My World Cup food bracket: How do the teams stack up in the kitchen?
It’s the first day of the World Cup! That exclamation point is a bit disingenuous because in actuality I don’t care at all. Or at least I didn’t care until I saw this piece from the Washington Post on how to Eat your way through the World Cup with a recipe for every team in the field. Okay, food is involved? I’m here for this.
Upon reading the article, I realized that since starting my culinary trip around the world I’ve made recipes from nearly two thirds of the teams’ countries!
So here it is: my World Cup bracket, with the winners predicted solely based on which country’s food I liked best.
Group A:
- Russia: Pashka (Easter cheesecake with fruit and nuts)
- Egypt: Om Ali (Layered phyllo dessert)
- Saudi Arabia – TBD – DQ!
- Uruguay – TBD – DQ!
Predicted Winner: This is a tough grouping. Traditionally, countries competing in the desserts category don’t do as well in my book. Neither of these recipes made my exclusive “make again” club, but ultimately I think the story of Om Ali being killed by the Sultan’s other wife is a more novel one than “Christ Has Risen.” So Egypt it is.
Group B:
- Portugal: Caldeirada de Peixe (Fish stew)
- Spain – TBD – DQ!
- Morocco: Lamb Tagine
- Iran – TBD – DQ!
Predicted Winner: Although both dishes were very good, Portugal wins out here. The fish stew was simple, yet so complex – soul food at its finest. And I made it at Camp with fish fresh from the Boston fish market, so it tasted even better.
Group C:
- France – TBD – DQ!
- Peru: Lomo Saltado (Steak & Fries)
- Australia: Lamingtons
- Denmark – TBD – DQ!
Predicted Winner: Easy choice on this one. Peruvian cuisine is always amazing, and steak and fries is pretty hard to beat when done right.
Group D:
- Argentina – TBD – DQ!
- Iceland – TBD – DQ!
- Croatia – TBD – DQ!
- Nigeria: Jollof Rice
Predicted Winner: Nigeria wins by default here, but I don’t think they needed the handicap. This jollof rice was perfection.
Group E:
- Brazil: Moqueca Capixaba (Fist stew)
- Switzerland: Rösti (essentially a giant hash brown)
- Costa Rica – TBD – DQ!
- Serbia: Vasa’s Torte (Chocolate orange walnut cake)
Predicted Winner: All of the dishes in this grouping were really popular, but for me the Brazilian fish stew is the clear winner.
Group F:
Predicted Winner: Oh man, this grouping is hard. Up against anyone else, I think princess cake and bibimbop would each have a great shot at winning, but unfortunately for them they’re up against Mexican pozole. Hominy in a spicy broth with chicken and avocado is a grand slam. Oh wait, wrong sport.
Group G:
- Belgium: Rabbit Carbonnade
- Panama – TBD – DQ!
- Tunisia: Shakshuka
- England: Beltane Cake
Predicted Winner: Tunisia is the clear winner here. Why haven’t I made this again!?
Group H:
- Poland: Bialy Barszcz (White borscht)
- Senegal: Thiéboudienne (Fish and rice dish)
- Colombia: Ajiaco (Chicken and potato soup)
- Japan: Okonomiyaki (Cabbage pancake)
Predicted Winner: Okay, predicting a winner here tears me apart. All four of these countries brought strong players to the cup, but ajiaco and okonomiyaki are both in my top five list of all 88 of the recipes I’ve made. In fact, I’ve made them both more than once. Ultimately, I’m going to have to give the slightest edge to the okonomiyaki to win, but please know this was like picking a favorite child.
