There are several reasons and factors that you may consider when choosing a destination. Each destination is unique; such uniqueness have been usually what makes a traveler decide in favor of the place. For one who loves food, the exotic and classic offerings can be a plus factor worthy of consideration. Regardless of the budget, there is always something to suit a savvy traveler’s taste and budget.
If you are looking for the best dining experiences as a motivation for travel, you have to check out what Aly Walansky writes in Yahoo! Food Travel’s You’ll Never Believe These 9 Cities Have World-Class Food,
“Food can be a major factor in choosing a travel destination. We may want to see the ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, or incredible monuments, but many of us are after a more interactive way of absorbing the local culture. We travel to experience the regional specialties, the home-cooked flavor, the spices and the tastes that cannot be adequately recreated anywhere else.”
But aside from places that usually tops the lists of the “World’s Bests,” there are those places that go unnoticed. Walansky brings his readers to these 9 cities:
- Gaziantep, Turkey: Gaziantep or Antep may not be a captivating destination in Istanbul, but it is surely worth a visit if you want a taste of its authentic baklava and kebabs. Other mouth-watering must-tries are Elmac? Pazar? Güllüo?lu, katmer, kaday?f, and beyran. For an ambiance that’s very “Antep,” the best place to go is Metanet Lokantas?.
- Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: The Island of “Tassie” is bestowed with a rural landscape and expansive farmlands. It has long been a source of fresh produce, livestock (beef and lamb), seafood and dairy products, as well as Australia’s best Pinot noirs and sparkling wines. If the presence of bustling markets, café scenes and award-winning restaurants are to be used as parameters, there is no doubt Tassie is fast making a name in the world of gastronomy.
- H?i An, Vietnam: A UNESCO World Heritage site, H?i An “also boasts an impressive culinary scene.” The Old Town is chock full of gastronomic possibilities, but the best place to go to is across the river. There you’ll find amazingly inexpensive and satisfying cao l?u — an authentic noodle dish in H?i An. These markets are bustling, especially at night.
- Jerusalem, Israel: The food in this city is a mishmash of Arabic East Jerusalem and Jewish West Jerusalem flavors infused with tastes from Poland, Morocco, Hungary, etc. Street foods and open-air food markets are full of falafel carts. Don’t miss Machane Yehuda Market.
- Évora, Portugal: Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Évora in Lisbon is culturally unforgettable due to its exquisitely preserved Gothic, Baroque and Roman architecture and its original pork products. Once in Évora, try their petiscos or appetizers served in many small, old-fashioned restaurants, their Alentejo wine and many classic Portuguese desserts such as pão de rala.
- Macau, China: There is more to Macau than its regular Chinese-Portugal flavors. Macanese food is a distinctive gastronomic experience because it also blends flavors from India, Africa, and Latin America. Get those flavors bursting in your mouth once you try Portuguese egg tarts, pork balichão, African chicken, coconut milk custard, lacassá soup, serradur, and golden codfish.
- Memphis, Tennessee: There is much great food stuff going on in Memphis; it’s not just barbecue for which the city is popular. The must-visit here that are getting heaps of attention are Hog & Hominy, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Kelly English’s The Second Line, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, The Four Way, and Wiseacre Brewing.
- Providence, Rhode Island: Home to some of the world’s finest chefs – Michelle Bernstein, Emeril Lagasse and Tyler Florence – this city is blessed with all the best ingredients from the sea and farms. A short drive to charming Bristol will take you to seaside restaurants. Don’t miss Persimmon ad Lobster Pot Inc.
- Rovinj, Croatia: This city is endowed with ingredients from the farms and the sea. Being close to Italy, it is known for its olive oils, fresh fish and truffles. The place is also known for the Slow Food movement. Some of the restaurants you must strive to visit when you get the chance to come here are Wine Vault Restaurant at Hotel Monte Mulini for its wine collection of over 500 labels from Istria and gastronomy by chef Tomislav Greti?, and Restaurant L at Hotel Lone, which offers chef Priska Thuring’s “Fois Gras Magnum.”
When and where are you traveling next? Choose well because going to places with great gastronomy can make that destination, experience and learning all the more exceptional.
