Germany -

Germany

German food has evolved through centuries of social and political change with variations from region to region.

The southern regions of Germany, Bavaria and Swabia share numerous dishes. Ingredients and dishes differ by province. There are numerous significant regional dishes that became both national and regional. Many dishes that were once regional, however, have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day.

With the influx of foreign workers after World War II, many foreign dishes have been adopted into German cuisine - Italian dishes like spaghetti and pizza have become a staple of the German diet. Turkish immigrants also have had a substantial influence on German eating habits; Döner kebab is Germany's favourite fast food, selling twice as much as the major burger chains put together (namely Mc Donald's and Burger King, being the only widespread burger chains in Germany). Chinese and Greek foods also are widespread and popular. Indian, Vietnamese, Thai and other Asian cuisines are rapidly gaining in popularity. Most of the more expensive restaurants served mostly French dishes for many decades, but since the 1990s, they have been shifting to a more refined type of German cuisine.