The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are in full swing and people all over the world like me are glued to our television set watching the festivities. There are 88 nations represented with 2,800 participants to compete in 98 events. People everywhere are eagerly watching the competitions and enjoying the festivities. Me too, one eye on the incredible athletes and the other on the food which is what prompted me to present a few Olympic inspired recipes.
In the past, I had the privilege of doing graphic work for three different Olympics (France, Norway & Spain). The work was interesting and fun, but what I really enjoyed was the food. Imagine, food served to accommodate and appeal to every culinary taste! For instance… I could have eaten sushi for breakfast, green curry for lunch, followed by meat and cabbage pie for dinner. And then there was the pig snout salad that we were served in France that was suspiciously too pink. Normally I live for eating strange things but that morning I had to pass, which was probably my loss.
It’d be an understatement to say that my Olympic experiences sparked an interest in international food and broadened my appeal for the many exotic flavors of the world.
Here are a few Olympic inspired recipes which represent some of the countries that are participating in this years’ games. Enjoy these, and a few fun Olympic facts from around the world.
France
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924.
Gateau au Chocolat (French Chocolate Cake)
India
In the 2008 Olympics, India won its first ever individual gold medal when
Abhinav Bindra won the 10m air rifle event.
Potato Samosas with Yogurt Mint Chutney
Italy
The first Olympics covered by U.S. television was the
1960 Summer Games in Rome by CBS.
Japan
Japan hosted the Games in 1962, 1972 & 1978
with a fourth Olympics planned in Tokyo for 2020.
Mexico
Mexico is one of 18 countries that has only one athlete representing them in Sochi.
Morocco
Morocco has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games
on six occasions since 1968.
Spain
Spanish athletes have won a total of 133 medals,
with sailing as the top medal-producing sport.
Two of those medals were won at the Winter Games.
South America
South America, along with Africa and Antarctica – have never hosted an Olympics.
Peru’s first participation in the Winter Olympic Games
occurred during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Quinoa Salad with Corn & Fresh Herbs
Sweden
Stockholm 1912 saw the last gold medals made entirely from gold.
Current medals are gold-plated.
Toast Skagen – Swedish Shrimp Salad
Thailand
Vanessa-Mae will ski in the 2014 Olympics for Thailand, she’s also a violinist.
Chiang Mai Chicken on Endive Spears
America
James B. Connolly (U. S.), winner of the hop, step, and jump
(the first final event in the 1896 Olympics),
was the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games.
Chicken with Goat Cheese and Strawberry Sauce
More Fun Facts about the Olympics:
- The word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek root “gymnos” meaning nude; the literal meaning of “gymnasium” is “school for naked exercise.” Athletes in the ancient Olympic Games would participate in the nude.
- Motor boating was an official sport at the 1908 Olympics.
- First place winners in the 1900 Paris Olympics received paintings instead of gold medals because they were considered to be more valuable.
- The official slogan for the Sochi Games is “Hot. Cool. Yours.”
I hope you find these “hot” international recipes “cool” enough to be made by you and “yours”.
…and then, she paused for thought.
What a great Olympic overview and idea for a themed party. I love it!
Thanks. I love the idea of an Olympic themed party. “Eat around the world in 8 courses” Please invite me if you do it.
tasting page took the words right off of my keyboard (ha ha!) Brilliant post, Cathy! Such great recipes, too. I must say that I think my favorite is the Italian Chicken under a Brick…looks amazing!
Thanks Christina! The Chicken under a Brick is super easy as well. Enjoy.
Cathy, All your photos and recipes here are so fun and inspiring! The kids and I made a five course Russian dinner last weekend to celebrate the Olympics – turned out so delicious but it was not in the “quick and easy” category for sure! The Pelmeni (meat & cabbage dumplings) and the Geesefeet (farmer’s cheese pastries) were our favorites. I’m voting that you post a Russian recipe for your next project!!! Please??? OR – you need to post one of the recipes from “the King Richard II Castle Cookbook” we made in our Canterbury Cathedral cooking class! Thank you again for treating me to that fun experience! Love you, Cousin Julie
Thanks Julie. I wish I could have tasted your Russian extravaganza! Time ran out for a Russian blog as I have so many photos, but I it is on the list of blogs to do. I will also do a post on our Canterbury Tales Cooking Class next month. Thanks for stopping by.
I concur that this is a brilliant concept! This shows your versatility as a cook, traveler and blogger!
Thank you Adair. Such great memories and more stories to share.
I think you just completed the foodie version of a vertical halfpipe and your snowboard is launching high over the summit on the way to gold! Such a winning exploration of food and the Olympics!
Thanks Leslie, I love your analogy!
Cathy,
what a great idea to focus on the food, and how is it that you had all those recipes and photos up your sleeve? Tell us more about what you did, graphic wise. I see you in front of tv sets, but don’t know what you were doing…
Susan
Susan, to answer your question, I put graphics on the television screen. At the Albertville Olympics I worked in the International Broadcast Center supplying graphics for the CBS primetime show (like the one you see Bob Costas on in Sochi)
Wow. Creative and technically adept. Not fair.
Thanks Susan! 🙂
No matter what you do for any of your blogs, they are always very interesting to read and I learn something every single time. Featuring a variety of foods from around the world for the Olympics was a great idea — the foods are so colorful and mouth-watering too! You are incredibly gifted in so many areas and you’ve done many exciting things throughout the world in your life time … and I know that there is a LOT more to come!! I don’t think there’s an end to your creativity, Cathy!!!!!
Thanks Linda. I appreciate your kind words! I do look forward to the “more to come”. 🙂
Love those fun facts!
Thanks Nan, there were so many fun ones to choose from.
I’ve had pig snout and it was too pink. It was also too bland. You didn’t miss much. GREG
Thanks Greg, I was worried I blew my only opportunity to eat something as fabulous as pig snout salad. I feel much better now!
How clever of you to connect the food and culture of the countries to the athletes. Love this roundup.
Thank you. Food seems to pair well with everything in life! 🙂
How exciting to have been part of three Olympics! The food, culture and Olympic facts you share here makes for a thoroughly interesting post – Brilliant!
Thanks You! Yes it was fun to be a part of something so global.I naturally tie in food to everything, so this seemed like a natural fit.
Super fun idea! Love it.
So glad you enjoyed it!