Albania, officially: Republika e Shqipërisë (the Albanian Republic) is a Parlimentary Democracy sited on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas in Southern Europe. The capital (and largest city) is Tirana and the official language is Albanian (an independent branch of the Indo-European language family).

Albania is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation,Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and Union for the Mediterranean. The country is expected to join NATO in 2009 and is currently in accession discussions with the European Union.

Albanian cuisine is very Meditteranian in nature, the country having been influenced by the Greeks, Italy and the Ottoman Turks. Each civilization has left its mark on Albanian cuisine which is quite diverse. Lunch remains the main meal of the day and a typical meal would include a salad, meat and vegetables. Seafood is more common in the coastal regions.

Andorra, officially: Principat d'Andorra (the Principality of Andorra) is a land-locked Parliamentary democracy and Co-principality sited in the Pyrennes between France and Spain. The capital (and largest city) is Andorra la Vella and the official language is Catalan. The original inhabitants of Andorra were Iberians and the country's name is probably Arabic, derived from al-Darra (الدّارة) [The Forest]. Indeed, the country itself was created during the 800s by a charter granted by Charlemagne and was intended to act as a buffer zone between the advancing moors and France.

Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France and Spain. In recent times, however, its thriving tourist industry along with developments in transportation and communications have removed the country from its isolation. Its political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993, the year in which it became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Andorra has the world's highest life expectancy, at 83.5 years and enjoys the status of a tax haven. Andorra is not a full member of the European Union, but enjoys a special relationship with it, such as being treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

Andorran culture (and cuisine) is Catalan in origin and essence. Andorran cooking is therefore, unsurprisingly similar to Catalan cooking, though elements of French and Italian cuisines are incorporated. Pasta, potatoes, meat, fish and vegetables are the primary ingredients in most meals, though cheese is more prevalent in the north of the country (due to a stronger French influence). Andorran local dishes also include sausages, cheese, and a large variety of Pork and Ham dishes and a vast variety of vegetables.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosna i Hercegovina (Croatian); Босна и Херцеговина (Serbian); (Bosnia and Herzegovina) is an almost landlocked country on the Balkan peninsula of South Eastern Europe (it does posess 26km of Adriatic Sea coastline). The capital and largest city is Sarajevo and official languages are: Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. Formerly one of the six federal units constituting the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina gained its independence during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.

Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of the Council of Europe since April 24, 2002 and a founding member of the Mediterranean Union upon its establishment on July 13, 2008. The country is a federal democratic republic that is transforming its economy into a market-oriented system, and it is a potential candidate for membership in the European Union and NATO.

Bosnian cuisine is notable for its use of spices, which, however, are applied with a lightl tough to the country's various dishes. The country's cuisine is a mix of Western and Eastern Influences, with influences from both the Turkish Ottoman Empire and Central Europe via the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a result, local specialities include ćevapi, burek, dolma, sarma, pilaf, goulash, ajvar and a whole range of Eastern sweets. Herzegovinan wines are also notable.

Croatia, offilicially: Republika Hrvatska (the Republic of Coratia) is a Parliamentary Republic on the Adriatic Sea in the Western Mediterranean, Southern Europe. The capital (and largest city) is Zagreb and the official language is Croatian.

Croatia is a member of United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe. Croatia is expected to formally join NATO in 2009 and is a prospective member of the European Union. And in February 2005, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU officially came into force.

The culture of cuisine in Croatia is well established and the formalization of Croatian cookery, in terms of written sources, is older and more established even than that of France. However, there is no such thing as a national cuisine and the dishes of Croatia represent a melange of the cuisine of its regions. There is also a distinct difference between the recipes of the coastal regions and islands and the cuisin of the mainland. Indeed, mainland uisine is more characterized by the earlier proto-Slavic and the more recent contacts with the more famous gastronomic orders of today - Hungarian, Viennese and Turkish — while the coastal region bears the influences of the Greek, Roman and Illyrian, as well as of the later Mediterranean cuisine — Italian and French.

Cyprus, officially: Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία (Greek), (Kypriakḗ Dēmokratía, Transliteration), Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti (Turkish); (The Republic of Cyprus) is an Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean south of Turkey. The country is a Presidential republic with Nicosia (Lefkosia, Lefkosa) being the capital (and largest city). Greek and Turkish are the official languages.

Cyprus joined the European Union on May 1st 2004 and is a Commonwealth republic. The third largest of the Mediterranean islands, Cyprus is a major tourist destination and tourism remains a maninstay of the island's economy.

Cypriot cuisine is quite distinctive, being in the main a fusion of Greek and Turkish influences, though there are also elements of French, Italian and British cuisines (representing the Island's history). Seafood and lamb are mainstays of the diet and are often served with potatoes and fresh salads. Auberines and okra are common vegetables and the use of olive oil and tomatoes is ubiquitous. Preserved pork is also very popular and before refrigeration brine-cured pork used to be one of the Island's main meat bases. Halloumi cheese, made from a mix of goat's and sheep's milk is a Cypriot speciality and it's often grilled, served on grilled bread or in salads as a starter.

Greece, (Ελλάδα [eˈlaða] or Ελλάς [eˈlas] in Greek) offilicially Ελληνική Δημοκρατία [eliniˈkʲi ðimokraˈtia], the Hellenic Republic is a Parliamentary Republic on the south-eastern borders of Southern Europe. The country's official language is Greek, one of Europe's oldest languages. The capital is Athens. Greece itself lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is heir to the heritages of classical Greece, the Byzantine Empire, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule and is generally regarded as the cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, western literature, political science, major scientific principles and drama.

Greece is a developed country and is a member of the European Union and the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union. It is also a member of NATO, the OECD, the WEU (Western European Union) and the ESA (European Space Agaency). The Greek constitution recognizes the Greek Orthodox churchas the 'prevailing' religion in the country, whilst guaranteeing freedom of religious belief.

Italy, offilicially Repubblica Italiana the Italian Republic is a Parliamentary Republic situated in the region of Europe that the United Nations defines as 'Southern Europe'. Italy has been the home of many European cultures, such as the Etruscans and the Romans, and later was the birthplace of the movement of the Italian Renaissance. Italy's capital Rome has been the center of Western Civilization, and is the center of the Catholic Church. Although the Catholic Church is no longer the official religion of Italy it still plays an important part in the country's political affairs (mostly due to the present of Vatican City and the Holy See in Rome). Italian is the cuntry's official language.

Italy is the world's seventh largest economy and it is a foundig member of the European Union and is also a member of the G8, the Council of Europe, the Western European Union, and the Central European Initiative. Italy is also considered as one of the 'Great Powers'.

Macedonia, officially: Република Македонија (Republika Makedonija, Transliteration); (The Republic of Macedonia).

Montenegro, officially: Црна Гора, (Crna Gora, Transliteration); is a country located on the Adriatic sea in the Balkan region of Southeastern Europe. Its capital and largest city is Podgorica, while Cetinje is designated as the Prijestonica (former Royal Capital). Montenegro's native name, Crna Gora, sometimes transliterated as Tsrna Gora ("Black Mountain"), is mentioned for the first time in 1296 by Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin and lies in the Slavic reference to excessively mountainous regions, often emerging in the medieval Serbian realm.

Montenegro is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe and Montenegro is also a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. It is also a potential candidate for membership in the European Union and NATO.

The cuisines of Montengro's heartlands and Adriatic coast have a distinclty Mediterranean (particularly Itlianate) flavour. There are also influences from Turkey via the Ottoman Empire and from Hungary via the Austro Hungarian empire. The sweet dishes, particularly crêpes, cakes and biscuits have a distinctly continental European flavour, with Viennese-style gâteaux and breads being a speciality. As might be expected, seafood and fish dishes are especially prevalent.

Portugal, officially: República Portuguesa (the Portugese Republic) is a Parliamentary Democracy on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian peninsula, situated in the region of Europe that the United Nations defines as 'Southern Europe'. Lisbon is the capital (and largest) city and Portugese is the oficial language (though Mirandese is a recognized regional language).

Portugal became a member of the European Union in 1986 and the United Nations (since 1955); as well as a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (Community of Portuguese Language Countries, CPLP), European Union's Eurozone, and is also a Schengen state. However, it is one of the poorest of the European nations, ranking only 32nd globally in terms of per capita GDP. But the country is deveoping rapidly and is quickly catching up with the European mean due, in large part, to inward investment.

Portugese cuisine is very diverse, ranging from traditional staples such as salt cod and herring through beef, pork, lamb, or chicken to chilli and bell pepper dishes. Indeed, the Portugese were the first to bring chillies from the New World and to cultivate them extensively. It's thanks to them that piri-piri chillies grow wild in West Africa. The Portugese also have an independent pastry tradition, based on the Pastéis de Nata (cream custards) of Lisbon and, as a whole, the country has a tradition of good food. It should also be noted that the Douro wine region in Portugal is the world's most established wine region.

San Marino, officially: Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino (The Most Serene Republic of San Marino).

Serbia, officially: Република Србија; (Republika Srbija, Transliteration); (The Republic of Serbia) is a landlocked country in Southeastern Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans. The capital and largest city is Belgrade and the official language is Serbian. Serbia lies at the crossroads between Central, Southern and Eastern Europe and between the Balkan peninsula and the Pannonian Plain. As a result, Serbia has been a land of vital strategic importance for millennia.

Serbia is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Council of Europe which it presided over in 2007. It is also a potential candidate for membership in the European Union and a militarily neutral country.

Both its location and history makes Serbian cuisine and ecletic mix of Central European, Mditerranean and Midle Eastern cuisines. Meat, prticularly veal and pork are a specialiteis and Ćevapčići (sometimes used in its diminutive, Ćevapi), a dish consisting of mixed meat patties that are heavily seasoned and grilled are considered a national dish, as is Sarma (see recipes below) a stuffed cabbage dish.

Slovenia, officially: Republika Slovenija (the Republic of Slovenia) is a country bordering the Adriatic Sea that lies in Southern Europe and forms part of the historic Central Europe. It separates Italy from Croatia and forms the border of the Balkan region. The capital, and largest city is Ljubljana and the official language is Slovene.

Slovenia joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and the European Union on 1 May 2004. Slovenia was the first post-Communist country to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the first six months of 2008. Currently, Slovenia is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen area, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and NATO.

Slovenian cuisine is an admixture of Mediterranean and Slavic influences along with Austrian influences (particularly in terms of cakes and desserts). Other dishes originate in the Ottoman Empire and come to Slovenia by way of its Yugoslav heritage. The country has a diverse culinary heritage, which is demonstrated in the range of dishes available.

Spain, officially: Reino de España the Kingdom of Spain is a Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy situated in the region of Europe that the United Nations defines as 'Southern Europe'. Spain is the world's eighth largest economy and the fifth largest in Europe. It is a member of the European Union, which it joined on January 1st 1986 and of NATO. Spain also maintains its special relationship with Latin America and has sought to link the Iberian peninsula with Latin America through language, commerce, history and culture.

Spain has a long and diverse culinary history, and the country as a whole has a great variety of very diverse dishes in its culinary repertoire. These reflect the differences in Spanish geography, culture, history and climate. As a whole, however, the contry's cuisine is heavily influenced by seafood, which reflects its coatal waters and the country's Medditeranean roots (from the Carthaginians to the Romans). Spain's cuisine is trly unique and only the country's relative isolation during its period of non-democratic rule have prevented this from being generally considered as one of the world's great cuisines.

Turkey, officially: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (the Republic of Turkey) is a Parliamentary Republic and represents an Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in western Asia and Thrace (Rumelia) in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. Ankara is the capital (and largest city) and Turkish is the official languages, one of only two Semitic languages that uses the Roman alphabet (Maltese being the other). Though not reckoned as officially part of Europe by the United Nations, Turkey does straddle the continents of Europe and Asia, making it truly transcontinental. Due to its strategic location astride two continents, Turkey's culture has a unique blend of Eastern and Western tradition. A powerful regional presence in the Eurasian landmass with strong historic, cultural and economic influence in the area between the European Union in the west and Central Asia in the east, Russia in the north and the Middle East in the south, Turkey has come to acquire increasing strategic significance.

Turkey is a democratic, secular, unitary, constitutional republic and was a charter member of the United Nations in 1945. Turkey is a memer of the: Council of Europe (1949), NATO (1952), OECD (1961), OSCE (1973) and the G20 industrial nations (1999). Turkey began full membership negotiations with the European Union in 2005, having been an associate member of the EEC since 1963, and having reached a customs union agreement in 1995.

Turkish cuisine is the descendant of its Ottoman inheritance and modern Turkish cookery could be described as the fusion of Turkic, Arabic, Greek, Armenian and Persian cuisines. However, though there are a number of what could be considered as national Turkish dishes, in the main Turkish cuisine is not homogeneous. The various regions have their own traditions and specialities with the Mediterranean regions making use of vegetables, herbs and fish whilst Central Anatolia is famous for its pastries and the Black Sea region chisine bing based on corn and anchovies.