Square of the Bourse, Bordeaux. Picture: ThinkStock
Source: ThinkStock
IF you’re anything like me, part of the joy of travel is experiencing the food of other cultures.
I’ll never forget touring Japan with a busload of Singaporeans —
every single restaurant on the itinerary was Chinese. I kept wanting to
wail “why???” But it wouldn’t have done me any good, as the tour guide
only spoke Cantonese. The food and travel website
Thrillist
has released its guide to The World’s 18 Best Food cities. The
criteria: “uniqueness of traditional food/drink style, quality of
restaurants/bars, diversity of cuisines, and also, for the most part, a
feeling that it is changing and improving.”
La Tupina restaurant in Bordeaux, France.
Source: Supplied
Top of the list was Bordeaux, France, with Thrillist raving: “While
Paris rested on its buttery laurels, Bordeaux, the place you always knew
for its wines, silently rose to be the more interesting food
destination for France and, we think, the world.”
Moida restaurant in Hoster Lane, Melbourne.
Source: News Corp Australia
The only Aussie city on the list is Melbourne, with the
authors noting: “If Sydney is the New York City of Australia, Melbourne
is basically a less hilly San Francisco: smaller, a little more
Victorian in its stylings, with an impressive food scene to match.
Though famous chefs from all over the world have opened outposts in
Sydney (see: David Chang), Melbourne’s scene happened more organically
with chefs that came up there, as evidenced by now-ultra-famous toques
like Frank Camorra of the MoVida empire, and Andrew McConnell of
Cumulus, who turned laneway (like alleys, but much cooler sounding)
dining into something more hep, less sketchy. Their Italian immigrant
population created a formidable cafe scene (check out Cafe Di Stasio,
the old standby Caffe e Cucina, newer moves like Twenty & Six
Espresso).”
1. Bordeaux, France
Must-try: duck confit
at La Tupina; entrecote at Brasserie Bordelaise; fresh seafood at
Bistro Le Petit Commerce; and the oyster and sausage plate at Chez
Phillipe.
Duck confit at La Tupina.
Source: Facebook
2. Bologna, Italy
Must try: pasta at All’Osteria Bottega; mortadella and fresh cheeses in Mercato di Mezzo.
3. Mumbai, India
Must-try: the street chaat foods, like pani or bhelpuri; a mutton Frankie at Tibbs Frankie.
4. London, England
Must-try:
Meat Fruit at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal; steak at Hawksmoor; any
protein at St John; lunch at Borough Market; a tasting menu from Gordon
Ramsay.
5. New York, United States
Must-try: a slice of pizza on the street; a Reuben at a Jewish deli.
6. Marrakesh, Morocco
Must try: good khobz; roast lamb Mechoui style; cod tagine at Bô-Zin.
7. Cartagena, Colombia
Must try: fritos; oysters and cholados on the beach; ceviche at the Malagana Cafe in Getsemani.
8. Istanbul, Turkey
Must-try: a sebzeli kebab at Zubeyir; baklava from Diyar Burma; a meal at Ciya Sofrasi.
9. Tokyo, Japan
Must-try: sushi at Tsukiji fish market; tsukemen (dipping noodles) at Rokurinsha
10. Barcelona, Spain
Must-try:
Dos Palillos, which blends tapas with Asian influences; jamón Ibérica
at La Boqueria; former elBulli wunderkinds’ Ferran and Alberto Adrià’s
new ventures, Tickets and Bodega 1900.
11. Hong Kong, China
Must try: steamed flower crab at The Chairman; BBQ pork buns at Island Tang or Tim Ho Wan;
12. Copenhagen, Denmark
Must-try: smørrebrød from Aamanns; Døp’s hot dogs; Noma.
13. Montreal, Canada
Must try: dinner at Au Pied de Cochon; a bagel from St-Viateur or Fairmount; Schwartz’s Special at Schwartz’s Deli.
14. New Orleans, United States
Must-try: a po’boy at Domilise’s; a Sazerac at the Sazerac Bar; lunch at Galatoire’s.
15. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Must-try: parillas at Don Julio; empanadas at Peron Peron; choripan sandwiches from a street stall.
16. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Must-try: a breakfast banh mi with fried egg; bun that nuong; soft-shelled crab at Cųc Gąch Quán in District 1.
17. Melbourne, Australia
Must-try: Wagyu beef tartars at MoVida; chilli baked mussels at Cumulus.
18. Penang, Malaysia
Must-try: Ong Cheng Huat Seafood’s garlic steamed red snapper; “hawker foods” such as pan mee or assam laksa.
To get the full rundown on the World’s 18 Best Food cities,
click here.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten on a holiday?
news.com.au
Friday, October 10 2014
