As I'm gearing up to spend a couple of weeks doing a 3000 mile road trip from LA to Maryland to follow RAAM, I'm taking a closer look at road food.  The small "mom and pop" type of diners that you discover while driving back roads state-to-state across America.  Even in Europe I took a couple of short road trips and found some great eats along the way.  My friends there thought it was strange that I'd rather take a car then a train.  But fan and follower, Sam Turner, shares my sentiment for finding tasty and casual treats such as pizza and steak frites.  Here are his favorite finds ...

Traveling for Food:  Three Great European Dishes
by Sam Turner

Europe offers many delights for travelers interested in culture, art, gorgeous scenery and, most importantly, food. Foodies will love the chance to sample amazing dishes in different European nations: indeed, this relatively small geographical area has so much variety for your palette and you will be able to find something delicious whether you are on a trip to Paris or a Gran Canaria holiday. Here are three dishes that you absolutely have to try.

Steak Frites - Paris
Steak frites is practically an institution in France and nothing really sums up the Parisian experience like sitting down to one of these feasts. Everywhere you go you will find this dish executed brilliantly with delicious fries and steak covered in creamy pepper sauce that will linger in your memories for years. If you’re looking for somewhere specific try Au Boeuf Couronné, a restaurant that has been in business for over a hundred years, yet you’re likely to get something fantastic wherever you look.

Pizza – Naples
Pizza is undoubtedly one of the most popular foods in the world and you can find it in bars, fancy restaurants and cluttered dorm rooms. A trip to Europe should include a pilgrimage to the home of this legendary dish: Naples. The pies here are incredibly simple and are made up of only sauce, cheese, olive oil and basil leaves – after some time in a word burning oven they will change your whole conception of this delicious dish. The best place to indulge is Da Michele, a 19th century pizzeria, though there are a few other famous spots that are worth trying too.

Fresh Fish – The Canary Islands
European cuisine is not just cheese, beef and potatoes (though thankfully much of it is) and you can find some delicious, fresh dishes that are bit lighter. The Canary Islands, an archipelago very popular with tourists, has some amazing fresh fish that will delight those looking for something healthy. It is prepared very simply on the grill to ensure that you can appreciate the natural taste. Of course, the delights of fresh seafood are not limited to the Canary Islands and you can find great fish in Greek, Turkey, the UK and anywhere else next to the sea.

Sam Turner is a Canadian writer based in Toronto, though he spends most of his time jetting across the Atlantic on European trips. He loves writing about food, outdoor adventures and live music.