By Tathee Belga

Food Trip Magazine Travelling Foodie

(Editor’s note: Our travelling foodie, Tathee Belga, is back once again with her latest adventure, which was in Tirana, capital city ng Albania, known for its lovely cuisines and friendly locals.)

My Balkan foodie escapade started as I hopped on a bus in Skopje, Macedonia to check out Mother Teresa’s memorial, and thought, why not explore Albania too?  It’s just a bus ride away, anyway! Couldn’t wait to see what this awesome country has in store for me. And so, first stop on my Albanian adventure was Tirana, the capital city.

I tried a random waffle at Kalaja e Tiranes in the evening; of course, waffle plus Nutella is always divine.

There were so many restaurants where you can dine in at a very affordable price here.

The next day, I decided to visit the old town in the north-central part of Albania and went for a little hike. That evening, on my way back to Tirana, I asked some locals about their traditional sweets. I was tempted to try everything, but I managed to resist and settled for just one.

And soon enough I was indulging in Trilece, one of those traditional Albanian desserts. It’s a sponge cake and absolutely tasty! The next day, I went to Skoder in the northern side, where the weather was amazing.

Food is great and really not pricey. For AED8, you’ll get a carbonara portion served in an artful way.

An ice cream along the way? I got very curious when I saw a lot of people queue up for ice cream in this cold weather. A natural ice cream for 100 Lek, which is 4dhs. It’s so satisfying.

And my last stop, a beautiful mountain called Theth. This place is such a gem!

I met a beautiful family who owns a guesthouse and hosted me for almost a week, experiencing cooking and indulging in some traditional food.

“Tave me Domate” contains calf beef and vegetables, baked with love by me and Albanian friends.

Also, I learned how to bake fresh bread and how to cut it the Albanian way.

Chicken Albanian soup is so good in such a cold weather. This is actually my favorite! Strella’s guest house offers a uniquely plated assorted dish called Strella 1 on the menu.

Tavë Elbasani or Tavë Kosi contains sheep meat, originated in Elbasan, and is the national dish of Albania.

And tried some delicious bake cheese and spinach Byrek, I can’t stop eating this one. This is baked by Mrs. Shpella, the owner of the guest house.

It’s fascinating to know that in Albanian culture and in other Balkan countries, placing a teddy bear or hanging them outside the home is seen as a superstitious practice believed to bring good luck, according to some Albanian friends.

Want to discover the enchanting beauty of Theth, the hidden gem of Albania? Follow @shpella_theth_guesthouse for an exclusive look into their beautiful guesthouse and savor the flavors of their mouthwatering local cuisine. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss!