The Ten Best Food Destinations in the World

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. ~ Jawaharal Nehru

The experience around food is what makes a particular meal, dish, or destination unique and able to stand out above all others.  It’s about the place, the time, and the people and “the best meal” can be found in a fine dining restaurant or in a crowded street market.  If you’ve ever heard the expression, “Food doesn’t travel well,” it’s true.  How can you recreate that special moment influenced by place and time and have it be as memorable for someone else as it was for you?

With our current food obsessed culture, culinary travel is becoming the most popular reason to visit many places around the world.  While we travel great distances to enjoy unique food, wine, and spirits, it is also important to be educated about the region and its people, learn about the history and architecture, and have time to take in the scenery and the surroundings.  Those things have as much impact on the food experience as does the food itself.

With that in mind, here are the ten places that consistently excite the senses and the palate.

South of France

Gourdon in the South of France

A food lover’s destination for many years and a favorite place to visit of Julia Child and James Beard, the South of France combines the most incredible sensory inspiration possible with some of the best local ingredients available anywhere in the world.  Markets with fresh fruits and vegetables, butcher shops, fishmongers, and cheese purveyors are abundant.  Regional wines are excellent and freshly baked French bread with French butter is the stuff that memories are made of.  Grab a seat high above the rocky cliffs along the Mediterranean or a chair in a medieval walled city for a meal with a view that you will never forget.

Barcelona

Mercat de la Boqueira in Barcelona

This bustling city filled with unique buildings and the stunning cathedral, Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is a city for passionate lovers of history, architecture, and food.  The Mercat de la Boqueria is a feast for the eyes and senses with meats, cheeses, spices, seafood, and fresh produce as far as the eye can see.  Kiosko Universal, a counter restaurant at one corner of the market, prepares some of the simplest and best food we’ve ever had: razor clams sautéed with a mixture of olive oil, garlic and parsley along with generous platters piled high with exotic mushrooms prepared in much the same way.  Fabulous tapas restaurants abound in this gorgeous city.  Give yourself a week to explore and see everything the city offers.  Barcelona is not to be missed.

Italy

Trattoria alla Rivetta in Venice

It’s hard to chose one place or city in Italy to visit or dine.  Depending on the terroir and the regional specialties of wine, aged meats, cheeses, olive oil, seafood, and pasta, you can visit almost any town in Italy and have a great and often, unforgettable meal.  Some of our favorite places include: the coastal regions on the Adriatic where the wines are crisp and dry and compliment the brininess of the fresh seafood; and Tuscany, where the bold, red wines are perfect with the heavier pasta dishes and the views of the vineyards and rolling hills are breathtaking.  Friuli stole our hearts last year with its many unique wines, small artisan food producers, and influences from neighboring countries like Austria and Germany.  Who knew grilled meats so simply prepared could be so incredibly good?  Only in a small trattoria in Friuli.  You can’t replicate that.

Mexico City

Mexico City (Photo Credit – Internet)

Up and coming on the culinary scene, Mexico City gives us a great reason to venture South of the Border.  From incredible food markets and casual street stands, to posh restaurants serving globally inspired cuisine, Mexico City has become the place to travel for the culinarily minded.  If you want to eat locally, order a Hurache, a street food specialty.  Made from fried masa dough and topped with meat and other accompaniments, all you will need is a local microbrew or Mezcal to wash it down.

Taipei 

Street food vendor in Taipei (Photo Credit – Internet)

Speaking of street food, Taipei has some of the world’s best with it’s rich noodle soups, steamed buns, and dumplings. With influences from China and Taiwan, seasonings include taste bud tantalizing Taiwanese basil, white pepper, cilantro, pickled vegetables, and star anise.  Gua Bao is one of the most popular street foods in Taipei that has made its way to the United States via many well-known chefs.  If you think this braised pork belly on a steamed bun with pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and chopped peanuts is tasty here, just wait until you try it late night on the streets of Taipei.