Chef Bolek: Around the World in 80 Dishes

Around the World in 80 Dishes

Andrew Zimmern, the chef and host of Bizarre Foods, once remarked during an interview that "[f]ood is the simplest way to learn about another culture." That concept -- learning about cultures through cuisine -- led me to pursue a personal challenge. I wanted to travel across the globe on a culinary adventure inspired by Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. However, rather than completing this adventure in 80 days, I decided that it should involve 80 Dishes ... one main course from 80 different countries. This adventure would take me to more than just Egypt, India, China, Japan and the United States. I wanted to visit many more places, like Ethiopia, Mongolia, Uruguay, and Andorra, where the cuisines are not as well known, thereby providing me with an opportunity to learn about new cultures.

Returning to Andrew Zimmern, he also once advised, "be a traveler, not a tourist," and, "look beyond what's right in front of you" because it is a key to understanding the world in which we live. This advice guides me on my personal culinary adventure. With each challenge, I spend a lot of time researching the country, along with its cuisine and culture. I examine recipes and try to ascertain their historical and cultural importance. I also try to make, not just a main course, but also appetizers, side dishes and even beverages. This makes each challenge not simply about a dish, but an experience. It takes a lot of time to prepare for each challenge, and not everything that I read makes it into every post. However, I try to approach each challenge, as well as each blog post, with one objective: to leave after each "visit" to a country with not only the knowledge of how to cook a dish, but also a better understanding of the culture and cuisine of that country.

I hope you will join me on my personal, culinary adventure. Each country that I have "visited" or each challenge that I have completed is listed below (with the dish that counts toward my challenge being underlined):

COMPLETED CHALLENGES

1. Ethiopia

Doro Wat (Spicy Chicken in a Red Chili Sauce)
Yataklete Kilkil (Vegetables with Garlic and Ginger)
Tej (Ethiopian Honey Wine)

2. Czech Republic (Czechia)

Veprova Pecene (Roasted Pork)
Houskove Knedlicky (Bread Dumplings)

3. Bangladesh

Makher Taukari (Fish Curry)
Bangladeshi Jasmine Rice

4. Jamaica

Jerk Chicken
Ginger Beer

5. Iran

Kebab-e Jojeh (Chicken Kabob)
Salad e-Shirazi (Tomato Cucumber Salad)
Doogh

6. Ecuador

Ceviche de Corvina (Black Bass Ceviche)
Locro (Creamy Potato Soup)
Aji Criollo (Ecuadorian Hot Sauce)
Cuaker (Oatmeal Beverage)

7. Democratic Republic of Congo

Chicken Moambe

8. Greece

Psari Spetsiotiko (Fish Baked with Tomatoes and Bread Crumbs)
Domatokeftedes (Tomato Fritters)
Tzatziki (Cucumber/Yogurt Sauce)
Aginares Latheres (Artichokes with Vegetables)

9. Mongolia

Hushuur (Fried Meat Dumplings)
Guriltai Shol (Meat and Dough Soup)
Suutei Tsai (Milk Tea)

10. Cuba

Ropa Vieja
Congri (Cuban Red Beans and Rice)
Cuban Sofrito

11. Libya

Khalyat Alkadba wal Galoob (Fried Liver and Heart)
Bzaar
Hararat (Libyan Five Spice)

12. Paraguay

So'o-Yosopy (Beef Soup)

13. The Philippines

Adobong Manok (Chicken Adobo)
Tahong Ng Sabaw (Green Mussel Soup)

14. Mozambique

Matata (Clam and Peanut Stew)
Camarao Mozambique
Piri-Piri Sauce

15. Uruguay

Chivitos al Pan

16. Andorra

Escudella

17. Haiti

Griots (Haitian Fried Pork)
Diri Kole ak Pwa (Red Beans and Rice)
Accra (Malanga Fritters)
Soupe aux Pois Rouges (Red Bean Soup)
Bonbon Sirop

18. Bhutan

Kangchu Maroo (Pig Trotter Curry)
Ema Datshi (Chile Cheese Stew)

19. Eritrea

Tsebhi Sega (Spicy Minced Meat)
Eritrean Berbere
Tegelese Tesmi
D'Nish Zigni (Fiery Potato Stew)

20. Australia

Carpetbag Steak

SP. Tibet

Sha Momos (Tibetan Meat Dumplings)

Sepen (Tibetan Hot Sauce)
Po Cha (Tibetan Butter Tea)

21. Mauritius

Mauritian Duck Curry
Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry)

22. India

Rogan Josh
Daal Saag (Split Lentil Curry)
Vegetable Pullao

23. Pakistan

Karahi Gosht

24. Lebanon

Shish Taouk
Tabbouleh

25. Laos

Beef Larb

26. Morocco

Mechoui (Meshwi)
Chickpeas with Mint, Scallions and Cilantro

27. China

Peking Duck

28. Italy

Cuscusu (Couscous with Fish)
Polenta Pasticcata al Gamberi (Polenta with Shrimp)
Ostriche Arrosto (Roasted Oysters)
Cozze allo Zafferano (Mussels with Saffron)
Polpette di Pesce in Umido (Fish Meatballs in Broth)
Calamari Piccanti (Spicy Calamari)
Insalata di Polpo e Patate (Octopus and Potato Salad)

29. Croatia