Food news
WorldOktoberfest celebrates German food, culture in ErieIndiaThe New York Times. . Surprise raids of Mumbai kitchens called for by Maharashtra’s new top food and drug official have made him an unlikely celebrity and set off a conversation about food standards in India. https://trib.al/29fuVVuHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkWorldOktoberfest celebrates German food, culture in ErieIndiaThe New York Times. . Surprise raids of Mumbai kitchens called for by Maharashtra’s new top food and drug official have made him an unlikely celebrity and set off a conversation about food standards in India. https://trib.al/29fuVVuHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair Park
Thali

Festival food

Made for a festival or a public holiday.

MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
CaviarFish or seafood 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSalt-cured fish roe, most prized from sturgeon of the Caspian and Black Sea Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks Thingyan riceFish or seafoodသင်္ကြန်ထမင်း 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 1 moreRice in scented water, served cold with fried dried fish for the Burmese New Year Main dish, Lunch, Dinner SurströmmingFish or seafood 🇸🇪 SwedenFermented Baltic herring with a famously strong smell, eaten cold in Sweden Sauce, pickle or ferment, Dinner LutefiskFish or seafood 🇳🇴 Norway and 4 moreNordic dish of dried whitefish rehydrated and treated with lye Main dish, Dinner HákarlFish or seafood 🇮🇸 IcelandFermented Greenland shark, a traditional Icelandic delicacy with a strong aroma Main dish TaramasalataFish or seafoodταραμοσαλάτα 🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreFish roe blended with oil, lemon and bread or potato, served as a meze spread Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks Gefilte fishFish or seafood 🇵🇱 Poland and 5 morePoached patties of seasoned fish, often topped with carrot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KamabokoFish or seafood蒲鉾 🇯🇵 JapanSteamed loaf of seasoned white fish paste, often served sliced in Japanese dishes Main dish Jansson's TemptationFish or seafoodJanssons frestelse 🇸🇪 Sweden and 1 moreSwedish casserole of potatoes, onions, pickled sprats and cream Main dish, Dinner, Supper Dried and salted codFish or seafood 🇳🇴 Norway and 5 moreCod preserved with salt and dried for long storage and global cooking Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Fisherman's soupFish or seafood 🇭🇺 Hungary and 2 moreSpicy paprika-rich fish soup from Hungary and the Pannonian Plain Soup, Dinner FesikhFish or seafoodفسيخ 🇪🇬 EgyptSalted, fermented and dried fish eaten for Egypt’s spring festival Main dish Dressed herringFish or seafoodСельдь под шубой 🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreLayered salad of herring, vegetables, eggs and mayonnaise with a purple beetroot top Salad or side, Dinner, Snacks Bagna càudaFish or seafood 🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreA warm anchovy and garlic dip from Piedmont, served with vegetables Sauce, pickle or ferment, Dinner Moules-fritesFish or seafood 🇧🇪 Belgium and 1 moreMussels cooked in broth, served with crisp fries on the side Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pickled herringFish or seafood 🇳🇱 Netherlands and 5 moreHerring preserved in salt and vinegar, eaten across Northern and Eastern Europe Sausage or cured food, Snacks, Lunch Polbo á feiraFish or seafood 🇪🇸 SpainOctopus boiled and dressed with olive oil, salt, and paprika, served hot Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Tuna potFish or seafood 🇪🇸 Spain and 1 moreBasque and Cantabrian stew of tuna, potatoes, peppers and tomato Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner SardineFish or seafood 🇵🇹 Portugal and 5 moreSmall oily fish enjoyed fresh, canned, smoked or pickled in many countries Main dish, Lunch, Dinner FanescaFish or seafood 🇪🇨 EcuadorEcuadorian soup with grains, pumpkin, and salt cod, served at Easter Soup, Lunch BacalhauFish or seafood 🇵🇹 Portugal and 5 moreDried and salted cod, a staple of Portuguese cooking Main dish, Lunch, Dinner FishcakeFish or seafood 🇯🇵 Japan and 5 moreMinced fish mixed with starch, shaped and cooked as patties or balls Main dish, Snacks, Lunch ChraimeFish or seafoodحرايمي 🇱🇾 Libya and 1 moreNorth African fish stew simmered with tomatoes and spices Main dish, Dinner Cod tongueFish or seafood 🇳🇴 Norway and 5 moreChewy, boneless cut from the lower jaw of cod, prized in North Atlantic fishing cultures Main dish, Lunch, Dinner SteckerlfischFish or seafood 🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreWhole fish marinated, skewered, and grilled over embers Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Fish pieFish or seafood 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreBaked dish of fish in creamy sauce topped with mashed potato Main dish, Lunch, Dinner HinavaFish or seafood 🇲🇾 MalaysiaSabah salad of raw fish dressed with citrus, chilli, onion and ginger Salad or side Fish fryFish or seafood 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreA meal or gathering centered on battered and fried fish, often with classic sides Main dish, Dinner Lomi-lomi salmonFish or seafood 🇺🇸 United StatesSalted salmon, tomato and onion salad served at Hawaiian gatherings Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner Baccalà mantecatoFish or seafood 🇮🇹 ItalyVenetian spread of whipped dried cod, olive oil and garlic, served as an appetizer Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Polvo à lagareiroFish or seafood 🇵🇹 PortugalPortuguese octopus baked with potatoes, garlic, and plenty of olive oil Main dish, Dinner

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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly plate

Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.