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

Sacred food and offerings

Food offered in worship, shared at a temple, church, mosque or shrine, or eaten as a rite.

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
Halvaحَلَاوَة 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreDense sweet made from seeds, grains, or vegetables, found across Asia, Africa, and Europe Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time BaklavaVegetarianباقلوا 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreThin pastry filled with nuts and soaked in sweet syrup Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Easter egg 🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreEggs dyed or decorated for Easter, symbolizing resurrection and new life Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Pancake 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreFlat cakes made from batter, cooked on a griddle or pan and served sweet or savoury Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks JalebiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreDeep-fried spirals of batter soaked in syrup, enjoyed across Asia and Africa Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks Rice pudding 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreSweetened rice cooked in milk, found in many forms worldwide Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Lunch Turkish delightVegan 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreSoft, chewy cubes of starch and sugar, often flavored or filled with nuts or fruit Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time PanchamritaVegetarianपञ्चामृत 🇮🇳 IndiaA sacred blend of five sweet ingredients offered in Hindu and Jain rituals Sweet or dessert MohanthalVegetarian 🇮🇳 IndiaFudge-like sweet of gram flour, ghee and sugar from western India Sweet or dessert Tirupati LadduVegetarianశ్రీవారి లడ్డూ 🇮🇳 IndiaTemple sweet made of gram flour, ghee, cashew and cardamom, given as prasadam in Tirupati Sweet or dessert MahaprasadVegetarianମହାପ୍ରସାଦ 🇮🇳 IndiaSanctified vegetarian food served at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Qamar al-DinVeganقمر الدين 🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreThick apricot fruit leather and drink, especially served during Ramadan Drink, Snacks BhangVeganभांग 🇮🇳 IndiaCannabis leaf paste used in drinks and sweets, central to Indian spring festivals Drink, Snacks Sheer khurmaVegetarianشير خرما 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA sweet vermicelli pudding with milk, dates and nuts for Eid celebrations Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Pierogi 🇵🇱 Poland and 6 moreDumplings of unleavened dough filled with savory or sweet mixtures Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner SharbatVeganشربت 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSweet fruit or flower drink, served chilled or as a syrup Drink, Snacks KheerVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreA sweet pudding of rice, milk and sugar, flavoured with cardamom and nuts Sweet or dessert KnafehVegetarianكنافة 🇵🇸 Palestine and 5 moreShredded pastry layered with cheese and soaked in sweet syrup Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks LadduVegetarianलड्डू 🇮🇳 IndiaRound Indian sweet made with flour, sugar, ghee and often nuts or dried fruit Sweet or dessert, Snacks Sponge cakeVegetarian 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreA light, airy cake made with eggs, flour and sugar, often served plain or with fillings Sweet or dessert, Tea time Varenykyвареники 🇺🇦 Ukraine and 1 moreUkrainian dumplings filled with sweet or savoury ingredients Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner Tulumba 🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreDeep-fried batter sticks soaked in sweet syrup Sweet or dessert, Snacks Kissel 🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreA sweet, thickened fruit or grain dessert from Eastern and Central Europe Sweet or dessert, Snacks KutiaVegetarian 🇧🇾 Belarus and 5 moreSweet grain porridge with honey, poppy seeds and nuts for winter feasts Sweet or dessert, Dinner King cake 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA festive sweet bread or pastry with a hidden token, eaten for Epiphany and Carnival Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time AshureVeganAşure 🇹🇷 Turkey and 3 moreSweet porridge of grains, dried fruits and nuts shared for festivals and remembrance Sweet or dessert RasgullaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSoft chhena balls simmered in light sugar syrup Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Muhallebiمهلبی 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreA smooth milk pudding thickened with rice flour or starch, served cold Sweet or dessert Qatayefقطايف 🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreSweet stuffed pancakes, folded and filled with nuts or cream, served for Ramadan Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time PaskaVegetarianпаска 🇺🇦 Ukraine and 4 moreSweet, enriched bread made for Easter in Ukraine, Romania and nearby countries Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Osechi御節料理 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese New Year foods arranged in tiered lacquered boxes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner LokmaVegan 🇮🇶 Iraq and 4 moreSmall fried dough pieces sweetened with syrup or honey Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time MacaroonVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreSweet biscuit or small cake made from nuts or coconut and egg whites Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time CendolVeganꦕꦺꦤ꧀ꦝꦺꦴꦭ꧀ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGreen rice flour jelly with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and ice Drink, Snacks Ma'amoulVegetarianمعمول 🇸🇾 Syria and 4 moreSemolina cookies filled with dates or nuts, shaped in moulds for festive occasions Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time ModakVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreA sweet dumpling with coconut and jaggery, offered in Hindu and Buddhist rituals Sweet or dessert, Snacks Buñuelo 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreCrisp or fluffy fried dough, sweet or savory, enjoyed across Spain and Latin America Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Breakfast Flattened riceVegan 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRice grains flattened into flakes, used in sweet and savoury dishes across Asia Rice dish, Breakfast, Snacks Kugelקוגל 🇮🇱 Israel and 5 moreAshkenazi Jewish baked casserole of noodles or potatoes, sweet or savory Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Rooh AfzaVegan 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA sweet herbal syrup mixed with water or milk, popular in South Asia Drink, Snacks BaghrirVegetarianالبغرير 🇩🇿 Algeria and 2 moreSpongy semolina pancakes from the Maghreb, full of tiny holes for soaking up sauces Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Hot cross bunVegetarian 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreA sweet, spiced bun with a cross on top, eaten at Easter Bread, Breakfast, Snacks BotamochiVeganぼたもち or 牡丹餅 🇯🇵 JapanSweet rice balls covered with red bean paste, eaten during spring and autumn in Japan Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time CharosetVegan 🇮🇱 Israel and 5 moreA sweet fruit and nut paste for the Passover table Sweet or dessert MalpuaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreSweet deep-fried pancakes from the Indian subcontinent, often dipped in syrup Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Umm AliVegetarianأم علي 🇪🇬 Egypt and 2 moreEgyptian dessert of soaked pastry, milk, nuts and sugar, baked until golden Sweet or dessert, Dinner, Snacks PaskhaVegetarianпа́сха 🇷🇺 Russia and 2 moreMolded sweet cheese made for Orthodox Easter celebrations Sweet or dessert CalissonVegetarian 🇫🇷 FranceFrench confection with candied fruit, almond paste, and a sugar glaze Sweet or dessert, Snacks
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Photo credits on this page

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.