Our Asian edition of breakfasts around the world was all about bold tastes, thanks in part to the love of spice on this side of the world.
In our Western edition, we once more highlight iconic breakfasts in selected countries, and find reason to fall in love with simple flavours.
Spain – Chocolate con Churros
What we think to be more of a dessert here in Singapore, Chocolate con Churros is a staple breakfast in Spain, and a decadent one at that. Think dipping deep-fried golden brown choux pastry into thick, velvety hot chocolate. Every bite will set you back on the calories, but it’s well worth it.
Churros appear similar to their Taiwan counterpart, the You Tiao – crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. These long sticks are however, definitely meant to be enjoyed sweet. Pair those churros with a slight hint of bitterness from a cup of coffee and the day is yours to conquer.
Greece – Savoury Pies
It can be argued that there isn’t a set breakfast in Greece as we have seen for the other countries on our lists. One thing’s for certain, food in Greece is centered around their amazing source of fresh Mediterranean products.
Breakfasts vary according to the three regions of Crete, Thessaly, and Cyclades. If we had to pick one, we would opt for the category of savoury pies. Traditionally, these pies would sport seasonal vegetables as the filling, with a combination of cheese varieties.
Digging into one of these will either kick start the day for you or land you in a food coma, but either way you’re sure to be happy.
Morocco – Msemen
Morocco is an African country, no doubt, but we are including it on this list owing to its proximity to Europe. The other reason is Msemen, which is a rich traditional pancake made from durum wheat. One look and Singaporeans would exclaim “Prata!” without hesitation.
Thick and fluffy pancakes are the name of the game here. Msemen is a cousin of sorts to what we affectionately call Prata, though it can be frequently stuffed with meat or other fillings in Morocco, not unlike the Murtabak. In Morocco, however, Msemen is not enjoyed with curry.
Mint tea is almost always served alongside Msemen, with its light and clear body helping to cut through the fattiness of the doughy pancake.
United Kingdom – Full English Breakfast
You know the UK would appear on this list, being the go-to travel destination for many Singaporeans, and in the UK, the Full English Breakfast is a behemoth (both in terms of size and popularity) that would have to be rated at the top.
Boasting a smorgasbord of ingredients featuring sausages, fried eggs, back bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes and fried bread, the Full English is more brunch decadence than simple breakfast. What makes the ones you can find in the UK special is the addition of black pudding (blood sausage).
There are of course variations to this – the Scottish breakfast has their tattie scones (potato scone) and haggis, the Welsh feature their laverbread (made of seaweed) and the Cornish breakfast top it off with their Cornish Hogs Pudding – all of which you should try when exploring the UK to get the full experience of the Full English.
France – Tartine
One would think to feature the croissant here, and don’t get me wrong, they are big in France but I would like to bring your attention to the tartine (translates to “slices of bread”).
Usually taking the form of a baguette, butter, jam and chocolate paste are the standard toppings on a tartine, but today you’ll definitely see more combinations such as fruits like avocado or banana and even cheese like ricotta.
Norway – Brunost
The hottest millennial travel spot, aside from Iceland, Norway boasts spectacular sceneries that one can only dream of (or live vicariously through photos of friends).
What they don’t show you is the Norwegians’ love for all things cheese, especially when it’s brunost, a brown whey cheese that is sweet with a texture reminiscent of caramel. Slap it on a slice of bread or biscuit or even have it just by itself, it is a simple dish but sets you right for the rest of the day.
Australia – Big Fry Up
While the UK has their signature Full English Breakfast, the Aussies have their Big Fry Up. Here, we see some influence pervading from their days of being a British colony. If there’s anything to take away, it’s definitely how to fry up a big, hearty breakfast.
Based on a core of fried eggs, smokey bacon, grilled tomatoes, and mushrooms, the Australian Big Fry Up has captured the hearts of many. Add in a side of toast, get a cuppa joe (and you know they are good here), it’s a hearty breakfast for sure.
If you want to go for something more uniquely and exclusively Australian, there’s always spreading vegemite on toast – you can’t get more Australian than that.
