Minestrone is a classic Italian vegetable soup that changes with the seasons—there’s no single “correct” version. Made with simple vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a comforting, nourishing dish that has been cooked in Italian homes for centuries using whatever was on hand.

In Belarus, layered salads with mushrooms are often called “пуховые салаты” — “fluffy salads” — because each layer is gently pressed to stay airy, not dense, giving the dish its signature soft, cloud‑like texture.

This mozzarella and tomato pizza is inspired by the Neapolitan tradition, where simple ingredients and high heat create a crisp crust, melted cheese, and fresh, balanced flavor.

Croissants, though famously French, actually trace their roots to Vienna, Austria! Their ancestor is the kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry that dates back to at least the 13th century. Legend says Viennese bakers created it to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman Turks — the crescent shape imitating the symbol on the Ottoman flag.