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Food so good, you'll travel around the world to get it

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Jan 18th 2010 at 9:00AM

One of the best parts of traveling, is discovering new and exciting food. Of course, adventurous travelers will be on the lookout for the most exotic dishes they can find. Personally, I'm not that adventurous, and I stay away from any food that could be part of Fear Factor.

For our "foodie travel" theme day, I asked our team for the dish they would travel the world for. The kind of dish you are already craving when you get on the plane to return back home, or the dish that reminds you of your fantastic trip just by smelling it, or hearing its name.

Once we have whetted your appetite, why don't you share your own "will travel for food" in the comment section - you know we love hearing from you!

Scott: My favorite is the Indonesian Rijsttafel. A table filled with up to 30 different Indonesian dishes. You don't even need to fly to Indonesia to get one - the dish was invented by the Indonesian population in The Netherlands (Indonesia was once a Dutch colony). I'll also admit that I once flew from Amsterdam to New York just to buy chocolate chip cookies, but I'll save that one for "most insane trip day".

Tom: Hot dogs!

Catherine: Curry: green, red, massamam, thai, indian

Grant: One of my big traditions is drinking espresso like crazy when I'm in France -- if not for the espresso, proper, for the atmosphere.

Melanie: I'll swim across the Atlantic and trek my way through Europe for pizza from a cafe in the Piazza Navona in Rome

Annie: Black pepper crab in Singapore is the best thing ever.

Katie: Icelandic hot dogs. Really good jamon from Spain. Pesto from Cinque Terre, Italy. Beer from Denver.

The fig and proscuitto flatbread from Olives in NYC. Macarons (NOT coconut macaroons) from France. BBQ from Slow's in Detroit. Tapas in San Sebastian, Spain (particularly the seared foie gras at La Cuchara de San Telmo). A meal at Azafran in Mendoza (filet topped with brie, wrapped in puff pastry and served with a malbec reduction sauce). Empanadas from Cumana in Buenos Aires. Pizza topped with faina (a kind of chickpea dough) from Guerrin in Buenos Aires.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Alistair Jan 18th 2010 10:20AM

Yum, mine would be "champon" noodles from Nagasaki. For more mouthwatering foodie journeys, check out Away.com's excerpts from National Geographic's new Food Journeys of a Lifetime title at: http://away.com/feature/excerpt/national-geographic/top-ten-food-journeys-splash.html

Patricia Jan 18th 2010 10:55AM

Having lived for two years (20 years ago!) in the Black Forest region of Germany, Flamen Kuchen AKA tarte a flame from either side of the Rhine (Black Forest/Alasce)....

Also, almost anything in Thailand. Going again in about seven weeks for three weeks, can't wait!

bruce Jan 18th 2010 11:25AM

I definitely agree about Black Pepper Crab in Singapore, but I would add a few others.

Pad Kee Mao at Raan Jay Fai in Bangkok, Buffet lunch at Sala Rim Naam at The Oriental, Bangkok, anything aquatic from Cal Pep in Barcelona, Gelato from San Crispino in Rome or Gelateria dei Neri Florence, Steak and Soufflé Fries at Cabana Las Lilas in Buenos Aires, Sushi in Tokyo (can't pick or reveal my favorite), BBQ ribs and shoulder at The Rendezvous, Memphis, Smoked Meat at Schwartz's in Montreal.

I also kind of agreed with pizza (though you can get fantastic Italian-style pizza in several places around the globe, including Tokyo). I also agreed with the empanadas at Cumana in Buenos Aires, but if I'm in Singapore for Black Pepper Crab, I would substitute curry puffs for empanadas.