The best parts about traveling the world are seeing new sights, experiencing new cultures and of course, trying new foods! In the U.S. we are blessed to have a melting pot of cultures andcuisines at our finger tips, but we don’t really have anything authentic, a
dish that is really ours (no, the FRENCH fry does not count). Europe on the
other hand, is known for their traditional and delicious foods, but it’s a myth
that you have to pay top dollar for these delicacies. Here are a few mouth-watering
meals from across Europe that you can afford on a budget:

Smazak-
Czech Republic:

Smazak is quite possibly the best fried-cheesy goodness out
there. It is most like a mozzarella stick, but flat, and tastes one million
times better. Czechs take Edam cheese and roll it in paste of flour, egg and
scrumptious bread crumbs before frying it to the perfect golden-brown color. It
is then served with tartar sauce and a variety of sides. You can usually find
it in the vegetarian section of the menu at almost every single restaurant in
the Czech Republic. The authentic name for it is “smazeny syr” and it is a
definite must try!

Burek-
Serbia:

Burek, or Börek, is a traditional Serbian pastry made from thin flaky phyllo dough and filled with cheese, minced meats or veggies. In Serbia it is baked in a circular pan,
topped with a last layer of dough and then cut into pie-like slices to be
served. It is usually filled with toppings like feta cheese or minced meat and
onions but it also comes plain. It is viewed as a fast food to local Serbians,
but modern bakeries serve updated versions such as apple, potato, mushroom and
pizza-burek. It is eaten for any meal, is amazingly cheap and it’s so delicious
you won’t be able to just have one slice.

Croque Monsieur- France:

 The French Croque Monsieur is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich, but with a
sophisticated, addicting twist! They take two slices of toasted bread and fill
them with ham and gruyère cheese. It is then topped with a béchamel sauce made
from butter, flour, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, more gruyère cheese and
nutmeg (insert stomach growl). The whole masterpiece is baked for a few minutes
and is served when the cheese on top is bubbling and lightly golden in color.
It may sound heart attack-inducing but hey, when in Rome! Once you eat one of
these, you will never look at ham and cheese the same.

Tomato, cheese and cucumber sandwich-
Switzerland:

 This may seem plain and rather boring, but the Swiss delicacy
is anything but! Because of the abundance of clean, fresh Swiss spring water,
the Swiss have some of the freshest produce in the world. It is also a given
that they are known for their quality cheese and bread. So what do you get when
you put all of these together? The freshest, best-tasting vegetarian sandwich
in the world. Switzerland is also a very expensive country for Americans, so
all of these ingredients are especially desirable for those budget travelers.
These tomato, cheese and cucumber sandwiches are found everywhere pre-made, or
you can buy the ingredients to make your own. Plus, everything is so fresh you
won’t need to add any fatty condiments for flavor. Pack a lunch, grab a RugenBrau,
and enjoy the picnic of a lifetime amongst the Swiss Alps.

Author: Cameron Smead is an expert budget traveler after backpacking across 11 European countries in five weeks. She recommends saving money on airfare with an Expedia coupon before treating your taste buds to Europe’s hidden secrets.