gastronomy
Once upon a pizza
On 4 February, the EU paid homage to Neapolitan pizza by designating its trademark status. Yet when we eat a margherita, does it mean we're also paying homage to the three colours of the Italian flag? Behind this round piece of bread and staple in European diets lies the story of kings, queens and Italy
Devouring Sigrid Verbert, a Belgian food blogger in Italy
It's not just scrumptious cuisine and pretty photos in a book. Its pages won't just dunk you into Italy, Belgium or Germany, but inside Europe good and proper. Just as gastronomic traditions mix and merge, 'il Cavoletto di Bruxelles' constructs tastier realities
Spain, Denmark and Romania 'fat tax' for citizens
One popular New Year's resolution is to eat less unhealthy food. Although this tends to be a personal decision, at the start of 2010 the three EU countries are discussing ways to slim down their citizens - or at least swell their coffers
gastronomy, taxation, presse, tax, cooking, society, yum nyam
Soup: from Spanish gazpacho to Ukrainian borscht
If, after an orgy of fat, sugar and alcohol, you’re thinking of a detox diet, join the club! The only solution: soup
Mulled wine across Europe
Sugarloaves, Swedish punch and grog: how Europe drinks to stay warm in the chilly run up to christmas
gastronomy, cinema, film, alcohol, history, students, beverages
Europe's breakfasts: I'll have what Obama's having
Russia: Putin feeds Obama whilst a leather boot fans the flames. Italy: whilst Obama becomes president, Berlusconi serves his escort a hot drink. Germany: Merkel cooks brekkie for hubby: a round-up of European politicians' breakfast stories in the news, plus a pancake recipe for the bimonthly gastronomy column
gastronomy, barack obama, silvio berlusconi, angela merkel, lifestyle, food, recipe
‘Oysters’ vs. Coke: popular European hangover cures
Have a read of these European hangover cures - it might make you not want to drink again. From a Polish ‘bull shot’ to a James Bond-style ‘prairie oyster’ via a good old hair o’ the dog, the advice is to get concocting
Marmite and co: disgustingly debatable foods in western Europe
Travelling around Europe, you’re never safe from a bad gastronomic surprise, be it vegetable yeast spread, bull’s tail, pig’s head paté, mushroom spread and much more ... brace your guts. Plus, a recipe for stewed oxtail
gastronomy, austria, united kingdom, poland, spain, france, germany
EU aphrodisiacs: unleash the rhinoceros in you
Eating at home is the cheaper and more pleasant seduction option. Create the appropriate atmosphere and know how to captivate your palate. All your senses are involved in sensuality, from soft music playing in your ears, to the food in your mouth
gastronomy, sex, best of cafebabel.com, food, recipe, yum nyam
England: home to Europe's cheese?
Watch out for homogenisation. In order to flog their wares to Americans and their sensitive stomachs, or to get them approved by Brussels, European cheese makers are being asked to pasteurise their products. How disgraceful! Cheese and cheese-making has such a wonderful tradition...
EU bread and salt directive gets Germans in a pickle
Whether it’s a pretzel or some yeasty rye bread, bread and salt are essential ingredients in Germany, despite the silliness of EU directives
Crêpe Europe
Sweet, savoury, with butter, flambéd… when it’s the christian holiday of Candlemas, Dia de la Candelaria in Spain or la Chandeleur in France, crêpes are unavoidable. What about the rest of Europe?
Romania to UK: the whole of Europe in your plate
What do Europeans do the night before Christmas? They eat! The flavours and colours of the dishes vary enormously. But certain culinary practices can be surprising. A tour of the traditional and intriguing dishes of Europe
Spanish mantecado: sweet treat beats economic downturn
Lard, sugar and cinnamon- when the crumbly biscuit appears on Spanish dining tables, there’s no doubt that Christmas is coming. Factories producing the biscuit that reigns at fiestas in Estepa near Seville run at full speed. Plus a cinnamon mantecado recipe
Buy Nuremberg gingerbread online
On the first weekend of Advent, Nuremberg’s own version of Father Christmas opened the annual Nuremberg Christmas market, recognised across Europe as a must for all gingerbread fiends. Biweekly recipe
gastronomy, nürnberg, lebkuchen, germany, christmas, yum nyam
European culinary blogosphere and more
‘What's for dinner tonight?’ – the answer is on the internet! A short tour of the most popular sites in Europe, including the BBC in the UK, Gustos in Romania and Marmiton in France
Czech-Slovak sausage: under EU protection
A ceasefire was called between the central-eastern nations in July, after the EU intervened in the sausage war dividing them
Do the French top German cuisine?
Major names in the cookery world have backed France’s application to UNESCO to have its cuisine listed as a world heritage item. In multicultural Germany, the idea is stirring up mixed reactions
gastronomy, germany, food, tourism, berlin, identity, society
Hot-cross Europe
Easter eggs, fried slices of bread in milk or wine and hot cross buns: April 8 sees Europeans celebrate Easter in their own way
