A World (Cup) smorgasbord of foods: Andrew Coppolino

Every four years the juggernaut FIFA World Cup of Soccer takes over for a month-long celebration of "the beautiful game." And despite the controversy following this year's events, the games will be watched by tens of millions of people around the globe.

Lots of eating will take place too.

Here you'll find a list of local food operators with food suggestions to snack on while watching the competing World Cup countries.

Spain

Perennial favourites, Spain won the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa.

Visit La Lola in Preston for a selection of tapas dishes or paella. You will also find a variety of imported Spanish foods from their store section. Perhaps some warmed marinated olives and a sip of premium vermouth for your viewing?

Portugal

Spain's neighbour, Portugal, has a strong soccer following in Waterloo region.

Paulo Neves, of Torreense Store on Mill Street Kitchener, says he likes to munch on lupini beans and barbecued chouriço sausage while sipping white wine or beer.

Other dishes you could tuck into include bifana sandwiches or caldo verde, a traditional "green soup" with kale, potatoes and chouriço. Of course, if you are cheering on Portugal you really must include a pastel de nata custard tart too.

Argentina

Get a taste of two-time World Cup winner Argentina (the last time was in 1986) with a popular hand-held snack: the empanada. The half-moon crimp-edged pastry holds a variety of ingredients.

Gabriela Vera of KW Empanadas adds a green olive to her version. She sells them at stands at the Kitchener and St. Jacobs markets.

Belgium

Belgium, the number two-ranked team has been eliminated, but that is no reason to not celebrate the Belgian Liege waffle.

Unlike North American waffles, which are made from a batter, a Liege waffle is made with a dough that rises when it's cooked — and there's nuggets of pearl sugar added for a crunchy eating experience.

You can try Belgian waffles at Aura-La Pastries and Provisions.

Poland

In Guelph, Pawel's Pierogis are part of the Red Box Noshery ghost kitchen.

Co-owner Paul Zapotochny says pierogis are the "mainstay" for noshing as Poland enters The Round of 16 against 2018 title holders France. Zapotochny's favourite way of eating pierogis is with sauerkraut, kielbasa sausage and sour cream.

Ghana

African countries have made significant soccer advancements on the global stage.

As of this writing, Senegal and Morocco have advanced. Tunisia did not advance but collected four points and defeated former champion France 1-0.

For Ghana's run in the tournament, Eddie Ameh, owner of The Yam Seller grocery store in Kitchener, set up a room at the store for fans to watch games where they munched on crispy nuggets of fried dough and sweet groundnut cakes similar to peanut brittle.

Japan

Although they are not likely going through to the Round of 16, Japan is well represented in its food in Waterloo region, especially the ever-popular sushi – of note is Ken Sushi House on Phillip Street in Waterloo.

South Korea

The South Korean soccer team has not made it to the knock-out Round of 16, but the country is well represented by a number of Korean restaurants in the region.

There's Korean BBQ, A Taste of Seoul, and Seoul Soul.

Some of my favourite dishes are jjajangmyeon noodles and Korean fried chicken.

Brazil

Five-time World Cup champion, Brazil no longer has a restaurant presence in the region (Rodizio Grill House was once in downtown Kitchener), but there are two grocery stores that carry a range of Brazilian foods: JJ's Convenience on Highland Road West and Seu Mercado on Bloomingdale Road North.

With Brazilian heritage, local restaurateur Natalie Benninger has suggestions for Brazilian food and drink for soccer. "Mix up the national cocktail, the cairpirinha," she says (recipe below).

For snacking, Benninger suggests coxinha, a popular salgadinho (little salty snack) that's a little drumstick-shaped chicken croquette made with shredded chicken and a choux paste-type dough that is breaded and fried crisp.

"It's my favourite, for sure," says Benninger.

Natalie Benninger's and Uptown 21 caipirinha

Ingredients

2 oz of cachaça (distilled fermented cane juice)  

2 whole limes, half peeled including part of the skin (white part) cut in chunks
1 tbsp of demerara sugar

Method

Muddle limes, sugar and cachaça. Shake vigorously with lots of ice to dilute and thoroughly blend ingredients. Serve in a rocks glass over ice.