Foods Alexander J. Zawacki Has Tried

These Polish pre-Lent doughnuts have taken on a life (and an eating contest) of their own in the United States.

Welcome fall in Germany with this fizzy, refreshing young wine and a slice of savory onion tart.

Grown in the volcanic soil around Mt. Vesuvius, these tomatoes are one of only a couple varieties used in authentic Neapolitan pizza.

A New Year's Eve tradition of scarfing down 12 grapes for good luck.

Only two silent monks know all 130 plants that go into this herbal liqueur.

Make like Jane Austen and sip from the fountain in this famed Pump Room.

Local lore claims that German bakers made these pastries as an act of quiet rebellion during French occupation.

These Bavarian cookies are also intricate works of art.

This German sundae masquerades as an Italian dinner.

Every March, Central New York shelves are stocked with glass bottles of green dairy.

Pink or green syrup turns a historic German ale into a tart, sweet delight.

Pressed from frozen grapes, this prized wine was a sweet accident.

This ancient token of betrothal lives on as a Valentine's Day gift in Wales.

In the 19th century, tin miners ate these handheld pies and left their crusts to appease mischievous, mine-dwelling spirits.

These Neapolitan Christmas sweets double as decorations.

At a subterranean Edinburgh bar, drinkers can assemble their cocktails via kitschy claw machine.

Produced since 1847, these classic New England candies almost disappeared in 2018.

Brewers freeze their beer to make this high-octane, sweet style.

A Victorian favorite is hanging on in Pennsylvania.

The same grass that feeds massive European bison adds notes of vanilla and lavender to this unique Polish vodka.

Anyone for a shot of “Black Death”?

The washed and dried root of the licorice plant was once a popular natural “candy.”

A brewery consulted drinking vessels found in the ancient king’s tomb to recreate a 2,700-year-old elixir.

This flat, silver spoon holds an exalted place in the mystery and ritual of absinthe drinking.