4 Best Countries for Food-Loving Travellers
Part of the joy of visiting a new and exotic country is the opportunity it provides to try new experiences. And among the most tantalising of these experiences are often the ones that involve food. Even if you think that you’re familiar with the cuisine in a particular nation, a visit can often be enough to acquaint you with the genuine, authentic versions of your favourite dishes. When it comes to food, it’s fair to say that certain nations perform better than others. So, which might we consider?
1. Italy
From pizza to pasta to gelato: Italy is arguably the world’s most successful nation when it comesto culinary exports. Variants of these dishes are consumed throughout the world, and in many cases they’ve evolved considerably on their travels. If you want to rediscover what Italian food is really like, you’ll need to go back to the relevant part of Italy. For example, Emilia-Romagna might be where you sample local pasta dishes. The Amalfi Coast is perfect for seafood, while Naples is naturally great for pizza (as well as Neapolitan ice cream).
What really distinguishes the best dishes in Italy is their simplicity, and their emphasis on local ingredients, and time-honoured techniques.
2. Vietnam
When it comes to wow-factor in food, few Asian nations can really compete with Vietnam. Not only will you find some truly memorable flavours and textures on the menu, but you’ll also find that the menu itself varies considerably depending on where in the country you are. What’s served in the North is often vastly dissimilar to what’s served in the South. Over the course of most Vietnam tours, therefore, you might enjoy a great deal of variety.
Coffee is a national obsession, but it’s a little more like a dessert than the Italian-inspired beverage we might recognise, with a bitter brewed drink being combined with condensed milk. Pho, banh mi, and spring rolls are all worth considering, too.
3. Japan
What really distinguishes Japanese cuisine is the near-obsessive attention to detail. Even in smaller establishments you might find a level of presentation that, in the West, is more common in high-end restaurants. For the most part, staples like sushi and ramen are what you’ll be sampling most often. These are what Japanese street food is built around. If you want to make time for Michelin-starred meals, then it’s bluefin tuna, Kobe beef, and other elite-quality local food that you’ll most often find yourself turning towards.
4. Mexico
There’s more to Mexican food than spicy burritos and oozing cheesy nacho plates. In this vast country, you’ll find a variety of dishes, from the complex, rich moles of Oaxaca to the vibrant,fresh seafood of the East coast. The best Mexican cuisine brings together modern innovations with techniques and ingredients that predate the arrival of the Spanish.
