Paella, sushi and pizza are world-famous favorites. But just how much do the versions we know have in common with the originals?

Only for foreigners

Best with shellfish? Not if you’re eating paella in its native region of Valencia, Spain, where it’s usually made with chicken, duck and rabbit. For the locals, the seafood version favored by visitors is “tourist paella.”

Finger-licking authentic

Eat sushi rolls with chopsticks? Only Westerners would do such a thing. To the Japanese, their national dish is fingerfood. And in the better restaurants, they wouldn’t dream of spicing them up with wasabi paste – they leave that to the sushi master.

Less is more

Chillies, peperoni, mushrooms? They have no place on a pizza according to the guardians of tradition in its birthplace, Naples, Italy. Only tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, basil, mozzarella and garlic are permitted.