The beauty of modern dining is that many cities offer such multi ethnic variety that you can taste your way around the world within a few blocks; particularly in centers like Melbourne, San Francisco or London. Every part of the world offers its own unique tastes and culinary traditions; your choice of location depends solely on your palate. Go to Mexico for the salsas, Italy for pastas, New Zealand or Australia for fine wines or Argentina for fine steaks. Visiting local markets is part of the travel experience so count this off as part of your culinary adventures. Bon apetite.
- New Orleans, Louisiana
Food in New Orleans is a way of life and a big part of the city’s charm. Any visit here will mean the postponement of diets and getting your mouth around dishes such as catfish, jambalaya, gumbo and more. One of the best places to go is the French Quarter, where descendants of original French and Spanish settlers left a legacy of good coffee, breads, markets and over 300 restaurants.
- Trastevere, Rome
Trastevere’s quiet alleyways, traditional restaurants and picturesque quarters are some of the most desirable areas to eat in Rome. Choose from the daily markets, pizzerias, piano bars and pubs nestled between craft and art shops, churches and squares on every corner.
- Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech, Morocco
The nightly open-air market that takes place here after dusk is possibly the greatest in the world. Stalls set up under gaslights and the air becomes thick and hazy with the scent of barbecuing meats and seafood. White clothed chefs call to attract potential customers to their combinations of seafood, chips, salad, kebabs, barbecued meats, eggplant, olives, chili, bread and mint tea.
- Donguwa Bazaar, Kashgar, Xinjiang, China
These impressive daily markets become riotous on Sundays when a kaleidoscope of people in scarves and berets descend on the covered arched walkways. Uigur food in the form of skewered meat and bread is available from stalls but there’s also an incredible array of nuts, dried fruits and spices and a popular milky ice drink.
- Brunswick Street, Melbourne
Brunswick Street best reflects Melbourne’s multi cultural, artistic and tolerant soul. This unpretentious cafe and food precinct allows for all types from the Bohemian to the trendy, the alternative to the Audi driver. Cafes serve up tasty food and organic vegetable shops and flowers line the footpaths.
- Oaxaca, Mexico
The markets of Oaxaca are famous for their chocolate and unusual local delicacies such as fried grasshoppers and toasted worms. There are also herbs, spices, succulent fruits, local cheeses and plenty of squawking animals.
- Spice Market, Istanbul, Turkey
No visit to Istanbul is complete without a visit to the spice markets with their piles of heaped saffron, cumin, sumac, apple tea and Turkish delights.
- San Sebastian, Spain
For a true Hemmingway experience of the Basque region you can’t go past San Sebastian. Tapas are particularly famed here - mini-snacks of infinite varieties from calamari rings, to capsicum to spinach with chickpeas. Wander the streets of the old town for affordable eateries and down it with local beer and wine.
- Newtown, Sydney
Newtown is a Bohemian suburb well known for its numerous bars, Thai eateries and Indian takeaways. Nepalese, Maltese and Japanese are just some of the gamut of cuisine on offer.
- San Francisco
San Francisco is the restaurant capital of the country and awash in culinary riches. The only downside is deciding where to eat. Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf offer sophisticated buffets. Trendy neighborhoods like Mission District and Noe Valley have inventive menus. And world-class wineries, cheese makers and small farms are just a short drive away.