When traveling, the only real way to immerse yourself in the culture, learn about the people, and find out what makes a place unique is to experience the food. Tasting the local cuisine is, in fact, an experience of all the senses coming together. You see it, smell it, taste it and even feel it. It’s guaranteed that you remember the ambiance and the setting, you remember the people, and you remember the food.
Maybe it was part of a tour you did, a vendor you bought from on the street, a festival you attended, or a class you took. Maybe it was part of a slow easy-going morning eating croissants in Paris. Or, it’s the churros and chocolate served in the early morning hours to partiers making their way home from the bars in Barcelona. Just the familiar smell will take you back to that place, time and time again.
With the importance of food in mind, here are our top five culinary cities to travel to.
Paris, France
There are so many famous things to see while in Paris but don’t forget to stop and taste Paris as well. What is unique about this city is the food is exceptional from the vendors on the street to the high-end restaurants. Whether it’s a pastry purchased straight out of the oven in a crowded bakery or your first time sampling the adventurous tastes of frog legs and escargot, it’s an experience you will not forget.
New York City
If traveling out of the country isn’t in the cards, New York City is about the closest thing you will get to Paris. While the food and culture are different from Paris, it provides the same unique experience from vendors on the street to high-end restaurants. Additionally, like Paris, there is an unlimited number of things to see and do in New York City especially when it comes to food. Unlike Paris though, the diversity of people and cuisine is what makes it unique and kind of a trendsetter for the rest of the US. You never know, while your searching for a massive slice of thin crust New York Style pizza, you might be the first to try the next cronut.
Tuscany, Italy
Experience wine country, learn to make homemade pasta with rich, hearty sauces and eat your fill of freshly baked bread, antipasti, and olives. All the while taking in the scenes of rolling green hills, stunning terraces, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Italy is one of those places that have embraced visitors, they actually want to show you their way of life. They welcome you like a member of their family, you can sign up for cooking classes, tours, and more all over the city.
Hawaii
If you want to get a taste of the tropics without leaving the comfort of the US, then this is the place for you. Hawaii has long been recognized as one of the world’s top culinary destinations by chefs and culinary professionals. And for a good reason, nowhere else on earth does the food taste fresher and is more accessible than it is in Hawaii. The best part is you can get the same quality and type of food from street vendors, food trucks, and five-star resorts.
Tokyo, Japan
You may already be a huge sushi lover or tea aficionado, but you won’t really ever have the full experience until you visit Japan. Not only will you find the freshest sushi and fantastic fish markets, but you can also attend a tea ceremony. If you are really feeling adventurous, try the Japanese delicacies fugu or blowfish. Certain parts of the fish are 200 times more toxic than cyanide, so it must be handled with extreme caution. Are you brave enough?