Monaco
Gastronomy in Monaco
Cuisine in the country has substantial influence from the French cuisine. The main recipes of Monegasque food are based on fish, fresh vegetables, seafood, olive oil and rice.
The national specialties of Monaco include barbagiuan (a delicious pastry made from rice, cheese, leek and pumpkin or spinach), fougasse (another kind of pastry made from fragrant orange flower water and garnish with aniseed and nuts), socca (a yummy pancakes and prepared with chickpea flour), and stocafi (cooked with dried cod and tomato sauce). Some of the appetizers that are usually served in the country are grilled fruit kebabs (made from vegetable oil, lime juice, brown sugar, mint, apples, peaches, bananas, kiwifruit, strawberries and pineapple), baba ganoush (prepared with olive oil, garlic, onion, lemon juice, eggplants, tahini, salt, black pepper, tomato, cold water and parsley), baked cheese wedges (made from egg, milk, flour, salt, pepper and Muenster cheese), peanut chutney spread (prepared with fat free cream cheese, chutney, crunchy peanut butter, onion, ginger, teriyaki sauce and dry mustard), strawberries with creamy lime dip (cooked with powdered sugar, lime peel, nonfat sour cream, strawberries and lime juice).
Common desserts that are served in the country are chocolate mousse, fresh baked assorted cookies, fudge nut brownies, vanilla ice cream, fruit pie ala mode, turtle cheesecake (classic cheesecake and garnish with chocolate, peanuts and caramel on top), sacher torte (layered chocolate cake with chocolate ganache coating and apricot filling) and creme brulee (custard dessert and garnish with caramelized sugar on top). Traditional beverages are influenced by country’s nearness to France. The most popular drinks are coffee, hot chocolate, milk and fine wines.
