If you ever find yourself fortunate enough to be in Europe, you'll quickly realize how different the food culture is. Europeans take pride in both the process of making the food and the food itself. During my semester abroad I ate some of the most delicious food I've ever had in my life. I'm sharing my favorites with you so you'll know where to go and avoid the tourist trap restaurants.
Italy
I'm not exaggerating when I say this Gusta Pizza was legitimately the best pizza I've ever had in my life. I sometimes still think about how good it was. I was in Florence for 48 hours and ate there twice. The line moves quickly and is well worth the wait. Plus for just €8, you really can't beat this for a cheap, delicious meal.
Ireland
During my 4 months in Ireland I was able to try fish and chips at many different places. Leo Burdock was hands down the winner. You get to choose the type of fish you want and they make it fresh right when you order it. The breading is light and delicious, and the chips (fries to Americans) are perfectly crispy.
France
Pastries in France are unlike anything I've ever had; every single one is delicious. The classic croissants are perfectly light, buttery, and melt in your mouth. My personal favorite was the almond croissant, which is a more doughy consistency with powdered sugar and slivered almonds on top. Pain au chocolat, which has the same dough as a croissant with chocolate bars baked inside, pairs perfectly with an espresso shot.
Hungary/Czech Republic
In English these are called chimney cakes, and they are delicious. You can get them in both Hungary and Czech Republic - they're equally as good in both countries. They're a cake-like dough baked in cinnamon or with crushed nuts on the side, and the toppings are endless. You can get soft serve, fro-yo or even Nutella inside. I went with the soft-serve and it was the perfect after dinner treat.
Scotland
Before going to Edinburgh, I had no idea that they were known for their cake. There are so many different bakeries throughout the city. I tested out my fair share of them in the weekend I was there, but my favorite was Love Crumbs. The cake was perfectly moist and had just the right frosting-to-cake ratio. The piece was also huge and just £3. I got coffee cake with coffee frosting but if you're not a coffee fanatic like me, there were plenty of other flavors to choose.
Germany
This may seem stereotypical, but the Germans are known for their pretzels and beer for a reason. This pretzel was bigger than my head. It was freshly baked, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfectly salted. They have so many different kinds of beer that you're guaranteed to find one you like. Bonus: German beer is made differently than American beer so you don't wake up the next morning with a hangover. Prost to that!
Belgium
I'm sure you've heard of Belgian waffles before. There is a waffle place on almost every corner in Brussels. Skip the places with €1 signs outside and go to The Waffle Factory. You can get any combination your heart desires - first you choose from 3 kinds of waffles, then sweet or savory, and then you choose your toppings. They bake the waffle fresh for you on the spot and use warm Belgian chocolate for the topping.
No matter how hard we try, American attempts at these foods will never compare to the real deal.