CREDIT: Flickr/Jessica Spengler
When you're in a new and unfamiliar place, one of the best tools for learning about the culture is food. But you don't want fancy stuff: that's for tourists and wealthy people with expensive ascots. You've gotta go to the streets, where pizza (or whatever that country's version of pizza is) is king. Or duke. Or whatever form of government represents said food's country of origin. So, in the interest of helping you better stuff your face, we found some of the best and most ubiquitous street snacks all across Europe. And only one of them is pizza.
CREDIT: Flickr/Ryan
Belgium: Frites
Frites were pretty much invented in Belgium (although France's claim is more stuck in the collective American consciousness), and they remain the most ubiquitous street food there. Usually, they're served with any number of sauces (aioli, pepper sauce, chutney, curry ketchup, curry sauce, tartar sauce, or mayonnaise) and stuffed in a cone, because that's how most foods were meant to be served.
CREDIT: Wikipedia/Pastorius
Czech Republic: Smažený sýr
Sure, it may be spelled somewhat dauntingly, but there's nothing scary about this Czech street-food delicacy -- it's breaded-and-fried cheese (usually Edam). Sided with potatoes or salad, it makes a formidable meal, and, due to increasing influence from other nations' cuisines, smažený sýr can now often be found in sandwich form.
CREDIT: Flickr/Simon Q
Denmark: Danish hot dogs
Available all over the country from polsevogn (hot dog wagons), Danish hot dogs are a unique hybrid of American and European influences, in that they're made of Northern European-style sausage, but topped with distinctly American-style accoutrements, like crispy fried onions, mustard, pickles, and... remoulade? Ok, so maybe not entirely American. But still delicious!
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