Gourmet Food in Western Europe

Travelers to Western Europe can enjoy fine dining and gourmet food in Michelin three-star restaurants or simply grab a sandwich for a time and money saving picnic lunch.

Even in an era of globalization, eating foreign food is one of the joys of traveling in Western Europe. France is famous for fine dining (26 Michelin three-star restaurants) and the availability of excellently prepared food even in the smallest of neighborhood bistros. How does the rest of Western Europe stack up in comparison? Is it only fries in the Netherlands, waffles in Belgium, and bratwurst in Germany?

Luxembourg and Belgium are close enough to flaunt the French culinary influences. My French teacher, who hailed from Brussels, defines Belgian cuisine in four words: French cooking, German portions! Even to her, it may come as a pleasant surprise that Germany with nine Michelin three-star restaurants is only second to France in terms of fine dining.

True gourmets won’t regret heading to the countryside – Michelin defines a three-star restaurant as worthy of a journey anyways. The small village Baiersbronn, population 16,000, in the German Black Forest alone sports two three-star restaurants while the two three-star restaurants in the Netherlands are in the internationally renowned towns Sluis and Zwolle. In Switzerland, for three-star dining pleasure head straight to Brent or Crissier.

Three-star dining in Europe is even harder on the wallet than on the waistline. When on a tight budget, save money by making lunch the main meal of the day and order the daily specials. These are usually the best value and served fastest. Cafés from Vienna to Berlin serve smaller meals at reasonable prices too.

• Considering lunch a waste of valuable daylight sightseeing time? Most bakeries sell cheap sandwiches made of local bread, fresh produce, cheese, and meats that can be enjoyed as a picnic lunch on a bench in a park or old town pedestrian zone.