Think of all the times that food has helped you feel better — the chocolate-stuffed pancakes in your mum's kitchen when your heart was broken, the creamy and comforting pasta on a night out with your colleagues after a hustling and bustling day at the office. Now, what about the days abroad when homesickness hits and you long for familiar flavours, or simply want to impress your friends with your cooking skills? Food is part of your identity, and wherever you are, you can find home through a great dish. Here' s a guide on how to recreate your favourite meals (and the homey atmosphere) in your kitchen abroad from Kristyna, a Czech expat in England.
Establishing yourself in a foreign country can, particularly in the beginning, be challenging. Therefore, it is no surprise that you will want to get some of the sense of being home to combat homesickness and bring back good memories. Or, you may want to proudly present the cuisine of your country to your new friends, colleagues, or other expats. A homemade dinner will not only keep your tummy happy, but will also boost your social life and strengthen social bonds that will help you integrate into the new environment.
So, instead of complaining about how much you miss home and homemade food, here are a few simple ideas for cooking and eating dishes that represent your home and will reconnect you with happy memories of your life before moving abroad. But don't forget to leave space for the new culture you live in — what a better place to start discovering it than a local restaurant?
Connect with other expats
Being away from home for a while makes you forget things that once used to be a routine. If you cannot remember the recipe you want to make, reach out to family and friends, or search for it on the internet. Make sure you utilise social media channels as well, even if you just need a bit of inspiration. There are plenty of expat groups on Facebook, and there might even be one that focuses on food. I discovered one for Czechs and Slovaks cooking in the United Kingdom where I found useful information, such as tips on how to substitute the various types of Czech flour with English types.
Find the ingredients
It may be difficult to find the same authentic products and ingredients that you would in your home country, but it's not impossible. Research the shops in your new city, or, if you live in a rural area maybe look for shops in the closest big city. If you can't find any, consider online shopping and international delivery. In Stoke, UK for example, there's a Slovak shop selling Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian products, as well as several Polish shops.
However, it will not always be possible to get all the required ingredients you need to cook a specific dish. Either you can plan to bring some ingredients with you the next time you travel home, or you can get a bit creative and decide to substitute them with other available ones.
For more information on shops and alternative solutions, ask your friends or colleagues from the same country as you, or ask for help in expat forums.
Dine out
Do some research, and find restaurants, bistros, or cafés that are serving dishes and drinks from your home country. Not only you can start treating yourself now and then to traditional food (without the cooking and washing parts), but you may also meet other people from your home country to make friends with. Of course, in bigger cities, there are more chances to find such places, but it's worth trying anyway — these places are often hidden gems waiting to be discovered. In Stoke on Trent, there are two restaurants where you can taste traditional Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian dishes.
Try the local cuisine
It's good practice to recreate the dishes from your homeland while living abroad, but don´t forget to taste the local cuisine and specialities as well. Food is so closely connected to culture and social behaviour that you won't have the full picture of the country you live in if you don't immerse yourself in the new aromas and flavours, and don't try the signature dishes. And who knows? You might find your next favourite dish (just don't tell your mother)!
