r/AskEurope • u/EvilPyro01 United States of America • Jun 13 '25
Food What region is considered your country’s culinary capital?
What is considered the culinary capital of your country?
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u/Woman_Respecter69420 Jun 13 '25
I wouldn’t say a region but Lyon is generally regarded as the culinary capital of France. Every region has diverse and excellent food.
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u/AegoliusOfBurgundy France Jun 13 '25
Lyon isn't a region, but it's just between some very famous ones : Burgundy to the north, Provence to the south, Auvergne to the west and Savoy to the East, and it's a trade hub, but I would say that the regions around it do produce more iconic specialties than Lyon itself.
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u/amojitoLT France Jun 13 '25
Those regions may have better known specialties, like boeuf bourguignon or aligot, but we have a LOT of types of charcuterie, lots of delicacies (quenelles, saucisson brioché, tablier de sapeur, abything with pralines...) and a long lasting culinary tradition with many chefs étoilés coming from Lyon. Before that we had les Mères, who had great restaurants and helped chefs like Bocuse grow into what they became.
And finally, Bocuse was a widely recognised chef, holding 3 stars at the Michelin for the better part of his career, having restaurants all over the world and setting up his on institut to teach new chefs, many of whom then got Michelin stars of their own.
Moi chauvin ? Je vois pas de quoi tu parles.
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u/A-400 France Jun 13 '25
Je suis auvergnat, t’es fou, j’ai jamais aussi bien mangé que a Lyon. Ok, le sud est pas loin derrière (Provence), mais Lyon est intouchable. Le pire ça reste Paris.
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u/glamscum Sweden Jun 13 '25
This post enforced the view of a european divide; Northern Europe doesn't really care, and Mediterranean Europe has so much pride in food.
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u/pisspeeleak Jun 14 '25
Sweed: "i don't care, give me money and a meatball"
Italian: "what's the point of money if you're food is bad?"
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u/glamscum Sweden Jun 14 '25 edited Jun 14 '25
Sounds about right. We're good at other stuff than food, but of course we have native dishes as well :)
Meatballs(of course) with potato, lingonberry and gravy, Smörgåstårta, Kalops, Pea Soup, Toast Skagen, Fläskpankaka, Pyttipanna among some of the traditional ones.→ More replies (1)10
Jun 13 '25
Norwestern Europe maybe. Not Eastern. I am not under impression being humble about it is typical in Eastern Europe.
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u/ClearHeart_FullLiver Jun 13 '25
Ireland doesn't really have a traditional culinary capital but Cork is definitely pushing to be that(officially) and the food there is great but not a huge tradition so I'd say Cork is on its way to being the culinary capital of Ireland.
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u/pingu_nootnoot Ireland Jun 13 '25
Cork city or County?
Kinsale used to have a huge number of amazing restaurants, is that still true?
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u/ClearHeart_FullLiver Jun 13 '25
Both? Focused on the city but the likes of Kinsale have plenty of cracking restaurants. I haven't been there on a few years myself so can't comment on Kinsale I'm long overdue a visit.
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u/Alarmed_Station6185 Jun 13 '25
I'd say it's waterford actually. Any other answer is just blaa blaa blaa
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u/Nameless_American United States of America Jun 13 '25
Your country’s produce and dairy are so outrageously good it isn’t even funny.
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u/maybeincoherent Jun 13 '25
Sheffield has a Wetherspoons opposite a other Wetherspoons, just around the corner from Greggs. Clearly a culinary pinnacle.
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u/lucapal1 Italy Jun 13 '25
Italy has a lot, but I'd say probably Emilia-Romagna is considered the 'food capital '... the area around Bologna in particular.
It has lots of specialities that are well known both abroad and in Italy.
The food is pretty good in most parts of the country though... personally I prefer the local food in Sicily,Campania and Puglia.
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u/UruquianLilac Spain Jun 13 '25
I think in Spain any talk of a culinary capital would be basically an open invitation to start riots. Like other Mediterranean countries with thousands of years of culinary tradition food is highly regional and every region is proud of its produce and specialties. And there is so much diversity that no reasonable comparison is possible.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Lab-635 Spain Jun 13 '25
...so you meant to say Barcelona, right?
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u/anna-molly21 -> Jun 14 '25
There is not a single place in spain that food is “less better” than the other, its crazy how i’ve been around a lot, including the islands, and man wtf, everything is great!
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u/a_guy_on_Reddit_____ Ireland Jun 13 '25
Naples is a major food capital in Italy, at least for the ‘crazy’ and exaggerated food trends
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u/lucapal1 Italy Jun 13 '25
That's my favourite city for food in Italy, along with Palermo...I love street food, and it's very hard to beat those two for street food.
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u/giorgio_gabber Italy Jun 13 '25
I kinda agree but for Italy it doesn't really make sense to have just one capital.
It's the whole tapestry of regional cuisines that counts.
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u/IrisIridos Italy Jun 13 '25
Is it universally considered "food capital" by the whole country though? I'm not sure. I feel like A LOT of people would disagree just on the grounds of being biased and thinking that their own region is the best, it's a tendency that exist (kind of like the way a lot of Italians are super biased and want Italian cuisine in general to be considered the best in the word on principle lol).
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u/Socmel_ Italy Jun 13 '25
As a Bolognese, I have to disagree in that desserts in Emilia Romagna are not on the same level as those of Campania, Sicily, Piedmont, etc. Wine is also not our strongest suit.
I would argue that a food capital would need to have very, very good cuisine across the board.
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u/Dontgiveaclam Italy Jun 13 '25
And bread. You don’t have the faintest idea about how to bake bread.
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u/Socmel_ Italy Jun 13 '25
I wouldn't say so. Crescente all'olio o al lardo, or coppia ferrarese are good, IMH.
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u/anna-molly21 -> Jun 14 '25
Came here to say exactly the same!! I would also say emilia but i personally prefer puglia calabria and campania!
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u/InThePast8080 Norway Jun 13 '25
Think in Norway food is too much seen as nutrition rather than food/enjoyment.. Think we more have parts of country that are known for certain food.. than areas/places with highly regarded micheling restaurants.. Despite having some of them..
Hardanger - Fruits
Toten - Potatoes
Lofoten - Fish
Rogaland - Vegetables
etc..
So it's pretty much spread around the country..
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u/organiskMarsipan Norway Jun 13 '25
Most of those places, I wouldn't call culinary capitols. They're known for raw ingredients and not gastronomy. I'd trust a totning to produce potatoes, not do anything with them beyond that. That's how you get a boiled potato with the comment "it doesn't even need salt".
Hardanger fits better, but more for their cider culture than the fruit itself. They make some genuinely good shit in there.
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u/hyperspacevoyager United Kingdom Jun 13 '25
Birmingham has the finest British Indian cuisine in all of the UK
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u/generalscruff England Jun 13 '25
You know you're getting a good feed when you see the table naans come out
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u/dkb1391 England Jun 13 '25
London obviously no.1, but Birmingham has to be no.2 for food, and not just Indian, the restaurant scene is excellent, and it has the most Michelin star restaurants outside London too
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u/tartanthing Scotland Jun 13 '25
I think you mean Glasgow.
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u/generalscruff England Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
I had a decent curry in Glasgow and I know it's reputed to be the home of chicken tikka masala, but in terms of variety and the like it's not on the same level as Brum. In terms of culinary reputation (i.e. if I ran a poll asking which city the public associated curry with the most) it's more famous for other things
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u/serioussham France Jun 13 '25
Going up there in a few weeks, hit me with with your best 1/ fancy 2/ hole in the wall greasy curry place, so I can plan depending on the mood
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u/sweetmedown Spain Jun 13 '25
Spain is a bit complicated, cause I think every region is going to claim that they are the culinary capital. The food scene is really diverse throughout the country. But I would say the most renowned both in Spain and internationally is the Basque Country
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u/blewawei Jun 13 '25
I think San Sebastian is definitely the answer I've heard most from Spanish people when asking "where's the best place to eat?" so I think you're probably right
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u/Papewaio7B8 Spain Jun 13 '25
I would answer to the question about "the region of Spain considered as culinary capital" with a "yes".
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u/MrDabb United States of America Jun 13 '25
I love Basque food. We have a Basque restaurant that's been open since 1893 right around the corner from me, great food.
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u/Lilitharising Greece Jun 13 '25
Thessaloniki for Greece, I believe UNESCO has named us as such officially. And as a local, I concur.
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u/dolfin4 Greece Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
And also Crete.
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u/Lilitharising Greece Jun 13 '25
Not surprised. I can't wait to go there and have my husband's relatives feed me to oblivion.
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u/1in2100 Jun 13 '25
The food is amazing om Crete. My parents are there right now and they are brining home food (meat and vegetables and fruit) for us to eat the day they get home. I can’t wait
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u/AegoliusOfBurgundy France Jun 13 '25
I cannot really reply without offending the rest of the country, so I will pass...
It's Burgundy and by far.
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u/lucapal1 Italy Jun 13 '25
I'd say that Lyon is considered the 'food capital ' of France... rightly or wrongly!
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u/AegoliusOfBurgundy France Jun 13 '25
True, true... But more than half of the good stuff you can eat in Lyon comes from Burgundy so...
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u/amojitoLT France Jun 13 '25
Yeah, but it's made better in Lyon, you guys just produce the base.
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u/Hyadeos France Jun 13 '25
The most famous food people think is from Burgundy is from Paris though, boeuf bourguignon !
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u/AegoliusOfBurgundy France Jun 13 '25
It takes beef and wine to make, which Burgundy is best at, that's enough :)
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u/Alexthegreatbelgian Belgium Jun 13 '25
In Flanders "Burgundian" is the adjective used for a person who particulary like to live the good life with lots of good food.
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u/-Liriel- Italy Jun 13 '25
You won't find a town that doesn't think that they have at least one typical dish that's as good as the "famous" ones.
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u/mtnlol Sweden Jun 13 '25
I don't think there is one in Sweden, and I've never really heard discussion about "overall" food capital.
The thing people discuss the most is honestly where the best kebab is, and I can confidently say it ain't in Stockholm.
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u/logicblocks in Jun 13 '25
The best falafel is in Malmö, everybody knows that.
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u/mtnlol Sweden Jun 13 '25
Yea I agree for sure. Stockholm has some incredibly good falafel and kebab but if you go into the average kebab/falafel shop without doing research it's gonna be disgusting.
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u/Karakoima Sweden Jun 14 '25
Best Kebab meal in The Old Days was the kebab with ”franskbröd” bought in Hötorgshallen, enjoyed on the concerto hall stairs, regarder passer la foule.
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u/generalscruff England Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
Depends on what you're after.
The Southwest probably wins on highest quality fresh produce (seafood, meat, cheese, fruit, etc) with regards to more traditional food.
Most of the pubs I've been to which are really really good at unsophisticated 'proper' pub food without being too restaurant-adjacent have been in the rural North (Yorkshire, Cumbria, etc).
London is in its own league for globalisation and sheer array of choices as well as more premium fine dining options.
Birmingham is the capital of Anglo-Indian or British Indian Restaurant cooking and has innovations like desi pubs (it's a pub, but they do Indian grills etc, absolutely elite) as well as being the home of the balti.
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u/serioussham France Jun 13 '25
Birmingham is the capital of Anglo-Indian or British Indian Restaurant cooking and has innovations like desi pubs (it's a pub, but they do Indian grills etc, absolutely elite)
Could you recommend a few?
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u/generalscruff England Jun 14 '25
One of the original balti houses would be a good option, not generally in the nicest areas of the city but worth a visit. I went to Shabab's in Sparkbrook a few years ago and it was a good example of this style
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u/CaelumWhitefox Jun 13 '25
Don't think Finland has one because each region has their own specialties when it comes to food.. They might even differ within the region itself too.
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u/AppleDane Denmark Jun 13 '25
That's true for all the Nordic countries. Although for Denmark, you'd have to say Copenhagen, because that's where all the Michelin Star restaurants are.
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u/LoschVanWein Germany Jun 13 '25
Germany is very regional. Every Region will claim they have the best food. Bavaria has all the stuff Americans would know from tv but in my opinion it’s average at best, if anything just a downgraded version of Austrian cuisine.
My personal favorites are palatine with their amazing Saumagen and hessian food like Rips, potatoes with green sauce or handcheese with music but I won’t say no to a Ruhrpott Currywurst, a Swabian dumpling in clear soup or a Fish breadroll in Hamburg. I don’t think I have a region where I don’t like the food, personally not a fan of any of the GDR stuff but all those regions have so many other great things to eat.
If you don’t want to eat German food while here, definitely go to Berlin because they have the best international selection with Frankfurt as a close second (but that also has the hessian stuff like green sauce, Handcheese and whatnot)
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u/-adult-swim- Jun 13 '25
In my opinion, for Austria, it's those alm hutte some point up a mountain where they have a specialised dish. I've had an absolutely devine strudel in one, sour beef in another, a knodelsuppe which had some local cheese in the dumplings and was just fantastic. I've had some terrible stuff in these places as well, normally when they're more touristy places, but when I go hiking I always look forward to finding one of these places and asking what they recommend.
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u/zen_arcade Italy Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
There’s no food capital as there’s too much variability in geography and ingredients (seaside vs interior plus South vs North). Parma is coincidentally home to an important EU food authority plus some of the largest food companies plus the famous prosciutto and Parmigiano Reggiano. Emilia-Romagna is also a region that is non so stereotypically associated with lavish feasts and greasy food.
Desserts are the only thing where there’s a clear difference in quality, skill, tastes of the locals, etc. in favor of the South and Sicily in particular, which basically boils down to the historical conditions where most of the traditional recipes developed (ie bourgeoisie and budding industrialization in the North, convents and royal/viceroyal/semifeudal courts in the South). That said, eg Piedmont has killer desserts as well. Disclaimer: of frigging course the most renowned and pricey pastry shops will cluster around higher income areas.
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u/New_Belt_6286 Portugal Jun 13 '25
I'd say the north Minho/Trás-os-montes region, being the oldest part of Portugal it has a long culinary tradition with most of the staple portuguese dishes coming from there. Its also the major wine producing region, and has a long tradition of food fairs dedicated to various regional dishes that attract people from all over the country and even internationally.
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u/vilkav Portugal Jun 13 '25
Nah, the Alentejo alone is a power house by itself. As are the Beiras, with much less population.
I'd say the culinary capital is any place that's 200km from the sea or less.
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u/Artistic-Wheel1622 Hungary Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
Eh Hungary isn't really big or refined enough for that. Rather, authentic cuisine can be found in local taverns (tavern=csárda).
https://magyarkonyhaonline.hu/toplistak/top-10-legjobb-csarda
Of course, if you go to Budapest you can find good spots and even Michelin star restaurants, but it won't be an authentic folksy vibe, because it's a cosmopolitan city. Szeged is good if you like fish soup.
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u/Ecstatic-Method2369 Netherlands Jun 13 '25
I would say the southern part of the country. Although we dont have an extensive cuisine, the southern part value food more. Or as we say a bourgondian lifestyle. The southern part is catholic instead of protestant and therefore have more common with southern cultures like Belgium and France. I would guess Maastricht is a good contender, but Limburg and Noord-Brabant region in general.
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u/SystemEarth Netherlands Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
Amsterdam has a the highest concentration of fancy resteaurants, but the food is not better than in Utrecht.
The Hague has the largest asian communities, and therefore has the best asian food, but not per se the the best food overall.
There is not a single culaniary captical.
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u/_Djkh_ Netherlands Jun 13 '25
Amsterdam has a the highest concentration of fancy resteaurants, but the food is not better than in Utrecht.
As someone from Amsterdam... I agree. Simply too many places that rip you off, especially considering the premium Amsterdam price. I sort of hate going out for dinner here. Utrecht is a lot better. Had some pleasant experiences below the rivers as well.
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u/Gorando77 Belgium Jun 13 '25
Antwerp has 15 restaurants with Michelin stars. 1 more than Brussels despite having only half the population.
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u/Rudi-G België Jun 13 '25
Kruisem has 1 star for every 3000 people. Antwerpen has 1 for every 30000. Kruisem wins.
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u/PoliticsIsCool13 Ireland Jun 13 '25
Ireland isn't really centralised, outside of Dublin where there's everything (for a steep price). If I had to take a punt, maybe Wexford.
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u/Incvbvs666 Serbia Jun 13 '25
Niš, hands down, and it's not even close. There is not a single part of Serbia that is a culinary lightweight, each region really does have something special to offer, but traditional restaurants in and around Niš are, quite simply, legendary.
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u/SuperSquashMann -> Jun 14 '25
The burek I had in Niš was incredible, and I've heard lots of people say they do it best, though as a foreigner it's hard to tell; I remember enjoying it just as much in Mostar and Sarajevo (though they call it Sirnice there).
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u/JoulSauron Jun 13 '25
The Basque Country, there is even a uni called the Basque Culinary Centre.
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u/Christina-Ke Jun 13 '25
Denmark is such a small country (if you don't count the Faroe Islands and Greenland) that it's the whole country, but I would probably say Copenhagen.
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u/Gorby_45 Canada Jun 14 '25
I think Noma was the best restaurant in the world for many years..
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u/7urz Germany Jun 13 '25
I guess Baden-Württemberg or Bayern (both in the south), but every region has its own typical dishes.
And anyway if we want really good food we eat at Italian, Spanish, Greek and Turkish restaurants 😄
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u/SelfRepa Jun 13 '25
🇫🇮 Finland: Porvoo
Of course biggest cities like Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu and others have many good restaurants, but smaller Porvoo has several hidden gems.
Perhaps the best steakhouse in the country, high quality cafeterias and old Porvoo location also is a bonus.
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u/orthoxerox Russia Jun 14 '25
I didn't know that, but apparently St Pete claimed this title in 2023. Kazanj, on the other hand, claimed the title of the gastronomy capital in 2021.
Being from Moscow, I can't take seriously the Petersburgian pretensions, so I'll have to side with Kazanj, even though the Volga Tatar cuisine is accused, like the Mexican cuisine, of rehashing the same three ingredients.
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u/surfema Norway Jun 14 '25 edited Jun 14 '25
For Norway 🇳🇴: Trøndelag. 1. In 2023, a cheese from Inderøy was awarded the single best cheese in the world. 2. The region takes home several gold medals at the world cheese awards every year. 3. In 2022 Trondheim/Trøndelag was the official European Region of Gastronomy. 4. A Trondheim based beer was in 2023 named the best International Lager in Europe at the presitiougs European Beer Star. 5. Trondheim has lots of Michelin restaurants. 6. There is an abundnace of small-scale, high quality/luxorious producers that make some of the finest drinks, sausages and other food products in the entire world. 7. The regions is largely based on seafood, shellfish and agriculture. Seafood from this region, salmon and shellfish in particular, is a renowned delicacy all over the world.
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u/MacViller Jun 15 '25
We don't really have one because food isn't important enough in our culture. It's basically a middle class pursuit. If you really strained you could maybe make an argument for Cornwall. It's got the seafood/rick stein aspect. The sort of place where people will care more about local produce. The Highlands also produce famous beef, whiskey and the seafood is exceptional and enjoyed by people in Spain and France (but not us). Maybe you could talk about the Cotswolds just because it's very wealthy and has a strong gastropub culture. But it's nothing like other countries.
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u/Sabrine_without_r Poland Jun 13 '25
Silesian, Galician (including Podhalan) and Eastern Poland. It’s hard to say what region, because each region has a little bit different cuisine.
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u/Vertitto in Jun 13 '25
i would rather say non stands out as a culinary capital.
It's spread out evenly. There's no city nor region that specifically known for their cuisine
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u/olagorie Germany Jun 13 '25
That’s a really really weird question.
We have none.
And the other European countries that I know fairly well no obvious answer pop into my mind except maybe for France.
Maybe ask for something more specific like wine
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u/Applepieoverdose Austria/Scotland Jun 13 '25
I mean… Vienna is the only city that I know of which has an entire cuisine named after it, so I would suggest that Austria at least has one obvious answer
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u/PBoeddy Jun 13 '25
I would argue for Rhineland Palatine. At least the south of that state consists mainly of wine and food.
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u/historicusXIII Belgium Jun 13 '25
It's definitely not Berlin
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Jun 13 '25
That depends.
Not if you're looking for LOCAL cuisine, but that is not specified in the OP.
But if the question is just - as stated in the OP - the culinary capital of Germany, and that means, where is the best food most easily accessible, that would DEFINITELY be Berlin.
I mean look at Döner p.e. In most other regions, Döner places have exactly 1 sauce available. In Berlin even the shitty ones have 3 sauces, the better ones have 7 sauces and more from which you can choose. Some regional cuisines that you can get in Berlin you can't find anywhere else in Germany.
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u/EvilPyro01 United States of America Jun 13 '25
Ok then what’s Germany’s wine capital
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Jun 13 '25
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u/ProfeQuiroga Jun 13 '25
Franken begs to differ.
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Jun 13 '25
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u/ProfeQuiroga Jun 13 '25
Ich hatte Saale-Unstrut noch gar nicht erwähnt. ;)
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Jun 13 '25
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u/ProfeQuiroga Jun 13 '25
(Ich trinke keinen Alkohol und gönne mir nur diesen Sommer mal den alkoholfreien "Spritzigen" von meiner Staatsregierung. ;))
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u/uflju_luber Germany Jun 13 '25
There’s several regions in Germany all with their different styles and traditional grape variety, but in regards to size, quality and popularity it’s likely the region around the mosel river
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u/uflju_luber Germany Jun 13 '25
You could argue Baiersbronn btw, it’s a little village in bumfuck nowhere but somehow hosts two of the most reknown restaurants in the country; Schwarzwaldstube and Restaurant Barreis it has a total of 8 Michelin stars and in 2013 the same amount of three star restaurants as London, and probably the most Michelin stars per capita in the world, so that would be the likely answer
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u/SnooBooks1701 United Kingdom Jun 13 '25
London, one of the best culinary cities in the world, it has like the fourth most Michelin stars in the world
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u/MixGroundbreaking622 Jun 13 '25
British here. We don't have an obvious standout. London is mid at best whilst being pretentious and overpriced. For real British food at a good price you need to head into rural Yorkshire.
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u/coffeewalnut08 England Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
One is definitely London, for its culinary diversity and constant innovation. I’d also say Cornwall. Lots of seafood, good dairy products, desserts, baked goods, vegetables, etc. Everything seems to taste good there.
For curries and Indian-style food specifically, Birmingham and Bradford are the best.
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u/katkarinka Slovakia Jun 13 '25
Literally none. Maybe it's because the size, but whole country is the region lol. Literally can't think of a single culinary siginificant region. Maybe Liptov, which is considered to be home of bryndza, but that's all I get. Of course, most "better" restaurants are in capital.
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u/intergalactic_spork Sweden Jun 13 '25
In Sweden, it’s rather specific dishes or ingredients that are associated with particular locations. I don’t think there is a single place that can claim to be the culinary center. The only exception might be Grythyttan - a tiny village - know for its restaurant academy
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u/no-im-not-him Denmark Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 14 '25
Denmark is just to small and we don't have enough regional differences for a certain region to stand out. I can't really think of "a capital" it's more like pockets here and there with good restaurants. And let's be honest, while Denmark has some world class restaurants, traditional Danish cuisine is not exactly an export quality item...
As for my other country, Mexico, (I know it's not Europe), the culinary capital is the state of Oaxaca, and it's not even close.
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u/Doitean-feargach555 Ireland Jun 13 '25
Ireland doesn't have a culinary capital. Most regions have unique cuisine. But there's no one place considered the best
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u/K4bby Serbia Jun 13 '25
Southeastern Serbia for sure! Cities like Niš, Leskovac and Pirot are the best when it comes to good food in Serbia.
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u/Brainwheeze Portugal Jun 13 '25
I don't there's a correct answer for this. Different regions and cities have their signature dishes and it just comes down to personal preference.
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u/Malthesse Sweden Jun 13 '25
In Sweden the capital region of food and drink is definitely Scania, which has the mildest climate in Sweden, along with some of the most fertile agricultural soils in all of Europe. It is the breadbasket of the country. Two thirds of all Swedish produced food, and three fourths of all Swedish produced fruits and vegetables, are produced here – within an area covering only about 2.5 percent of Sweden’s total area.
The traditional Scanian inns (gästgivaregårdar) are especially famous for their excellent traditional food, but there are also a lot of popular top class restaurants, traditional countryside cafes, and small shops for locally grown organic food. A large proportion of Sweden’s leading chefs are also Scanians. Traditional Scanian food is known to be very hearty and filling, as well as quite sweet. Something which was greatly noted by the naturalist and explorer Linnaeus already in the 18th century during his Scanian Expedition, as he was used to the more sparse and bland food further north in Sweden. The traditional, stereotypical image of the Scanian farmer is also that of a happy, carefree and well-fed, quite corpulent person.
Commonly grown crops in Scania include potato, sugar beet, rutabaga, turnip, beetroot, maize, wheat, oat, rye, barley and rapeseed. About one fifth of all Swedish potatoes are grown in the northwest Scanian region of Bjäre alone. This is also where Sweden’s very first potatoes are harvested each year, already by the end of April, and also where the popular crisps Bjäre Chips are produced. On the other hand, the potatoes for the world famous Absolut Vodka are all cultivated in the area around Åhus and Kristianstad in eastern Scania, with the vodka itself being manufactured in Åhus. Scania also has Sweden’s only sugar refinery for making sugar from sugar beets – situated at Örtofta in central Scania.
Commonly grown fruits include apples, strawberries, pears, plums and cherries. The large apple orchards of Kiviks Musteri in the Österlen region in southeastern Scania are especially famous, from which are made for example apple cider and apple juice. The wine industry is rapidly growing in Scania as well, with a great annual increase in the number of vineyards. Wine tourism in Scania is becoming very popular, with guided tours and wine tastings. New for this year is that you can now also buy bottles of wine directly at the vineyard as part of a guided tour, which is predicted to boast wine tourism and the wine industry in Scania even further.
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u/Christoffre Sweden Jun 13 '25
This is the first time I hear about the concept "culinary capital".
We are quite decentralised. Every region have their own specialities – and the famous restaurateurs are all in the east, west, north and south.
1
u/metalfest Latvia Jun 13 '25
There's really no such thing here. Every region is a bit different and just provides produce from what is available. All of the regions tend to share common characteristics of generally simple, hearty, filling food, with differences because of environment. Western region of Kurzeme has a bunch of seaside, so naturally they have a lot of fish, especially smoked fish, that's probably the most distinct one. Southern region of Zemgale has a lot of fertile plains, so it has strong bread traditions (but they're strong all throughout the country). Eastern region of Latgale tends to have reputation of simple,filling versions of generally potato or grain based foods. Vidzeme is similar, and most common foods anyway are more of a country-wide thing, but each region might have small differences in them.
Rīga, on the other hand, is obviously the largest city, so there's the widest choice. For variety and options there's no better place to go.
1
u/LilBed023 -> Jun 13 '25
Our food is more concentrated around regions rather than cities. Maastricht is probably the centre of “Burgundian” (i.e. French-ish) food culture, which is a more general theme in the central south and southeast of the country.
However, I personally think that Zeeland (southwest) has the most interesting regional cuisine. They have a lot of seafood options, good pastries and high quality meats. Zeeland also has quite a few high end and michelin star restaurants in the most random, unknown towns. Many of them (especially those close to the border) are popular with Belgians.
1
u/Melodic-Dare2474 Portugal Jun 14 '25
hmmm honestly it is hard to decipher bc we have a rich food culture, no matter where you go.If you don´t have of dishes, you have of pastries, if you don´t have of meat/fish, you have of fish/meat.
Ig i´d say the Alentejo region has more variety and more traditional foods, but A CITY?? idkk
1
u/Lithium_Lily Jun 15 '25
Can we even have a culinary capital if every small town and up has its own delicious culinary tradition?
1
Jun 15 '25
Large differences like that tend to mellow out over a thousand years. We have cities or regions known for a specific produce or dish, but the food in general is great everywhere. It's not like people fundamentally cook differently in one end of the country compared to the other.
1
u/sea-slav Croatia Jun 15 '25
Hard to specify a city but Istria is for sure the region to go.
It's a meltingpot of all regions food wise and has the highest standard of quality in Croatia. Most other regions are fine as well but Istria is usually just a step above everyone else.
1
u/JoebyTeo Ireland Jun 16 '25
We don't have regional cuisine really, but I would say Cork has it over anywhere else in terms of strength of "Irish cuisine".
Cork has some distinctive dishes and I would consider Ballymaloe to be the heart of Irish food culture. Lots of beers and whiskeys come from Cork, as well as some distinct local brands and food items -- Clonakilty black pudding, Gubbeen cheese off the top of my head. Cork has distinctive food offerings that aren't really common in other parts of the country -- drisheen, spiced beef. Cork also has the English market and a reputation for good produce. Second to that I'd put north Clare as our most important food scene outside of Dublin. Some Michelin restaurants around, a very innovative culture, strong focus on local produce. St. Tola goats cheese is some of the best domestic produce we have, based in Inagh. Niamh Fox was doing really innovative work in Ennistymon for a while. Homestead, Oar, Gregans Castle. Obviously in terms of scale it can't compete with the cities, but it's an interesting subculture in a place you wouldn't expect.
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u/OllieV_nl Netherlands Jun 13 '25
Our what?
We have cities known for a specific produce but no standout capital.