Top 10 after 50

Here we are at one quarter of the way through this project.

It’s been over THREE YEARS since I set out on this quest. You might think that’s slow, but for me this is a great achievement. I don’t think I’ve ever stuck at an activity or hobby for as long as this before. Certainly not the adult-ballet-for-beginners in 2015…or the Welsh lessons of 2021…

What’s beautiful is that I’m still enjoying the process as much as I did at the start. I’m still just as excited every time I pull out a new country, to learn about the geography, history, culture, and the food of that country.

And, most dishes still surprise me!

Particular highlights since my last update at 25 countries have been:

- Being able to host again post-lockdown.

- Germany LockdownFest . Germany also gets the award for worst hangover!

- Indonesia . I mean, there are FIVE national dishes!

- I’ve welcomed new friends to the #jencookstheworld family.

- Italy – the country I was probably most excited about.

- My food featuring on Saturday Kitchen.

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Thanks to my good friend Jordan, I am now the proud owner of a bespoke scratch map to record my progress.

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Top 10 after 50:

#1 China

#2 Italy

#3 Indonesia

#4 South Africa

#5 Morocco

#6 Germany

#7 Romania

#8 Trinidad & Tobago

#9 Vietnam

#10 Sweden

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What I want to get out of the next 50 countries:

- Host another charity dinner.

- Cook for someone/have a guest chef from that country.

- To not have to eat anything grosser than Vanuatuan food…

- Host in my own house 😊

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If there’s a particular country’s cuisine you want to eat, let me know and I’ll book you in!

#jencookstheworld

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P.S If anyone’s interested, flight count between countries so far: Pyongyang to Lusaka – 114.