Looking for a travel destination abroad with special food that is worth flying to for a culinary vacation? Want to get to know the world from the inside and plan a trip around the world following the food? A food tour abroad starts here!
If you are a culinary lover, you must base your itinerary on more than famous historical sites, beaches and landscapes. A big part of the fun for you is exploring the best food and wine in the destination and the trip would not be complete without sampling the flagship dishes of that destination. Already in the planning of the trip, you may find yourself fantasizing about a croissant with butter and chocolate, sipping a glass of wine in Paris or savoring a cannoli, a fried dough tube filled with pistachio cream or ricotta cheese cream, while you wander through the baroque towns of Sicily. But in Europe there are many other culinary destinations waiting for you that you will be happy to discover, here is a look at the destinations that you must mark for yourself with some culinary recommendations that will whet your appetite.
Palermo, Sicily, Italy
In the capital of Sicily, one of the most visited monuments is the Norman Palace located in Piazza Independenza, the jewel of the Norman Palace is the Palatine Chapel, a gold ceiling that will leave you speechless, it is a masterpiece in Arab-Norman-Byzantine style. Continue up Via Vittorio Emanuele and you will find Palermo Cathedral, the magnificent cathedral is undoubtedly worth a visit.
For a first culinary stop, it is recommended to visit the Ballaro market, one of the largest markets in the city, where you can find the best Sicilian produce such as After Palermo's Teatro Massimo, one of the most famous theaters in Italy, the arancini (fried rice balls), and all the traditional Sicilian pastries, such as cannoli, cesta.
After all these historical and cultural visits, why not go to the beach? From Palermo you can reach Mondello Beach in 30 minutes, where there is one restaurant with a Michelin star, the Bye Bye Blues, located at Via del Garofalo, 23, 90100 Palermo PA, Mondello, which offers a bold and surprising gourmet menu, among the dishes you can find potato ravioli , candied lemons and bacon in roasted squid soup, poached egg on Sicilian cheese fondue, black truffles and bread, risotto, goat cheese, persimmons, chestnuts and drops of balsamic vinegar, beef tartare, oranges, mixed salad with oregano, sweet and sour onions and spicy crumbs and much more, get ready For a menu that will stimulate your taste buds. And for dessert, get an almond and lemon cake with vanilla ice cream and crème brûlée or if you're daring go for candied pumpkin, caramel cream, cardamom ice cream, chocolate crumble and chia seeds.
Girona in Spain
The small old city of Girona, in the south of Spain, is called the "City of the Four Rivers", with a historical center, buildings and remains established by the Romans and the Middle Ages.
In this wall complex (La Força Vella), stands the cathedral. Vast Gothic architecture, inside, the fortress preserves one of the textile jewels of the Catalan Romanesque, in the city you will find El Celler de Can Roca, a family-owned restaurant that has received praise and has been named many times as one of the best in the world. It has an award winning menu. The 3 owners are brothers, the restaurant is decorated with 3 Michelin stars, please note that the meal takes 4 full hours. Enjoy every moment. From the way the dishes are served, from the amazingly beautiful dishes, from the creativity of the dishes and their wonderful taste. It is recommended to order the tasting menu, which includes 14 dishes served in a theatrical manner in vessels suitable for being displayed in a museum, you will receive detailed explanations of all the components of the dishes.
Naples, Italy
A tour of Naples goes above and below the ground, you will start in the city center and you will see the ancient Roman roads, originally laid out 2000 years ago, which are still in use today. Visit the Castel Nuovo and Castel dell'Ovo castles, one of the most beautiful and well-known architectural landmarks in Naples. Piazza del Flabiscito is a beautiful and must-see square in the city center. After visiting the Archaeological Museum of Naples, you will surely be hungry.
So you can't visit Naples without eating pizza, this delicious dough pastry was invented in Naples and it is the most iconic food in the world with the colors of the Italian flag red, white and green.
pizzeria-sorbillo- the line to enter Sorbillo can last up to an hour and a half where they make the best pizza in town. Sorbilo is known for making huge pizzas made from organic Campania. The restaurant is located at Via dei Tribunali, 38, 80138.
Apart from margherita or marinara pizza, when you are in Naples don't miss the seafood or spoliatella, sweet pastry and the best coffee in the world.
Prague in the Czech Republic
Prague is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, The charm of Prague's food scene is similar to the character of the city itself, it is recommended to explore the medieval streets in the daylight, walk along the river bank in the evening, see the Charles Bridge, a simple walk across the 14th century bridge is one of the most enjoyable experiences in Prague, savoring 'Eat nutritious meals, enjoy jazz music, and be amazed by the famous astronomical clock in the city. The mechanical clock indicating the turn of the hour is on the south side of the town hall and is the pride of Prague. It was built in the fifteenth century.
Wandering through the city you will come across countless hipster cafes. At La Degustation, at Haštalská 18, 110 00 Staré Město, this is the Jewish quarter of Prague, this iconic restaurant with one Michelin star, located in a historic building in the heart of Prague, comes with a wall full of wines and a lively atmosphere, where they create new wine pairings to complement Each of the dishes, they create drinks from fruits, vegetables, herbs and nuts. The advantage is that Prague is a cheap destination for other destinations in Europe, the beer there is also very cheap.
Venice, Italy
Venice, the beautiful and horribly touristed city of canals, is not always considered a culinary destination, but maybe that's precisely why you should go there armed with our recommendation, So after you visit the Basilica of San Marco in the famous square and the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto
Pamper yourself at the Quadri restaurant or the Il Ridotto restaurant, both with Michelin stars.
Ristorante Quadri menu at St. Mark's Square, 121 offers contemporary interpretations of traditional Venetian and Italian dishes' Quadri wine list has something for every palate, from lesser known wines from small Italian producers to big international names.
Il Ridotto restaurant is a small and elegant gourmet restaurant, with only 9 tables located in Campiello, Campo Santi Filippo e Giacomo, 4509, 30122, among its unique dishes you will find a dish consisting of crabs, leeks, crème brûlée, smoked herring, bitter herbs. Another dish black spaghetti, sea urchins, candied pepper and black cabbage, veal, hazelnuts, mushrooms and blueberries. And among the dessert dishes, you will find a dish suitable for celiacs, white chocolate with bergamot, citrus caramel and grapefruit (gluten-free), cold ricotta cream with pistachio crumble, candied orange and chocolate, and the classic millefeuille and raspberry.
Copenhagen in Denmark
Denmark is famous for its amazing statue of the Little Mermaid and its beautiful location on the sea. But also thanks to the night life, being a city of clubs and live performances and it is of course famous for the beer. But it also has excellent restaurants with Michelin stars, and one of them, Noma, a restaurant for only 12 tables, is defined as one of the best in the world. It operates in three seasons, and focuses on seafood for four months, on vegetables for another four months.
The serving of the dishes is one of the exciting experiences, for example for a first course you will be given what looks like a pot, you will be asked to look in the pot for a straw and then you will find out that it is soup, as simple as it sounds, but you are expected to eat the best puree you have ever eaten, the next course is a tart of potato flowers, A mesmerizing dish with its beauty and colors. Next was a quail egg cooked at exactly 129 degrees, topped with "chorizo" made from roses, the fragrant berries that grow on rose bushes.
The food is not served by a team of waiters but is brought to the table by the chefs who cooked and present the creations themselves. Note that a meal in Noma can reach 350 dollars.
There are dozens of restaurants with Michelin stars in Copenhagen, so it is definitely a culinary destination, despite being a small city. The capital of Denmark is a food destination that will surprise you.
Paris in France
How can you talk about cuisine without mentioning Paris and France. Paris is a city of culinary excellence with 9 restaurants with 3 Michelin stars, 13 restaurants with 2 Michelin stars, and 72 amazing restaurants with XNUMX Michelin star. After visiting the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the pinnacle of Napoleon III's architecture, the magnificent La Palais Garnier Opera House, the Arc de Triomphe and other historical sites.
Go to L'Ambroisie on Place des Vosges. This is a royal restaurant with an impressive menu and a historic location, among its first menu you will find lobster paulantine with sesame, curry sauce, for the recommended main course the lamb in a pepper crust, endive tatin. And for dessert bitter cocoa tart, bourbon vanilla ice cream or hot soufflé with candied chestnuts, mandarin sorbet.
If you prefer a more casual dining experience, walk along Saint Germain and look at Rue de Buci, one of the most lively streets, you can find restaurants and cafes, you can also enjoy wonderful seafood. The cafe Les Deux Magots
It is a famous cafe in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, it has gained a reputation as a meeting place for the literary and intellectual elite of the city.
Rome in Italy
From one capital city to another, Rome is without a doubt one of the first destinations when it comes to a culinary trip. You can find foods of Jewish origin, as well as dishes from the rural areas around Rome, such as Pasta Caccio or Pasta Amtriciana.
Go out in the evening to the Trastevere neighborhood, and look for the Roman trattoria cucina romana in a spectacular historical location, say goodbye to only 95 euros and eat great fresh pastas, appetizers and fish.
Cacio e Pepe is a dish you shouldn't miss in Rome, a pasta that sounds simple, but is dreamy, it's spaghetti with cheese, black pepper and olive oil.
Berlin Germany
With a lively 24-hour nightlife and historical sites that reveal the horrors of the Holocaust, many tourists also come for Berlin's growing culinary scene, which has an abundance of restaurants, cafes, food and food markets. There is the Adlon Kempinski Hotel with 2 Michelin stars. And there's Martkhalle IX including a popular Thursday night street food market and weekend breakfast and dessert markets. Zwei Dicke Bären regularly sells ice cream cookie sandwiches at Markthalle IX – including a gluten-free option!
The Thai food park in the summer where vendors set up street food stalls that sell authentic Thai food, but not only that, you can find Turkish food stalls, African and Moroccan food, Russian food and more. Berlin has built a name for itself as a cosmopolitan, liberal and ethnically diverse city.
Florence, Italy
This beautiful Renaissance city is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in the world with the best cuisine.
The first place you should visit is Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) to see the famous building, Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore - Duomo Duomo, it is the most important and impressive building in the city, the cathedral named after Santa Maria del Fiore is a very impressive Gothic building. The cathedral began to be built At the end of the 13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio.
One of the most famous museums is the Uffizi Gallery, every room you enter in the Uffizi will be more beautiful than the previous one since it is an impressive historical building in itself, the high ceilings are full of paintings.
Florence is famous for the bistecca alla fiorentina, (a steak that weighs about 1.2 kg) which is the symbol of the city. We recommend you to order the huge steak at the restaurant Trattoria Zà Zà (address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26r, 50123 Firenze) beyond the fine food , the atmosphere in the place is particularly fun and pleasant, the place is divided into several levels, there are seats inside and outside, the place is very, very popular, so we strongly recommend making reservations in advance, and even then be patient, you may very well have to wait, but the wait is worth it. Beyond huge pieces of meat, you can order Handmade pastas, fattuccini, papparella, ravioli which are perfect, dishes like the tomato soup or the bean soup which are a feast for the palate, all the dishes we tasted were perfect.
And if you're looking for street food to grab on the way, you can eat the famous Tripaio sandwich at Loggia del Porcellino, right in the center of Florence.
London - United Kingdom
London is undoubtedly one of the food capitals of Europe, you can find everything there. The English capital boasts about 65 restaurants with Michelin stars, with leading chefs such as Claire Smith (Gordon Ramsey's student). One of the popular restaurants is Sucharo Restaurant at 64 Turnmill St, London EC1M 5RR. In London you will find everything from fine food, to great pub meals to an endless variety of international street food.
See the world through the stomach? Questions and Answers On culinary destinations!
Boasting more Michelin stars per square meter than almost anywhere else in the world, San Sebastian, Spain is an absolute foodie's paradise. You can book a table at one of these Michelin-starred establishments within just a few weeks of your visit. San Sebastian specialties include slow-cooked veal cheeks, pimientos Di padron (fried long green peppers). Each bar has its own specialty.
Lyon in France, where you can find probably the most famous chef in the world of French cuisine, Paul Bocuse. Owner of the Michelin-starred Bocuse d'Or restaurant, Bocuse serves high-class food, and after that, innovative and sophisticated restaurants began to emerge.
Amsterdam is better known for its red light district, cafes, the Van Gogh Museum and its canals, but in the last decade a food scene has also developed, you can find the Asian restaurant Ron Gastrobar Oriental and the Michelin-starred Lastage restaurant. But not only the big guns make the food of but one of the most enjoyable things are fries in a variety of sauces and of course the pancake is one of the most popular flagship dishes.
Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs (address: Grimburgwal 2, 1012 GA, Amsterdam), the house of pancakes, about ten minutes from Dam Square, you can recognize it by the flying pride flag. This place presents pancakes that are perfect, all the versions will make your stomach feel good, pancakes with caramelized fruits or with cheese and ratatouille, roasted peppers and pickled halaniyo, pancakes with shrimp or with sushi in the Japanese version.
Modena is world famous for being the home of the Ferrari Museum, but like any Italian city, it has great restaurants like Osteria Francescana, with 3 Michelin stars. Chef Massimo Bottura is considered one of the best chefs in the world. Modena is known for the best parmigiano cheese and balsamic vinegar!
