A Veggie Lover’s Europe.
Whoever says a traveling vegetarian couldn’t survive in Western Europe obviously isn’t one. Get ready to take your vegetarian taste buds on a wallet-happy gastronomic journey through Europe.
1. France
I’m vegetarian: Je suis une végetarienne
It’s probably harder to survive if you don’t speak French than if you’re vegetarian in France. There’s a boulangerie (local bakery) around every corner, even in the smallest of towns, and the breads will leave you drooling. Despite being the night person that I am, I woke up deliriously happy in the early mornings, only to stuff myself with the best breakfast in the world. If you manage to get past the Croissant obsession, surrender yourself to the delicious vegetarian Paninis and Baguettes, typically filled with feta cheese and fresh veggies.
boulangeries, pattiseries, chocolateries, biscuiteries, tarteries, creperies, sandwicheries & glacieries are sprinkled all over France. Photo credit: Chris van Dyck.
yummy. Photo credit: Paris by Mouth.
2. Italy
I’m vegetarian: Sono vegetariana
Italy is a natural heaven for vegetarians; half a menu in any restaurant is filled with vegetarian pastas and pizzas by default, and you can’t not fall in love with them. Think melted cheese, homemade pastas, indigenous pesto, finely sliced fresh veggies, olive oils…
And even if you’re full to the brim, you must stay for dessert. The Italians take their hot chocolate literally.
Italian Pizza with Funghi Porcini. Photo credit: McPig.
Strozzapreti al pesto. Photo credit: Monica Arellano-Ongpin.
3. Austria
I’m vegetarian: Ich bin Vegetarierin
You could be sitting in a cafe in Innsbruck, having German beer, Italian pasta and French pastries. The lack of distinctly Austrian vegetarian food is more than made up for by the sheer variety of neighboring cuisines.
One of the best pastas I've had outside of Italy, at a small cafe in Innsbruck. Handmade spinach pasta.
4. Germany
I’m vegetarian: Ich bin Vegetarierin
Meat-loving Germany is the first country other than India, where I found a vegetarian burger at McDonalds! If you’re looking for something more authentic, order a Spatzle anywhere you go; it’s a homegrown version of soft egg noodles. And if you’re in need of a healthier, refreshing alternative to beer, try the homemade Spezi.
The Globetrotter Girls have more vegetarian-in-Germany ideas for you.
Spatzle. It's better than it looks! Photo credit: Jeremy Keith
5. Amsterdam
I’m vegetarian: Ik ben vegetariër (though it’s safe to assume that everyone speaks & understands English)
You probably wouldn’t bother with food in Amsterdam, but when hunger hits you, stop by at the multitude of international restaurants; Indian Chinese food at the ‘Chinese’ takeaways, Falafel Kebabs at Donor Kebab stalls, Pesto Veggie sandwiches, Italian pastas, Mexican nachos. It’s some of the best vegetarian food I’ve ever had, but there could be other reasons for that.
Happy pizza, anyone?
Writing this post has sent my stomach rumbling…
This post was featured on the travel blog of Yellow Leg.
and reading it has made me super hungry now! Even when am not a vegetarian, I think this is excellent advice for us non-vegetarians for some ‘off-beat’ travel.
Keep writing, forever and everrrrr..
Haha, so then I could use this post as evangelism for vegetarianism?
Sure thing, as long as you promise to keep reading!
I love this post! I’m a vege too, and I think we need a guide on how to say “No, I don’t eat fish, fish is not vegetarian”. Haha. If you’re doing a post on vegetarian food in Eastern Europe, then let me know – I have some great pics from my recent trip to Budapest. Surprisingly good vegetarian fare! Can I suggest this post? Seven Super-delish Destinations for Veggies http://su.pr/1TsaXa
Thanks Lindy & welcome to The Shooting Star
Haha, we definitely need such a guide, especially in Southeast Asia! Eastern Europe’s been on my travel list for a while now, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it there this year; soon I hope!
Thanks for the 7 super-delish destinations; I can surely vouch for India and Europe, but honestly, I had a tough time finding veggie food in Vietnam, maybe because I didn’t take to Pho quickly enough!
Being a pure non-vegetarian contemplating switching to be a vegetarian, I guess this gives me more reasons now.
There’s never a better time to switch. Glad you got some inspiration here, and good luck
I’m sitting at home sick, on the couch, with a nasty cold in the middle of the summer, and this post and all its delicious looking food just cheered me up a little
I always love food, sick or not sick!
Aww, I hope I didn’t make you too hungry. Get better soon
What an interesting post!
I do not eat meat over 20 years, still till now I like to eat fish and crustaceans. I have never been to Asia, but if I be there, I would like to have a taste of roasted beetles
I live in the Baltics, and here, like in Scandinavia, vegetarism is not so popular. Vėdarai (a sausage, made of a potato stuffed large intestine of a domestic pig), skilandis (pig stomach stuffed with meat and garlic and cold-smoked) and cepelinai (potato dumplings stuffed with meat) are a substantial part of Lithuanian cuisine. However it is certainly true that you could find here foods used in vegetarian cuisine, especially sweet stuff. For example, tinginys (slacker). Would you like to have a taste of tinginys? Take a look at my website: http://www.arunasworld.com/?p=4383
and make it at your home
Arūnas
The chocolatey stuff on your website looks quite delicious! The Baltics have been on my list of travel places for a while now. I hope to make it there soon, and hope to survive as a vegetarian
Welcome to The Shooting Star btw!
Beautiful Europe in one post. Just a delight.
Great post. I’m not vegetarian, but I am quite happy to eat vegetarian food. This all looks wonderful and yes, it is making me hungry.
And that’s why I read this post after dinner
my name is roy smith,am a vegetarian,i will like to meet a single vegetarian woman(35-60) too from any part of the world,am a 51years old divorced man with a son,we live together in my house here in NC,USA.my phone number is +1-7047658630,please put the code +1 if you are out of the USA.my email address is roysmith5123@yahoo.com
For Indian Food you can search on http://www.indiandinner.com I am quite allergic to egg and cheese and most dishes have them !!!
Can’t think of anything tasty that wouldn’t have egg & cheese except Indian food!