Top 3 Unusual Foodie Destinations

A member of the Travel Academy family bumped into an old friend last week who had just taken a round-the-world trip. The theme? Visiting all of the best restaurants in major cities; from Paris to Tokyo, this lucky guy has experienced them all!

Inspired by this incredible and hunger-inducing idea, we've picked three of the best lesser-known foodie destinations. Gourmands, prepare to get hungry as we explore three food travel destinations to add to your list.

Vietnam

Colonial influence makes Vietnamese cuisine incredibly unique. Take the Vietnamese baguette Banh Mi for example – a French-inspired sandwich filled with cold-cut pork, pickled veggies, coriander and pâté. Capital city Hanoi is famous for producing some of the best loaves around.

Other iconic dishes include the ever-popular pho, a meaty, noodle-filled broth renowned as a symbol of Vietnamese gastronomy. Enjoy other exotic flavours by trying a bowl of xôi (a sticky rice dish) or chao (a rice-based porridge similar to congee).

Sardinia

Located off the Mediterranean coastline, Sardinia is a self-governing region of Italy and a hidden treasure when it comes to great food. Unlike mainland Italy, Sardinia focuses more on food from the land with special emphasis on lean meats.  

One of the most iconic dishes in Sardinia is spit-roasted suckling pig, traditionally cooked for over three hours and infused with myrtle leaves. Other unique dishes include casu marzu – a traditional sheep milk cheese fermented by insect larvae – and exquisite seafood plucked fresh from the Mediterranean Sea.

Peru

Made famous in the western world for their pulled pork and fried chicken (Nandos, anyone?), Peru is home to some of the freshest ingredients and dishes in the game.

Ceviche tops our list of favourites; it’s simply raw fish beautifully cooked in a marinade of chilli and lime juice. In addition to a medley of meat-based recipes, Ceviche is found across all markets and restaurants throughout Peru. Buen provecho!