Food & tipples have always been intrinsic to any vacation, but we’re thrilled that travelling solely in search of good food is a legit thing now- the world has come to share our love for culinary couture! So whether you’re heading for a quickie getaway to bask in the Christmas+NYE buzz or planning that annual vacay, you can’t say no to food adventures & we got you covered with the top foodcation destinations across the world.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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From hidden gem to rising star, this capital city has the world waiting in line to get a bite from its culinary hot pot. Known for its balance of sweet, salty, bitter, spicy, and sour tastes, Vietnamese food is as charming whether made on the street or inside a colonial mansion like the restaurant Nhà Hàng Ngon. Strutting around in the streets look for the vendors’ open-grill seafood (think crab, oysters, mussels & more), and if you’re bold enough for Balut, then send in your application for the DSSC Hall of Fame. The hawkers will have busy days for you, but the city’s got your back for that- places like XU Restaurant and Lounge and Quan 94 are the perfect way to unwind after a heavy day of street food scouring, i.e., dining in! In case you go down the dark path of believing you’ve overeaten, a creamy Vietnamese iced coffee will help clear that thought and make way for new binge sessions right away, find it at their go-to coffee chain Trung Nguyen. Bring back a bit of Vietnam with you by grabbing their single-origin cacao chocolate bars, Marou Faiseurs De Chocolat are one of our faves!
Antalya, Turkey
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Mediterranean Sea on one side and Taurus Mountains on the other. Cuisine influenced by Christian and Muslim traditions. Being the best of both worlds is serious business for this Turkish city. Traditional fare like kebabs, mezze platters, fried seafood, and hummus are done best by the seaside, restaurant Iskele is a favourite among locals & tourists alike for these treats. Some tour companies also offer boat trips for you to catch your own seafood- food adventure ahoy! While you sip on the Turks’ most loved tipple, Raki (an anise flavoured brandy), enjoy their European influenced food, such as pea risotto, tahini soup, and more. Your tummy may be full but your heart will want more, so pack some Baklava & sweet jam jars on your way back for those #TurkeyThrowback times.
Sicily, Italy
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This island makes it to not just our foodcation list, but is also our ultimate wine-cation destination.. Do you need any other tip off to book your tickets to Sicily?
…No, really, you don’t. But we figured it’s best for you to know where to head to after one too many glasses of wine! With wineries sprouting throughout the region, they offer vineyard tours and guided tastings of Sicilian wines such as Nero d’Avola and Nerello Mascalese. The aromatic Marsala wine is a must try, it goes well as an aperitif as well as with main course. Along with their Pasta Con Le Sarde (thick spaghetti with sardines, fennel, pine nuts, and raisins), nibble on their fried fare like arancini (meat-filled rice balls) & sea fare such as cuttlefish, shrimp, and squid. End as many meals as you can with the original Cassata, a sponge cake base layered with ricotta, marzipan, white icing, and topped with candied fruit. Exaggerated hand gestures isn’t the only souvenir you can carry back, get hold of Trapani city’s organic sea salt, one of Europe’s oldest salt harvesting coasts, and bake all the sea salt goodies you’d been dreaming of till now!
Tokyo, Japan
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Japanese cuisine may have made inroads in Delhi, but a trip to Tokyo will tell you we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg! Sushi, Sashimi, Ramen, Tempura, Onigiri (stuffed rice balls) are served as both, fine dine dishes and fast food. If the fancy feels set in, visit Waketokuyama, which serves between eight to fourteen courses per meal. For some udon utopia go to Mentsu-Dan and if you are looking for some fried indulgence Tempura Tsunahachi is the place. Get to know Japanese food better by exploring their food markets, usually attached with departmental stores, and interacting with chefs & food industry professionals, like Shinji Sakamoto, who offer tours of these food emporiums. Get some liquidity with their whiskey, Japanese whiskies are the new underdog of world’s best whiskies already; Suntory and Nikka are the brands to look out for, pair ‘em with ice or sparkling water if you want to do it the Japanese way. When it’s time to say adios to your Tokyo foodcation, pick up some Sake, a rice wine, and don’t forget to send over a few bottles- we’re loyal fans!
Lima, Peru
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Lima has had three restaurants (Central, Maido, and Astrid Y Gaston) feature in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for the past three consecutive years; a clear indicator of its vibrant culinary landscape and why you should drop in for your next foodcation! With Amazonian ingredients next door and Chinese influence left behind by Chinese contract labourers mixed in with traditional Peruvian dishes, the city offers more than can fit on your plate. Start off with salmon and tuna ceviche (raw fish cured with lime juice) and Lomo Saltado (a stir fry of marinated strips of steak mixed with onions, tomatoes, french fries, and other ingredients), and graduate to Amazonian snails & fried guinea pig. Wash it down with the go-to Peruvian beverage, Chicha Morada, made with pineapple, purple maize, sugar, and cinnamon. For that tipple fix sip on their native brandy, Pisco, and bring back the amber-hued drink to boast to friends about your Peruvian escapades.
So, for which foodcation are you booking tickets next?
Featured Image Courtesy: gemmachew.com
