Showing posts with label Challenge Status. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Challenge Status. Show all posts

Monday, November 30, 2020

Around the World Cooking Journey

As we explore our world through the Around the World Cooking Challenge (AtWCC), follow along on our adventures here!

Note: We acknowledge that a complete list of nations is not without controversy. As of the time of conception of this challenge, we are planning to cover 197 countries, 50 states, DC, and the 5 permanently inhabited territories of the USA. To figure out what counted as a "country" for these purposes, we looked to Sporcle and how they made the determination of what would be included in their countries of the world quiz. (We have no affiliation with Sporcle other than enjoying their quizzes.) We used that not because Sporcle is the ultimate authority on the matter, but mostly because (a) their explanation made sense, and (b) it's the list of countries that M committed to memory long ago. For more on their methodology, go here.

(Last updated 1/4/2024)

General Cooking Challenge Posts
Country #1: Afghanistan

USA #1: Alabama

USA #2: Alaska

Country #2: Albania

Country #3: Algeria

USA #3: American Samoa

Country #4: Andorra

Country #5: Angola

Country #8: Armenia

Country #35: Chile

Country #36: China
- Macau: minchi

Country #46: Denmark

Country #50: Ecuador

Country #63: Georgia

Country #64: Germany

USA #14: Hawaii

Country #74: Hungary

Country #76: India

Country #82: Italy

Country #84: Japan

Country #87: Kenya 

Country #94: Lebanon 

USA #21: Louisiana

Country #110: Mexico
(Oaxaca)

Country #116: Morocco

Country #138: Philippines
- Tortang giniling (beef omelette)

Country #139: Poland
- Golabki (cabbage rolls)

Country #149: Samoa

Country #169: Sweden

Country #175: Thailand

Country #180: Tunisia

Country #181: Turkey

Country #187: United Kingdom

Country #195: Yemen

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Tchau Brasil

The 2014 World Cup (and our challenge) has been over for almost 2 weeks now and it was an intense ride! We tried to make it to as many countries as we could for our eating challenge, and we watched a very high percentage of the games themselves, so the past month was pretty much overtaken by the World Cup. (Fairly sure we're not the only ones.) It was exciting and thrilling. Congratulations to Germany!


If you haven't been following along with our status post or generally reading the blog, we visited 20 out of 32 countries, for a 62.5% showing. Not too bad, considering our World Cup eating time was fairly limited. There's an alphabetical list of the countries we hit on our journey in the status post, but if you want to read them in the order we traveled, here's the list of countries we visited in order:


We did fairly well with our challenge, but just ran out of time to hit up more spots. We had places picked out for every country (other than Algeria and Cameroon), but when we had to start doing food crawls or only had limited travel time, that eliminated a bunch of the more interesting cuisines we had never tried before. Our biggest disappointments in our performance were that we never made it to an African restaurant (and therefore didn't go to one country from each confederation) and didn't make it to all the nations of any particular confederation (we got close with CONMEBOL and AFC, only missing one country for each). Maybe next time.

We have no idea where we'll be in life during the next World Cup in 2018, but we always look forward to this event every 4 years. We love the World Cup!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

WorldEats Challenge Status

If we're going to do a pinned post to keep track of our World Cup 2014 eats, it's probably a good idea to make one for our ongoing WorldEats challenge too. We'll keep this updated with links to all of the relevant WorldEats meals so you can follow along on our journey. Go here to read about our philosophy behind the challenge, its history, and its current form, and check out the countries below! (If you're wondering about the country numbers, we have a numbered list of all the countries and it kind of shows where our gaps in our "walk around the world" are.)

Canada

(last updated 8/10/2020)

Country #1: Canada
- Summary post
- Smoked meat, poutine, bagels and more at Mile End Sandwich (which became the Noho branch of Mile End Deli but is now closed)
- Japanese-influenced hot dogs at Vancouver import Japadog (now closed)

Country #2: Bahamas
- Why we skipped it under our original WorldEats formulation

Country #3: Cuba
- Cuban sandwich at Habana at the Barclays Center
- King fish and chicken sandwich from Margon

Country #4: Jamaica
- Oxtail and curry chicken from the Jamaican Dutchy truck (now closed)
- Ackee, callaloo, and jerk chicken from Miss Lily's

Country #5: Haiti
- Stewed chicken at the Queens International Night Market

Country #6: Dominican Republic
- Pernil and pollo guisado from El Gran Castillo de Jagua

Country #8: Antigua and Barbuda
- Fritters, ducana and saltfish from Caribbean Soul at the Queens International Night Market

Country #14: Trinidad and Tobago
- Bake and shark at the Queens International Night Market

Country #15: Mexico
Tacos
- El Rey del Sabor
- Mexico Blvd truck (1, 2) (now closed)
- Otto's Tacos
- Tacos El Gordo
Tamales
- Guadalupe's Tamales
Quesadillas
- Quesadillas de chapulin from El Rey del Sabor
Pueblan
- Chanclas, pelonas, tacos arabes, and mole poblano from Las Cazuelas
Oaxacan
- Mole and our first tlayuda from EK Valley

Country #23: Colombia
- Visits to our beloved Farmers Rotisserie (now closed) for arepas and rotisserie chicken and more
- Buñuelo and empanada at La Sabrosura
- Chorizo arepa from Palenque
- Hot dogs and salchipapas at Los Perros Locos (now closed)

Country #25: Guyana
- Patties from Georgetown Patties at the Queens International Night Market

Country #27: Ecuador
- Espumillas at the Viva La Comida festival

Country #29: Brazil
- Feijoada at Rice N Beans
- Pão de queijo at New York Pão de Queijo

Country #31: Paraguay
- Chipa guazu, mbeyu, empanadas and croquetas from I Love Paraguay

Country #32: Uruguay
- Lots of meat at Chivito d'Oro (1, 2)

Country #33: Chile
- Churrasco and chacarero at Barros Luco (now closed)
- Completo and chacarero at San Antonio Bakery (now closed)

Country #37: United Kingdom
England
- Fish and chips, bangers, bubble and squeak at Cock and Bull
- Eel burgers and doughnuts at the St. John-Shake Shack special collaboration

Country #38: Norway
- Norwegian soup and chocolate from Nordic Delicacies (now closed)

Country #39: Sweden
- Gravlax and Swedish meatballs from AQ Kafe (now closed)
- Gravlax, meatballs, and apple cake from Ikea

Country #40: Finland
- Cinnamon bun and Karelian pie from London's Nordic Bakery

Country #42: The Netherlands
- Nieuwe herring from Scheveningen at the Grand Central Oyster Bar
- Poffertjes from Poffertjes Man (now closed)

Country #43: Belgium
- Lots of wafels from Wafels & Dinges (1, 2, 3, 4)
- Moules frites from BXL Cafe

Country #45: France
- Rotisserie chicken from Poulette
- Macaron Day 2015
- Macaron Day 2016

Country #48: Spain
- Montaditos from 100 Montaditos (now closed)
- Tapas from Tertulia (now closed)

Country #49: Portugal
- Octopus salad, cockles, and dry soup from Seabra's Marisqueira
- Pastéis de nata from Teixeira's Bakery

Country #50: Germany
- Bratwurst and bauernwurst at a food fair
- Currywurst at Wechsler's (now closed) and at Berlin Currywurst in Chelsea Market

Country #53: Italy
General
- Caprese salad, gnocchi, and lasagna at Trattoria Trecolori
- Bruschetta, pasta, and more from Jamie's Italian on the Quantum of the Seas
Fine Dining
- Pasta dishes from Babbo (1, 2)
- Polenta, fritto misto, pasta, and more from Scarpetta
Neapolitan
- Neapolitan pizza, panini (and more) from Don Antonio by Starita

Country #57: Poland
- Pierogi and golumpki from Millie's Pierogi

Country #61: Hungary
- Chimney cakes at the holiday market

Country #64: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Cevapi at Cevabdzinica Sarajevo

Country #65: Serbia
- Our first Serbian meal ever at Kafana

Country #73: Greece
- Pies from Poseidon Bakery
- Chicken pita and afgolemono from Uncle Gussy's

Country #75: Turkey
- Our favorite mercimek kofte from Antalia

Country #78: Lithuania
- Cepelinai and kugelis at the Lithuanian Festival in Baltimore

Country #81: Russia
- Bliny and chowder from Russian fast casual chain Teremok (now closed)

Country #85: Morocco
- Chicken sandwich from Comme Ci Comme Ca

Country #112: Nigeria
- Our first Nigerian meal ever at Buka

Country #128: Mozambique
- Country of origin of peri-peri sauce at Nando's, closest we've gotten to Mozambican cuisine

Country #132: South Africa
- Sosatie, melktert, koeksisters and more at Braai (now closed)
- Lots of chicken and more from South African-originated Nando's

Country #140: Syria
- A giant Damascene feast from Abu Zaad

Country #141: Palestine
- Shawarma platter from the King of Falafel and Shawarma

Country #142: Israel
- Sabich and lots of falafel from Taim Mobile
- Falafel from Nish Nush

Country #159: Pakistan
- Biryani from Trini-Paki Boys cart

Country #160: India
Fast Food
- Kati rolls and biryani from the Biryani Cart

Country #163: Nepal
- Our first ever Nepalese dinner at Sherpa
- Thali and dhendo at Dhaulagiri Kitchen (now closed)

Country #166: Myanmar/Burma
- Burmese feast at Rangoon in Philadelphia
- Chicken curry palata from Burmese Bites

Country #167: Thailand
- Noodles and more from Pure Thai Cookhouse (1, 2)
- Khao yam and lots of other spicy food at Jitlada (1, 2)
- Larb and other chicken dishes at Bird Thai Snackbar
- Nam kao tod, drunken noodle, herbs spring rolls, and garlic prawns from Lotus of Siam and Chada
- Inventive Thai food from Kin Shop (now closed)

Country #168: Laos
- Laotian-inspired cuisine at Khe-Yo

Country #169: Vietnam
- Pho and more from our favorite pho place Tank Noodle
- Banh mi from Ba Xuyen and Saigon Deli
- Nem nuong cuon and pho from Kinh Do

Country #170: Cambodia
- Baked amok and more Cambodian specialties at Angkor Cambodian Bistro (now closed)

Country #173: Singapore
- Chili crab dip, mantou and more from Masak (now closed)

Country #177: Taiwan
- Rice plates from Bian Dang (1, 2, 3)
- Large fried chicken from Cheers Cut (now closed)

Country #178: China
Cantonese
- Dim sum at Ocean City
- Cantonese family dinner at HK Cafe
Shaanxi
- Lamb burger from Xi'an Famous Foods
Sichuan
- Spicy fish fillets and more at Ollie's Sichuan
- Dry pepper style chicken, dan dan noodles, and more at Han Dynasty
Dumplings
- Lamb and green squash dumplings from Tianjin Dumpling House
- Wontons in chili sauce from White Bear
- Xiao long bao from Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Northern Chinese
- Shaobing wrap from Northern Tiger
Uyghur
- Uyghur ice cream from Erqal

Country #178B: Tibet
- Momos from Potala
- Gyuma, sha-bhaley, and yak sha-momo from Himalayan Yak

Country #181: South Korea
- Kimbap from Boon Sik Zip
- Korean fried chicken from BonChon and Turntable Mad for Chicken
- Noodles and more from Hanjan
- "Modern" Korean food - fried chicken, bulgogi sliders, and more - from Danji
- Mandoo from Mandoo Bar

Country #182: Japan
Noodles
- Tsukemen from Tsujita LA
- Yakisoba from Sapporo
- Soba from Restaurant Nippon
- Ramen from Momosan Ramen

Country #185: Marshall Islands
- Tuna and breadfruit crisps in our friend's kitchen

Country #195: Australia
- Our first real Australian meal ever at The Sunburnt Calf (now closed)
- Australian burger and smashed mint peas at The Thirsty Koala
- Assorted pies and rolls from Pie Face (1, 2, 3) (now closed)

More to come!

World Cup 2014 Challenge Status

The World Cup finally starts tomorrow! It seems like ages ago (but somehow also like yesterday) that we were embarking on our first ever food quest together, our World Cup eats challenge back in 2010. We didn't hit up every country back then, and we certainly didn't blog about them all at the time. This is one of our favorite events for all the reasons we mentioned back in 2010, most notably the unity of the world around the same event and the exploration of so many different cultures.

The 2014 logo

This year, we're ready to hit the streets and try some new world eats for the countries competing in this year's World Cup. To keep track of our progress, we'll keep this post updated with the places we've been and links to all of the challenge posts.

Lots of bars with plenty of specials for the World Cup

Countries We've Done
Argentina - Nuchas
Australia - The Thirsty Koala
Belgium - Wafels & Dinges
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Cevabdzinica Sarajevo
Brazil - New York Pão de Queijo
Chile - San Antonio Bakery
Colombia - La Sabrosura
England - Cock and Bull
France - Poulette
Germany - Wechsler's
Greece - Poseidon Bakery
Italy - Don Antonio by Starita
Japan - Restaurant Nippon
Mexico - Otto's Tacos
Netherlands - Grand Central Oyster Bar
Portugal - City Sandwich
South Korea - Turntable Mad for Chicken
Spain - 100 Montaditos
United States - Daisy May's BBQ
Uruguay - Chivito d'Oro

We love the World Cup!

Countries Still to Do
Algeria
Cameroon
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Ecuador
Ghana
Honduras
Iran
Nigeria
Russia
Switzerland

Excited for our World Cup 2014 challenge!