren’t they. Did I tell you that I made the Moo Ping recipe you linked to in a previous post? They were so yummy, and I am now reminded that I should make them again. (Alas, I also don’t deep fry, so no homemade Pie Tees for me.)
I agree that olives are one of my favorite appetizers. Morocco, Spain, or Greece – they are fantastic when locally grown and pickled. My husband likes kimchee in Korea but he agrees – olives are top on the list.
I often find sardines too fishy for my taste but the Portuguese have a magical way of cooking them that makes them mild and quite tasty. wish i knew their trick. we also love making meals of appetizers. you get to try more things that way! #wkendtravelinspiration
You’ve really got my mouth watering! That sardine looks incredible. #wkendtravelinspiration