10 Foods You Must Eat in Europe

March 17, 2018March 17, 201826 Comments

Pasta, pizza, pastries…Hungry? Why wait? Don’t grab a Snickers, hop on a plane to Europe. Read on for 10 foods you must eat in Europe.

1. Tapas in Seville

I know, I know…tapas, such a general term. Well, I said tapas because I couldn’t narrow it down to just one. Tapas are more of an experience than a food. Eslava in Seville serves award-winning tapas. Go hungry and taste as many tapas as you can!

Tapas | Marissa's Teachable Moments

2. Dutch pancakes in Amsterdam

I had no clue what to expect when I saw a pancake burger on the menu. I was skeptical, but I’m so glad I took the plunge. If you’re in Amsterdam, head over to De Vier Pilaren for some sweet and savory pancakes. I didn’t get a chance to try the poffertjes because I was stuffed, but they looked equally delicious.

Dutch Pancake | Marissa's Teachable Moments

3. Baba in the Amalfi Coast

Baba au Rhum, or Rum Baba, is best described as a spongy dessert topped with rum. Instead of a bakery, I ordered this at a bar one night and the generous bartender poured two shots of rum on top. No complaints over here. It was hard to find this tasty treat outside of the Amalfi Coast, so if you’re there, make sure you ~~drink~~ eat up!

4. Mushrooms in La Rioja

Garlic-infused mushrooms, topped with shrimp, all stacked on top of a piece of bread. To date, these are the best mushrooms I’ve tasted! I came across these mushrooms when I decided to embark on a self-guided tapa crawl in Rioja. If you’re in the area, visit Bar Angel where they specialize in mushrooms. Thank me later!

Mushrooms | Marissa's Teachable Moments

5. Pastel de Nata in Lisbon

Usually, I’m not a fan of anything with a custard consistency. These pastries, however, won me over; I’m still bummed I only ordered one. When in Lisbon, you can enjoy these tasty treats at Pastéis de Belém…be prepared to play musical chairs as you search for a table. Trust me, the scramble will be worth it…plus you might work up an appetite.

Pastel de Nata | Marissa's Teachable Moments

6. Pasta in Florence

In Florence, I spent a day making pasta, tossing pizza, and drinking tons of wine. This brings me to the best pasta I had in Italy, which was hand made by me; I really thought I was Chef Curry with the pasta. Having a hand in preparing the pasta made it taste even better! Check out a class and start cooking.

Pasta | Marissa's Teachable Moments

7. Salmon in Porto

The fish in Porto is so fresh! For this particular dish, I visited Antigua Casa Ze da Guida, which is located near the water. The fish comes with a delicious side salad and of course I had to top it off with a glass of sangria. I went to this restaurant 3 times in 5 days…clearly I was a fan!

Salmon | Marissa's Teachable Moments

8. Dutch Apple Pie in Amsterdam

Okay, Amsterdam tops the list again. It’s called Dutch apple pie for a reason. For a good slice of pie, head to Winkel 43. The only thing that would’ve made this better is having it served hot. Still, my mouth is watering just looking at this picture.

Dutch Apple Pie | Marissa's Teachable Moments

9. Churros con Chocolate in Madrid

When I think of churros, I think of fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar. In Spain, they take away the cinnamon and replace it with chocolate. The jury’s still out on the best place to grab churros in Madrid. When in doubt, try them all!

Churros con Chocolate | Marissa's Teachable Moments

10. Francesinha in Porto

Last but not least, Porto’s signature dish. A sandwich with layers of meat (yes, layers), topped with an egg, cheese, and special sauce. Admittedly, I was not mentally prepared to tackle this sandwich. Francesinha – 1, Marissa – 0.

Francesinha | Marissa's Teachable Moments

Hungry yet? I know I am! I’d consider going back just to taste these dishes again, yum! Hope you’re able to try these 10 foods the next time you’re in Europe.

Bon appétit,

Marissa

10 Foods to Eat in Europe

4 Days, 3 Nights In Paris

March 3, 201842 Comments

GETTING THERE

I took an overnight bus from Amsterdam to Paris, France. In spite of being excited about all of the Paris attractions that I was about to embark on, I was able to get some sleep. Plus, I saved on one night of accommodations, for the win. If you’re traveling around Europe, Flixbus really is the way to go!

WHERE TO LAY YOUR HEAD ON A PILLOW

My friends and I stayed at Inter-Hotel Parisiana. Equipped with three twin beds, the room was like a scene from “I Love Lucy.” The hotel was conveniently located near a metro and bus stop, which made getting around simple.

GETTING AROUND PARIS

The bus and metro systems make it pretty easy to get around Paris. Tickets are 1.90 € , just keep track of the number of trips you’re taking because that can add up quickly. With that said, don’t be alarmed by the transportation line in my budget; I opted for Uber here and there.

WHERE TO EAT

One of the major Paris attractions is the food. Treat yourself to a macaron, cheese, wine, escargot…wander around and eat until your heart’s content. One night, we indulged in a nice dinner at Le Hide. It was pricey but worth it.

THINGS TO DO

Paris attractions on a budget Paris offers tons of things to see and do. Interested in free activities? Explore Montmartre, relax in le Jardin du Luxembourg, spend some time at the Notre Dame Cathedral. Willing to pay a fee? Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, be wowed by the beauty of Sainte Chapelle, tour the Catacombs, visit the Louvre, journey to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Whatever you decide to do, you won’t be disappointed.

Paris attractions on a budget Sainte Chapelle was one of my favorite Paris attractions. It wasn’t at the top of my list until a friend told me it was a must-see. Luckily, I decided to spend 10 € and check it out for myself. The story telling on the painted glass windows was breathtaking!

Paris attractions on a budget Of course I can’t forget about the Eiffel Tower. A ticket, including a lift to the top was 17 €. Tickets were sold out online, so we went to the tower and stood in an actual queue. Between security and purchasing the tickets, we waited for about 45 minutes. Not too bad, but it was pretty cold…so bundle up, buttercup. Minus the temperature, I enjoyed visiting at night to see the light show.

Paris nights in September.

BUDGET

Here’s a breakdown of my budget for four days in Paris.

Item	Cost
Amsterdam → Paris	40 € = 48 USD
Accommodations	112 € = 134 USD
Getting Around	25 € = 30 USD
Food and Drinks	110 € = 132 USD
Activities	27 € = 32 USD
Total	314 € = 377 USD

*I used an exchange rate of 1 € = 1.2 USD

Looking at the activity line, I’m realizing that it might have been wise to invest in a Paris Museum Pass. The pass allows you to gain access to various museums without waiting in line. I decided not to partake in some activities because I was deterred by the line and/or the price. Think about what you want to see in Paris and do the math; purchasing a pass might allow you to see more Paris attractions while helping you save a bit of time and money.

Ciao for now,

Marissa

Paris attractions on a Budget