5 local cuisines you have to try
The best part of travelling is eating. Here are five local cuisines from around the world that are worth the lengthy plane ride.
Japanese
We're calling it – Japan has the best food in the world. Everything you eat here, from a chicken katsu sandwich bought at a 7-11 to a Michelin-starred kaiseki meal (a sort degustation) will be reliably excellent. The Japanese take their food seriously, but at the same time you won’t ever feel intimidated by their foodie culture. Get ready for unusual and exciting flavours, incredible fresh seafood and presentation worthy of an art gallery.
Peruvian
If you had to name one Peruvian dish, you probably couldn’t do it. The cuisine certainly isn’t as famous as some of it’s other South American neighbours, but we think it’s the best in the region. Peru has been named the world’s best culinary destination in numerous awards and legendary chef George Escoffier put it in his top three. Dine on fresh tangy ceviche, grilled meats and fragrant rice with chicken, all washed down with a pisco sour.
Greek
There’s so many powerhouse cuisines in Europe that it can be easy to forget some of the quiet achievers. Case in point: Greece. The original Mediterranean cuisine, it’s a delicious mix of seafood, grilled meats, brightly coloured salads and honeyed desserts. And don’t even get us started on the cheese. Pull up a seat at a waterside tavern and eat fresh calamari with just a squeeze of lemon washed down with a tart local white wine. Bliss.
Malaysian
The undisputed capital of street food, Malaysian is best eaten outside. Bustling street markets serve up spicy laksas, grilled satay, fresh roti bread, stuffed pancakes and stir fried noodles. The atmosphere is what makes it such an experience, walking through the brightly lit stalls, grabbing a seat at a tiny plastic table and sipping a cold beer with the locals.
Indian
There’s really no such thing as just ‘Indian’ food. India is a huge country that there are an endless array of regional variations and a meal you eat in the northern state of Punjab will be completely different to one eaten in the southern state of Kerala. It’s also one of the best countries in the world for vegetarians as many of the huge Hindu population don’t eat meat.
Have you tried any of these cuisines?