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Top 10 experiences for food lovers
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Food and travel are the two loves of our lives, and there’s nothing quite like the appetite to ignite that spark of wanderlust, from the incredible street food in Mexico’s bustling capital to uncovering the hidden local hotspots in Vietnam. So we’ve scoured the globe searching for our favourite culinary experiences, from truffle hunting in Italy to tasting the freshest ceviche in Peru. Bon Apetit.
Vespa food tour, Saigon
We all know there are 9 million bicycles in Beijing, but what about the motorbike capital of the world, Saigon? Rumour has it that there are 4 million motorbikes whizzing round the city, meaning over half the population owns one, so what better way to see it than by joining them on a vintage Vespa. Saigon showcases an exceptional mix of ancient Vietnamese and French colonial culture as you zip through the streets where you cant help but notice the delicious aromas wafting through the streets. Add in a couple of expert tour guides who know the roads and foodie hotspots like the back of their hand and youve got yourself an unforgettable private food tour of Vietnams most enchanting city.
Fish market, Tokyo
Its no surprise that Tokyo is home to the worlds largest and biggest fish market with such a love for sushi and sashimi. To make the visit worthwhile you simply must go in time to catch the 5 am live tuna auctions, where one of these rock-solid frozen fish, looking like steel torpedoes can sell for £6000. Master the arts of sushi-making and test your culinary creations in time for breakfast. The market is split into Inner and Outer markets, those willing to brave the extra fishiness will find themselves dodging fish laden trucks in the inner market whilst the rest might stick to the Outer where youll find every type of sea-food imaginable as well as the Real Wasabi.
Pasta making, Tuscany
Italys 20 provinces undoubtedly offer a rich and diverse selection of scrumptious food, so learn how to cook like an Italian and be the talk of the town. Tuscany is famous for its extraordinarily beautiful rolling hills as well as its mouth-watering pasta dishes. Getting the know-how from a chef that learnt from their mother and grandmother is certainly the way to master Nonnas touch. Youll learn how to make dough from scratch using a traditional pasta maker to stretch out the dough. Then its time to get creative and make your own shapes, either carefully by hand or through the pasta machine. And as a reward for all your hard work, sit back and relax with a glass of wine and a delicious dish as you take in the lush countryside around you.
Piedmont truffle experience, Italy
Step into the heart of the truffle county to learn about and sample the most expensive ingredient in cooking. First youll want to submerge yourself in la dolce vita and wander through endless stalls laden with the freshest produce in Acqui Terme market. The Alba Madonna truffle is the holy grail of fungi so get ready to be introduced to one of Italys oldest traditions; truffle hunting. Not only is it a great way of discovering the surrounding countryside but with an expert guide (and his loyal dog) in tow, you will gain a unique insight into how these amiable villagers help fuel the global obsession with these little white fungi. After becoming a master in truffle hunting, become an expert in cooking the fungi with a personalised cookery lesson in La Villa.
Oysters and whiskey in Hobart, Tasmania
After nothing but biltong and bush food to feed your hungry stomachs, head to Hobart for world-class oyster and mouth-watering whiskey. The island produces 4 million dozen oysters each year and each oyster growing region, like wine, has a distinct flavour, colour and appearance. An education in Barilla Bay will give you a knowledgeable introduction to oyster farming in Tasmania in an exceptional setting, which has certainly come a long way since its humble tin-shed beginnings. Take the whiskey trail to the Coal River Valley to learn about the history of single malt whiskey and be taken through the brewing process in this sumptuous sojourn. Youll be rewarded along the way with a selection of creamy oysters and oaky whiskey to satisfy your taste buds.
Street food in Mexico City
In a nutshell, Mexico City is a must visit gastro-jungle. Learn how to tell your tacos from your tlacoyos in a tour of Mexixo Citys best street food hotspots. We just love the names rolling off the tongue of the Chicharrones, flautas, camotes, and tlacoyos. And they taste even better in the mouth. Especially the Pambazo, a Mexican sandwich made from hard white bread rolls soaked in guajillo chilli sauce, filled with generous portion of diced potatoes, chorizo, lettuce, sour cream and sprinkled queso fresco. Youll be left scooping the remains with your fingers as its just too good to waste. Spot the masters of the tortillas flipping the corn treats straight from the tortilla press. Try everything, but dont blame us if your diet feels somewhat mundane upon arriving home.
Sample succulent steak in Buenos Aires
Argentina is home to the most talked about steak in the world, so youll just have to hop on over to form your own opinion. Head out late for dinner as the party doesnt get started in BA until well past midnight so youll need to stay awake somehow. Steak and Malbec really does the job. There are plenty of other foodie experiences to enjoy. A cooking lesson with local chef Ezequiel Gallardo will get you whipping up tasty empanadas after choosing the ingredients in the fresh food market down the road.
Napa Valley food and wine tour
Enter the sun-kissed wine valleys of Napa for an ultimate food and wine jaunt. In a private tour itll just be you and the winemaker himself knocking back a glass or two whilst learning lots of very important things about wine. Food and wine is definitely a winning combination at the award winning Kendall Jackson Vineyard with the food and wine pairing menu. Ever wondered what goes hand in hand with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc? Fresh oysters of course. And that hearty Pinot Noir? It has to be the rich crème brûlée with white chocolate.
Gourmet tour of Lima
Lima is fast becoming one of the most cosmopolitan and sophisticated cities in South America and is experiencing a gastronomic boom to match. An evening food tour will see you learning to prepare the refreshing national dish of ceviche under the watchful eye of an award winning chef, and shaking pisco sours on the beachfront definitely a dinner party staple for when you get home. Experience a flavour explosion with dinner at Ámaz which is a traditional Amazonian restaurant, before being whisked off for a Peruvian dessert in the bohemian Barranco district. It’s a hard life.
Eat like a local in Georgetown, Penang
Earning the title of being the street food capital of Asia is surely a good enough reason to go and check it out for yourself, right? Navigate the bustling streets of the UNESCO world heritage site and hawker food heaven, Georgetown, for a culinary extravaganza. Your expert guide will take you where the locals go for the best Char Koay Teow a delicious Malay rice noodle dish, which will leave you scrambling for more. After really adopting that grazing mentality (trust us you will need to), have a break from eating and visit a heritage coffee shop. Sample the delights of the evening hawker food and all that Malay, Chinese and Indian fusion cuisine is in full force until the small hours who knows, you may even make breakfast.
Tom Marchant is Co-founder of Did you enjoy this article?
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I really don’t want to appear impolite, but fish auction is at 5:20 for tourists, a tuna goes for waaaay above 6.000 US-Dollar. In fact some were reported to have been sold for more than a million. Japanese love fish and sashimi – but sushi is actually one of the rarer forms to eat it! Also the tsukiji fish markets doesn’t smell at all – so why talk about fishiness? You might want to correct that.
best regards,
Norman
I am just back from Tokyo and visited Tsukiji (but there was no tuna auction at this time of year). Actually, the auction – when it is on – is 5.25am to 5.45am for the first tour, and 5.50am to 6.10am, but you need to be there at around 4am to be fairly sure of tickets which are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
The article states £6,000, not $6,000. That’s over 9,000 USD which I don’t think is so far off (someone else might be able to confirm), depending on the type and size of the fish. The reports of a single tuna selling for over $1 million are completely atypical and invariably refer to the first auction of the year which is something of a publicity stunt for whoever is the successful bidder.
I’m not sure how you can claim it doesn’t smell at all. This is the biggest fish market in the world and there is fish everywhere – of course there is going to be at least some smell of fish in the air, but I would admit that it didn’t seem all that strong when I was there, considering.
I would say that some great additions to this list is the amazing night markets in Taipei, the prolific and delicious street food in Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai) and the fantastic pinxtos in San Sebastián!
Great list of places with great food. I have never been to these spots so it really got my interest. Having tried this food is one thing but experiencing it from the country where it is made/came from is different. Always different. I love doing food trip too whenever I travel. So this list is worth keeping! Thanks for sharing.
All of these experiences sound amazing! And how about sampling jamon iberico in Spain ;)
You got the best from everywhere! Add something from Chiang Mai and the list is 100% complete. It’s making me hungry! That’s it, I need to close the page before to buy a ticket to Lima or somewhere else!
Just to clarify, in Georgetown, Penang, Char Kway Teow is not a Malay dish. It is 100% Chinese. In general, I am quite surprised that Penang made it to this list instead of Bangkok which by far outnumber Penang in terms of food, and infrastructure/size.
You gave me great ideas where to go next ;)
I did a lot of tasting tours in Tuscany already, and I loved them too!
I´d also suggest adding street food markets in London, which are among the best in the world, as the people from all over the commonwealth have lifed in London for ages :)
Great post!
Yours, Lydia
I’m glad and surprised to see the food scene in Georgetown, Penang, made the list. Compared to other cuisines that are more popular in the world, Malaysian food is still under-rated. But its diversity and roots from Indian, Malay and Chinese cultures (and the exciting fusion mix that comes out of it) makes it easy to please almost everyone – the exception being people who like their food bland. So… check it out and make sure to read the local food blogs for where to go for the best dishes. Open your palate to new taste sensations and textures!
Street food, cooking classes, markets are the best ways to discover the local food and culture while travelling. Food takes a bit part in my trips, and I would say that it makes me continue travelling when I’m back home!