Hungry for an adventure? These offbeat destinations deliver (海角精品黑料's Rachel Nania)
WASHINGTON 鈥� Italy is famous for its pizza and pasta, and cheese and pastry put France on the map 鈥� but they aren鈥檛 the only countries that offer visitors a great gastronomic experience.
Neha Khullar, author of 鈥溾�� and founder of , has spent her life traveling the globe in search of the best dishes, and some of her favorite meals were savored in countries that aren鈥檛 necessarily notorious culinary destinations.
Hungry for an adventure? Here are Khullar鈥檚 top five vacation picks for food lovers:
Portugal鈥淲ords don鈥檛 do it justice.鈥� That鈥檚 how Khullar described the food in Portugal. With influences from India, South Africa and neighboring Spain, Portuguese cuisine makes use of everything from curry powders to chili peppers. 鈥淎nd then you fuse that with the whole Mediterranean cuisine 鈥� a lot of seafood, good olive oil and Port wine. It鈥檚 just amazing,鈥� Khullar said. Best of all, dining out in Portugal won鈥檛 break the bank. Khullar said it鈥檚 one country where your money will go a long way. 鈥淵ou see a huge difference between going to Portugal and going to Spain. You can have the same dish and it will be significantly different in terms of what you鈥檙e paying for that dish,鈥� she added. If you plan to eat your way through the country, make sure you add a stop in Lisbon to your itinerary. Your pants will thank you. Khullar said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a hilly city that you鈥檒l be able to work off the food.鈥澛�
(AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)
AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz
Belize Beautiful beaches aren鈥檛 the only thing visitors will find in Belize. Khullar said its cuisine makes the Central American country a must for food lovers. The Caribbean Sea supplies some of the freshest seafood, and its deep rain forest grows an abundance of cacao beans. Khullar also said neighboring countries have heavy influences on the food. Expect to see pupusas, curry dishes and lots of coconut. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge fusion of different cuisines,鈥� she added.聽
(AP Photo/The Belize Tourist Board)
AP Photo/The Belize Tourist Board
IcelandPack your parka and your appetite if you鈥檙e headed to Iceland. Khuller said the country has some of the best food in the world. Topping her list of favorites is Iceland鈥檚 langoustine, which she described as a cross between lobster and shrimp, 鈥渂ut sweeter.鈥� Arctic char is another standout meal from her travels 鈥� especially when it鈥檚 simply seasoned with salt and pepper and not overpowered with complicated sides. 鈥淵ou might have some risotto with it, you might have some vegetables with it. They really allow the flavor of that fish to stand out, and it鈥檚 really good,鈥� Khuller said. Hot dogs made from a combination of lamb, beef and pork are a popular dish in Iceland. Visitors can find them on almost every street corner. And Icelandic yogurt, called skyr, shows up everywhere 鈥� from the breakfast table to the bread basket (Icelanders mix the yogurt into butter). 聽鈥淕reek yogurt has this tartness to it, and skyr is just sweet. You don鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e having yogurt; you feel like you鈥檙e having something that鈥檚 like a dessert,鈥� Khuller said.
(AP Photo/Rene Rossignaud, File)
AP Photo/Rene Rossignaud, File
India The large country offers seemingly endless options when it comes to food. Some regions are known for their hearty, meaty dishes, while others keep to a vegetarian diet. Coconut is a popular ingredient in the southern part of the country, and coastal towns take advantage of fresh seafood. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just an abundance of culture to learn. There鈥檚 an abundance of colors and flavors and history to just absorb and take in,鈥� said Khullar, who includes recipes for shredded pork vindaloo and tomato chutney in her cookbook. 鈥淏ecause of the geography and history of India, you鈥檙e just able to really taste history. Each dish has a story behind it.鈥澛�
(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh
New Zealand New Zealand is known for its beautiful scenery, but Khullar said the country鈥檚 cuisine is just as breathtaking as its views. Waiheke Island, just off the coast of Auckland, is famous for its vineyards and olive groves. Tropical fruits are aplenty, as are macadamia nuts and kumaras, which Khullar compares to sweet potatoes. The country is also known for its lamb. 鈥淭o have [lamb] in New Zealand 鈥� it鈥檚 just a whole different taste. It鈥檚 so fresh, so tender,鈥� Khullar said. Fresh seafood and ancient methods of cooking, namely hangi, are a few other things visitors will find on the Southwestern Pacific island country.
(AP Photo/Kathy Matheson)
