Food is the subject which a lot of people can connect on and build relationships with considering we have it in many occasions, whether the occasion is formal or informal. Food can be successful in bringing people together, especially when connecting with food from other parts of the world. The idea of trying food from around the world has people travelling to different parts of the planet (from Asia to Africa) exploring their taste buds through a variety of exotic meals.
No matter who you are, there is probably a foodie inside of you. Here are a few cities across the world that are most likely to bring out the foodie in you.
Cape Town, South Africa
The Mother City of the Western Cape boasts a wide variety of flavours that are uniquely South African, but are also influenced from other cultures. Some of the popular cuisines to come from the coastal city include Cape-Malay dishes like Chakalaka and Bobotie, while other South African popular dishes are boerewors (the traditional South Africa sausage), Biltong, milk tart and malva pudding.
Vegetable Bobotie. Picture: Food source
Mumbai, India
Mumbai’s street food is part of why some tourists consider it to be the food capital of India. Look around for the city’s most popular dish, vada pav, a deep-fried potato sandwich topped with chutney. Tourists are recommended to not leave the city without getting their fill of authentic Goan bites and kebabs at the city’s famous food trucks.
Popular dish vada pav. Picture: Atto Grrk/Reuters
Places like Anand, Sardar’s and Sarvi have some of Mumbai’s finest street foods to dine on, without hurting anyone’s wallet.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is the home of restaurants that are covered in Michelin stars and are deservedly so, as the Asian city is a trove of flavours and recipes that although are taken across the world - are not similar to the origins of some of Tokyo’s best dishes.
The great thing about Tokyo’s restaurants is how they cater to all types of budgets - from the wallet-busting A-rated restaurants, to the Asian vibes of the local izakaya (local Japanese pubs that serves tapas-sized foods that are washed down with sake and beer).
Japanese Izikaya. Picture: Supplied
Lyon, France
France’s second-largest city is home to the stunning Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and le Bouchon Lyonnaise.
Bouchon originated as casual restaurants for Lyon’s silk workers and to this day they remain relaxed and unaffected, serving delicious local food like 'quenelles de Brochet' (fish dumpling in a cheese sauce) and 'Cervelle de canut' (white cheese with crusty bread) as well as Lyon’s signature pink pralines.
Le bouchon Lyonnaise, Lyon. Picture: Elena Pominova/Shuttershock
Mexico City, Mexico
When you’re in a city that is part of UNESCO’s approved street food, how can one not enjoy food made by Mexicans? From their breakfast meals - 'chilaquiles' and 'empanadas', to their traditionally popular tacos, guacamole and burritos, Mexican food is a worldwide favourite, and to eat the country’s cuisine can only be a dream for some foodies.
Mexican Chilaquiles Rojo. Picture: Cooking the globe
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Coined as a street food lover’s dream destination, Thailand’s second city has been named one of the best places to eat in the world on a number of occasions. When in Chiang Mai, don’t linger on pad thai, som tum and green curry – there’s a lot more to enjoy from a seemingly endless supply of food stalls and markets.
Also try the Khao soy, a bowl of braised chicken and fried noodles drowned in a coconut curry broth. There’s also 'Sai oua' – a fried northern Thai sausage – a pork and ginger curry called 'Gaeng hunglay' and 'Kanom jeen nam ngiaw' – a meaty noodle soup.
Chiang Mai, Thailand. Picture: Aireo/Shuttershock
Barcelona, Spain
The food of Spain is packed with flavour and character, and that is why the country’s food is also a world favourite. From hearty meals like Paella, Gazpacho and Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelette), to tapas meals like 'Gambas al ajillo' (Garlic Prawns) and 'Patatas bravas' (Potatoes in Bravas sauce) - Spain has meals for almost every type of foodie.
Apart from their hearty, savoury meals, Spain also has their share of delectable desserts, which can tantalise your taste buds. Dishes like 'Tarta de Santiago' (an almond cake), 'Crema Catalana' (Creme Brulee) and chocolate churros are some of Spain’s sweet dishes and widely popular across its regions.
Tarta de Santiago Picture: Food Source.org
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