Travelers can gain insights into a culture through its cuisine. Breaking bread with locals is often the best way to truly engage with a destination.
Taste buds will rejoice on these culinary tours that showcase Tom Yum broth, street taco sauce or Icelandic yogurt – guaranteed!
Greece
Greeks are well known for their warm hospitality. A concept known as filoxenia elevates dining experiences by creating an inviting space conducive to conversation and leisurely enjoyment of food and drink, often with large platters placed at the center of tables for guests to share, echoing the communal dining culture prominent throughout Greek society.
Greece boasts stunning landscapes from mountains to sea that serve as a stunning setting for its diverse cuisine. Seafood dishes dominate many dishes due to the country’s extensive coastline; but don’t be put off if seafood isn’t your cup of tea–there’s still plenty of delicious meat options too. Lamb Kleftiko is an unforgettable favorite; slow cooked leg or cubes of lamb wrapped in parchment paper parcels are stewed until all meat falls off the bone. Additionally, popular in Peloponnese region delicacies include vine/grape leaves stuffed with rice mixture of lemon zest and herbs!
Baklava can be found at most bakeries and dessert shops. This tasty treat features a light pastry crust filled with nuts and an irresistibly tasty syrup. Enjoy it alongside Metaxa Greek wine, made from aged wine distillates combined with Mediterranean botanicals for an irresistibly smooth experience.
Italy
Food tours can be an incredible way to explore a destination through its cuisine, giving visitors the chance to immerse themselves in its culture through raw ingredients and finished dishes as well as the scents, tastes, and traditions associated with each regional meal.
A culinary tour typically lasts 2 to 4 hours and can be completed on foot, bike, tuk-tuk or scooter. Stops could include various restaurants, markets, cafes or stores specializing in culinary products and stores that sell them. There are also tours around the world led by professional chefs or experienced local guides.
At this region encased between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, traditional dishes can often take cues from neighboring countries. For instance, Aosta Valley is famous for its hearty mountain cuisine while Apulia region is well-known for its wide selection of pizza and pasta recipes. Furthermore, Scardetta – a shortcrust pastry filled with ricotta cheese and hard-boiled eggs – can also be found there.
Aosta Valley produces some of Italy’s finest cheeses, including Fontina and Robiola, and was home to one of modern Italian cooking’s founding figures, Pellegrino Artusi whose book ‘Science in the Kitchen and Art of Eating Well’ was published in 1891. Additionally, Culatello ham and large Mortadella sausage are two delicious delicacies produced here.
Vietnam
Vietnam is famed for its incredible cuisine. Boasting fresh vegetables and varied textures with exotic spices, Vietnamese cuisine is among the world’s best-loved fare. Additionally, this Southeast Asian nation is famed for its unique culinary culture which heavily embraces The Five Elements.
Pho is one of the world’s best-known Vietnamese foods and an indispensable staple across Vietnam, found almost every city and town. A bowl of pho provides comforting meals made up of salty broth with various herbs sprinkled throughout, chicken or beef fillets and fresh vegetables for flavoring. You’re bound to find great bowls in any Vietnamese city for a cheap and filling price point.
Another traditional Vietnamese meal, banh mi, is enjoyed at any time of the day and provides a cheap, convenient meal option. Composed of a grilled baguette stuffed with meat, vegetables and rice – banh mi is an essential street food and should not be missed when visiting Vietnam!
Bun thit nuong is an outstanding Vietnamese breakfast meal enjoyed across the nation. Comprised of cold rice vermicelli, marinated grilled pork and finely chopped lettuce and pickled vegetables served alongside a drizzle of fish sauce, this delectable treat originated in Hue and now enjoys popularity throughout Vietnam.
Morocco
Moroccan cuisine draws its inspiration from Berber, Arabic, Jewish and African foods. Dishes vary by region but generally feature meat (chicken, lamb or beef), lots of herbs and spices and often fruits and vegetables despite being an Islamic country. Pork consumption is not common.
Couscous is one of the best-known dishes in Morocco, and with good reason: its flavors are bold and abundant. Tagine, an ancient clay pot dish used as both main course and appetizer, usually filled with meatballs (kefta) made of chicken, lamb or beef meatballs and seasoned with aromatic ras el hanout spices like sumac.
Tehal, or stuffed camel spleen, is another traditional Moroccan dish to experience while visiting. Filled with camel meat or ground beef or lamb before frying and topping with olives and syrup-cooked prunes before being served up to your guests, tehal offers a delectable treat you must sample when visiting Morocco!
As another delightful cuisine option in Morocco, be sure to give Zalouk a try – it’s a tasty salad of eggplants, tomatoes and garlic combined with fenugreek seeds and ras el hanout for celebrations – it should definitely make the list if invited to any dinner parties there! Its popularity makes Zalouk one of the must-order dishes!
