Food Tastes Better in Europe~

On By cindy knokeIn MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS


Guess who ate one of these cake slices? I did and it was divine. You can trust France to make killer-good-desserts.

We are heading off now to explore new parts of Europe and are looking forward to the food.

This cheese is well, French. It is raw milk, hand-made, and it is to die for. Yep, we ate slices of this too! What the heck, it’s France!

France has an amazing selection of gorgeous fresh mushrooms, all sold in open-air markets.

Venice on the other hand is justifiably world-famous for its outdoor, fresh fish markets.

Venice also has incredible produce, small farm grown and picked when ripe,

along with every imaginable, Italian seasoning and condiment, all sold in charming open air markets.

Greece is chock-full of mom and pop produce stands selling delicious small farm produce.

Most German towns have weekly outdoor markets.

Spain’s open-air markets are extensive,

and Portugal’s produce is just picked fresh.

Hungary’s desserts are old-world delicious and will definitely make you hungry.
I wish I could beam you over here with me to go grocery shopping, tasting and eating!
Cheers to you from Europe’s outdoor markets~

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330 thoughts on “Food Tastes Better in Europe~”

  2. Beaming is not working so well, I’m afraid… What a pity… Well, I’ll have look what my fridge can offer… there should be some nice cheese… 😉

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      1. It’s amazing what one can create when they’re motivated by more than speed and low production costs! I suspect that the intricate, time-honored craftsmanship of Europe will long outlast the quick-fixes of the land across the pond.

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  6. It all looks divine and absolutely fresh and delicious.

    Now why don’t we have some of these in the middle of Melbourne, Australia – especially since the whole city is now filled with high-rise apartment blocks (albeit mainly for the overseas university students, but also many wealthier folk who want to live in the newer inner melbourne with its bars, cafes & multicultural restaurants). We did have a weekend market down on the river bank for a couple of summers, but now i don’t live near the city, i don’t know whether that’s still going.

    My Goddaughter has wonderful open air markets near where she lives in the middle of Barcelona.

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    1. Oh yeah! Barcelona has some of the most amazing open air markets in Europe. The Spain photo was taken there. We have returned to eat there again and again. Maybe Australia and the US don’t have the cultural traditions around food, and it’s production and consumption. It makes a noticeable difference. Still Oz has the most amazing natural ecosystem in the world, and I am not just referring to the birds. I love Australia <3

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      1. I’m so glad you love my Country, Cindy. I love the history in the U.K & Europe (since we only have about 200+ years of white settlement here).

        I remember looking down at the ruts in the cobblestone streets around the Colosseum in Rome and thinking, chariots or horse-drawn carts made those ruts centuries and centuries ago. It was like stepping back in time.
        Maybe it helped to have studied art and history in my schooling days in my youth. 🙂

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  11. I’m not much of a cook and I hate grocery shopping in the US but when visiting Europe, I love food shopping at outdoor markets and preparing simple meals. Everything tastes so good. The ambiance of an outdoor Europen market is a treat. Can’t say that about my local grocer. Thank you for sharing, Cindy.

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  12. The cake I can live without those lovely cheeses caught my eye as did the shellfish …I wish I could get more cheese here I have to resign myself to feta or blue cheese unless someone brings me some over 🙂 x Lovely images 🙂 x

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    1. I have to go to specialty markets to buy imported cheese, which I do, despite the inconvenience and cost, because it is actual cheese. So I hear you and entirely concur. <3

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  16. A friend of mine has just come back from her home island of Sardinia, and brought back some local cheese. I asked her what it was called. She looked puzzled, then said, ‘Village cheese. From my village.’ It was terrific.

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  21. I may have gained a pound reading this post. Luckily we have 2 fabulous markets in Toronto, Kensington Market & St. Lawrence Market that are open all year. In the summer the markets bloom into the street. All summer there are Farmers’ Markets city and suburbs wide. You just about can’t find white bread here, unless it’s a baguette! I live on a street lined with local grocers selling the best fresh in season fruits and veggies, about 5 coffee houses, 5 bakeries, a library, and at least 10 small local restaurants. It’s a great hood. I’m going shopping, now!!!

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  22. Nice you could have some great tastes in the many European countries with each their own specialities. Hopefully you could taste also a lot of non-DNA-tempered chemical-free biological food and understand why we are not so eager to allow several manufactured genetic manipulated products in our Union. Though there it is not just a matter of taste, but also of health and a respect for mother nature.

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  23. Love the food in France, UK, and Scotland. I think Europe makes food a priority and eating an event. Unlike here in the USA where we wolf down whatever is available and hurry on with our day. Plus the open air markets make shopping so much more enjoyable than mega supermarkets here.

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    1. It’s true. We have farmers markets but they often are buying produce that is mass produced and not picked fresh, and you are so right. The culture around food in Europe is very different and so enjoyable.

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  25. Cindy, I’m pretty sure I packed on five pounds just reading this post and drooling over these luscious foods! Enjoy your stay (and my hips thank you for NOT beaming me over, ha!!)

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  26. Oh, god…I was ready to go to bed before I saw your photos…and now? I am ready to eat something from this delicious food 😀 Thank you for this great appetizer, Cindy <3

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  33. Oh Cindy, even looking at your pictures was foodie heaven and had my mouth watering… I have had wonderful food in Melbourne in spite of the other blog comment… the streets lined with Italian restaurants, and the one lined with Chinese for starters.. and the foodie markets with stalls loaded with food by Italian and Greek and Spanish and every other immigrant were a must when I visited my son Melbourne…Enjoy your eating holiday, and I hope you are one of those lucky people who can indulge and not add on the pounds at the same time….

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    1. I have had excellent seafood and Chinese Food in Australia so I believe you. Unfortunately I must mostly look at the delicacies in these photos, and only rarely indulge, in order to keep the dreaded pounds away. Cheers to you Valerie <3

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  38. I completely agree! I am originally from Europe, and the toughest part is to be ok with food in Canada. I have posted numerous times articles about the Latvian farmers markets. The capital city of Latvia Riga has the largest produce market in Europe. It also includes fish pavilions, meat, dairy and all kinds of other foods. I am in Latvia right now and definitely enjoying the food. Hungary, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, any country has very delicious foods. I sometimes wish Canadians went over and learned what good bread is, what good cheese is and so on.

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    1. My grandmother was Polish and she taught me to cook and my grandfather Bulgarian, so I know how right you are. We have eaten in Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, The Chezk Republic, Croatia, Montenegro and the food is incredible. I want to visit and eat, in more of this beautiful region.

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  40. Oh Cindy!! I’m so excited that you are heading out on a new adventure. I love tagging along! Safe travels, wherever your adventures take you! Many hugs coming your way.

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  42. I grew up buying food at open air markets. So happy I have the Tuesday Culver City farmers market within walking distance. Great photos!

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  43. Not surprising that food is better there. They don’t allow all the fake stuff that dominates our food supply. Even stuff like instant oatmeal made by American companies has to change from things like the strawberry flavored bits they use for Americans to actual bits of strawberries.

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  44. Europe especially Eastern part really know how to make cakes especially. I find when I go visiting Hungary or Croatia or Poland I am totally immersed in the tastes and aromas of their sweets. Extraordinary! <3

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  45. Now that’s what I call a spectacular spread. Not just the food looks so vibrant but the presentation with old world charm is an extra treat. 🙂 <3

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  46. Well Cuz, you must know, you totally ruined my diet !!! After reading this, I had told go the Italian bakery and order one of everything. Hahaha!!!!! 🙂

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  48. Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    This week Cindy Knoke is not focusing her lens on wildlife in all its glory but on the food markets around Europe that she visited on her trip. I must say that in Spain the fish counters and the patisserie departments even in the supermarkets were beyond compare. Fresh produce took pride of place with aisles of fabulous fruits and vegetables and only one small aisle of prepared dishes.. Fabulous.

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        1. Well the weather is certainly a bit of a change from the fires, drought, and heat of Californina. Right now it is what I think you might refer to as a “bit blowy” outside!

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