Top 5 Destinations for Foodies

Some people eat to live – that is to say that food is a necessity to live and not much more. At the other end of the spectrum are people who live to eat. For these individuals, food is one of the most important things in their life. I admit that I fall into the latter category. I love food. I love trying exotic new dishes as well as variations of old favourites. So, when it comes to vacations, a destination’s culinary scene is an essential factor as I choose where to go. After years of travelling, I can confirm that these are the top destinations for foodies.

Mexico

Let’s start with an obvious one. There is a reason that Mexican food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. If you’ve ever had a taco at your local Mexican joint and thought: “hey, this is pretty good”, wait until you try one in Mexico. Fresh and delicious, Mexican food is a whirlwind of flavours and if you’re on that avocado hype at the moment you will be pleased to know that avocado comes with pretty much every dish. Oh, and food in Mexico is really, really cheap – win-win.

India

We all love a good curry but what you think of as Indian food is very different to what they actually eat in India. You won’t find many tikka masalas in this magnificent country but you will come across so many other culinary delights that you won’t even care. With much of the population being vegetarian; lentils, veggies and paneer (a special kind of Indian cheese) are common ingredients in curries. India also has all kinds of other dishes that are not in curry form, including an incredible veggie burger made from potato, vegetables and spices.

South Korea

When you think about food from East Asia, your mind probably conjures up images of sushi in Japan and sweet and sour chicken in China. Very rarely will your first thought be of South Korea. However, this wonderful little country really packs a punch when it comes to dinnertime. From fried chicken covered in spicy sauce to steaming bowls of noodles, the cuisine here is as varied as it is mouth-watering. A must-try is bibimbap, which consists of rice, veggies, meat and spicy sauce with an egg on top, served in a hot stone bowl so it never gets cold.

France

Of course, no foodie destination list is complete without including the land of wine and cheese. France has long been regarded as the King of the global cuisine scene. Gastronomy is important here and it shows. Those lucky Frenchies have all kinds of sensational dishes at their disposal, including confit de canard (slow-cooked duck), moules frites (mussels and fries) and coq au vin (chicken in white wine sauce). They also have a million different kinds of cheeses to choose from, all of which should be accompanied by fresh baguette or crackers and followed by the best pastry you have ever tasted in your life.

Israel

Middle Eastern cuisine is a real up and comer at the moment and Israel seems to be spear-heading the movement. If you find yourself in Israel or have an Israeli restaurant near you at home then be sure to give it a go. Get yourself some crunchy falafel and a bowl a smooth hummus, served with soft, warm pitta. Need something more substantial? Go for a plate of shawarma or a skillet of shakshuka, a traditional dish that contains eggs, tomatoes, chilli peppers and various different spices, including but not limited to cumin.