A Taste of Home: Global Holiday Treats and Where to Find Them
When it comes to holiday food and drinks, every culture has its own traditions. From spicy mulled wine and vegetarian borscht soup to fruity sweetbreads and mince pies, here’s where to find a few cultural holiday staples from places like Eastern Europe, the UK, Italy, and Germany.
ITALIAN PANATTONE
Originating in Milan, this tasty, fruity sweet bread is a staple during the holiday season for Italians. Typically made with yummy fruits like raisins and citrus zests, the fruit cake also comes in modern varieties like pistachio, pear, and caramel. Top it with vanilla ice cream for delicious dessert! You an buy all kinds of panettone at the new Eataly in West Palm Beach.
POLISH & UKRAINIAN BORSCHT
It ain’t Christmas Eve in much of Eastern Europe if you aren’t starting your holiday dinner with a fresh bowl of borscht. This meatless, beet-based soup has been a tradition for many Eastern Europeans since the sixteenth century, with beets supposedly bringing the consumer a long, beautiful life. Grab a bowl of the Ukrainian-style borscht, served with a dollop of sour cream, at Tequesta Table.
BRITISH CHRISTMAS PUDDING AND MINCE PIES
Two quintessential British treats during the holiday season? Mince pies and Christmas pudding! Mince pies are little, flaky, sweet tarts filled with brandy-soaked fruits (the “mincemeat”) enjoyed warm or cold with cream or brandy butter. Sometimes called “plum pudding,” Christmas pudding dates back to medieval England. Either boiled or steamed, the sweet pudding is made with dark sugars, black treacle, dried fruits, and brandy. Get your British fix from Papa G’s Country Kitchen—you can order online or stop by their stand at the WPB Green Market on Saturdays.
GERMAN STOLLEN AND GLÜHWEIN
At Christmastime, there’s no better combo than a slice of stollen and a cup of glühwein. Stollen is the country’s traditional sweetbread, made with citrusy zest, spices like nutmeg, mace, cloves, and cinnamon, and filled with ingredients such rum- or brandy-soaked raisins. Enjoy it with a cup of coffee or go all out and indulge in a cup of glühwein, a warm, aromatic mulled wine popular in Germany and Austria made by blending heated red wine and mixture of spices and citrus fruits. You can get both at Stuart-based Ludwig’s Germany Bakery—the home-based bakery accepts orders via email and also sells their goods at pop-up stands at places like The Market at Newfield Farm in Palm City and seasonal holiday markets in Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian, and more.