I haven't been lots of places, but my favorite dish in California (and it's in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas) is from Kabuki Japanese restaurant: Spicy Seafood Udon. I haven't been to Spain, but in asking about it I learned of Balaeric Paella. This can likely be found in LA and I'm likely to look for it where I have found other things, like Uzbek food with plov, samsa, lagman, and manti, and an old Russian place with borscht and stroganoff. Sometimes it's meaningful to eat what is common for the country. Health is really important to me, and some of it is fried.
When I was in Mexico, I enjoyed Camerones Rancheros and Pollo con mole. In India it was the fantastic curries, especially Vindaloo, but my fav is the massive Masala Dosas from Southern India. In New Zealand it's the incredible dairy products that are so rich. Milk with cream on top. Ice creams. But the nicest part was elevenses when everything would stop for tea and bickies (cookies). In Thailand, I loved the curries, especially Penang Shrimp Curry with coconut cream on top. Also fresh fish fried with a spicy Thai sauce. In Greece the Spanakopita with spinach and feta in a crispy, flaky Phyllo dough.
I, like you Toker, have eaten a lot of foreign stuff but for me the stand out was goat. I don't generally eat meat but I feel that when people go out their way to feed you I will eat whatever. I had a goat stew in Cuba and then a few years later goat again done differently in Dominican Republic. I often bring recipes home from places and replicate them, (well an approximate version) here.
Say cheese! (for the purpose of understanding the phrase, are they referring to constipation?) The pathology of using the phrase (does it have etymology) shall exhibit the new sentiment as precedent! we love mac 'n cheese