What To Order: China - Iron Skillet Beef

Chinese cuisine is a rich tapestry of distinct regional specialities, national staples, and ethnic mainstays, ranging from delightful to surprising to hard-to-stomach. At first it can all seem overwhelming and, to some I have traveled with, wholly unappealing. However, there are so many options that finding your favorite is only a matter of the right advice and an adventurous spirit.

Chicken feet are a Chinese favorite
that many visitors find hard to stomach

Not surprisingly, each region of the country proudly declares their dishes "the best," but that is a hard-fought title that each visitor should bestow themselves. When traveling in China, my favorite dish luckily transcends regional boundaries and is widely available across the country and known by all Chinese, a dish called '铁板牛肉' (tiě bǎn niúròu) or "iron skillet beef."

Slices of tender beef sirloin are fried together with peppers, onions, and spices and presented on a sizzling iron skillet. Think: a fajita without tortillas.

While each restaurant has their own take on the dish, some choosing to include mushrooms or other vegetables as filler or using their own secret blend of spices, iron skillet beef is pretty standard across the country and is a safe bet for anyone worried of making an "exotic accident" when ordering.

Another plus for travelers hesitant to venture too far into the uncharted waters of Chinese cuisine, 铁板牛肉 (tiě bǎn niúròu) is not served with the usual blistering zest that is common in many regional dishes such as Hunan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Sichuan Cuisines.

Whether your travels take you to the Middle Kingdom or the Chinese restaurant across town, add iron skillet beef to your repertoire - you won't regret it!

What To Order: Thailand - Thai Tea

A barista whips up Thai tea on a train
platform in just a few moments

Whether you are navigating the bedlam of downtown Bangkok or enjoying the silence atop Chiang Mai's Doi Inthanon or lounging on one of Thailand's many island beaches, one thing is almost guaranteed - a delicious, iced "Thai tea" is probably only a stone's throw away.

Thai tea is a ceylon tea (though often now made with cheaper black tea leaves and colored with food coloring) that is mixed with evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk before being poured over ice for a cool and refreshing liquid refreshment. Thai tea's burnt orange hue and creamy, slightly smokey, sweet flavor make this iced drink quite distinct, with many devotees and the occasional detractor.

For myself, I will admit that I was not completely sold on my first sip. However, my second sip led to a third and it quickly grew into endearment, such that now I look forward to any chance to grab a "cha-yan" (Thai, lit. "iced tea"). There is also a variation of Thai tea with an added lime flavor called "cha-manao," if you are looking to increase the "tropical quotient" of your drink.

Mixed Thai tea ready to
be poured over ice

Thailand, especially the Lanna region of northern Thailand, has a long history with tea, and Thais love their tea, especially a Thai tea on-the-go to contend with the pervasive heat and humidity of this much-desired Southeast Asian tropical travel destination. This ocher-colored beverage is so popular that Thai restaurants in other countries and continents include it on their menu, a distinctive element of many Thai menus around the world.

In Thailand, street stands and small beverage shops are everywhere, whipping up Thai tea in no time. In fact, there are even iced coffee and Thai tea stalls on the Bangkok BTS skytrain platforms. So, get a leg up on the heat and start your Thai travels with a Thai tea!

What To Order: India - Palak Paneer

Don't let the color deter you...

At first sight, palak paneer may not garner much interest from anyone new to Indian cuisine. The strong green color may even cause hesitation in a would-be enthusiast, much as guacamole's greenish hue might deter someone who has (sadly) never tasted its avocado goodness. Yet, for those willing to push past appearances, palak paneer is all flavor.

Palak paneer is a simple-but-tasty vegetarian dish originating in India's Punjab region. Made of pureed spinach (which accounts for the rich green color) and an Indian curd cheese called paneer, palak paneer is a thin curry dipping sauce usually eaten with naan or rice that can help curb the burning in your mouth after a plate full of spicy Indian curry.

Indian naan spread with palak paneer

The pureed spinach is mixed with mild curry spices and the non-aged farmer's cheese, and the result is savory goodness.

Palak paneer's watery consistency and rich spinach, curry, and paneer flavors make it a great dipping sauce and a nice addition to any Indian meal.

What To Order: Switzerland - Rösti

Home to the Matterhorn and precision watchmaking, Switzerland is one of Europe's finest travel destinations.

Iconic Matterhorn in
the Swiss Alps

Officially the Swiss Confederation, Switzerland offers something for every traveler - Europe's best skiing and winter sports, haute cuisine, fine arts, an abundance of tours, river cruises, and adventure sports, fine wines and chocolate, cosmopolitan shopping venues with the most exclusive name brands, and the list goes on.

All of that notwithstanding, finding an authentic "Swiss" dining experience in Switzerland may be harder than expected. A result of its original formation as a confederation, Switzerland has 4 official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansch) and strong regional identities that espouse sister countries' culture and cuisine as much as they do the Swiss national identity.

However, one dish that is authentically Swiss and can be found in every region of the country is "rösti." Made of pan-fried shredded potatoes, rösti is often available with a meat as an main dish or as an á la carte addition to an entrée.

Originally a breakfast dish eaten by farmers in the Bern region, rösti is now considered by many Swiss to be a national dish.

Finding rösti on a menu will likely come as a welcome sight for travelers shell-shocked by the high food prices in one of Europe's priciest countries, and rösti will also be a refreshing choice for many travelers because of its similarity to dishes in their home countries: 'hash browns' in US, '干煸土豆丝' (gan bian tudou si) in China, 'boxty' in Ireland, and 'aloo tikki' in India, to name a few.

Swiss rösti, still hot in the skillet