"There is no love sincerer than the love of food," said George Bernard Shaw, and let us also add that there's arguably no better way to explore a culture than to eat voraciously while traveling. Yes, there are many five-star restaurants worth booking an entire trip for, but it's equally important to savor classic treats from across the world.
Paella in Valencia, Spain
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
It’s this classic rice-based dish that first pops to mind when thinking of Spanish gastronomy. For the best there is, head to the source: Valencia. And don’t forget to scrape the bottom of the pan for heavenly bites of crunchy rice, or socarrat: the most flavorful arroz ever to land on your palate.
Photo: iStockphoto
It’s this classic rice-based dish that first pops to mind when thinking of Spanish gastronomy. For the best there is, head to the source: Valencia. And don’t forget to scrape the bottom of the pan for heavenly bites of crunchy rice, or socarrat: the most flavorful arroz ever to land on your palate.
Photo: iStockphoto
Nasi Lemak in Malaysia
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
Malaysia’s national dish, nasi lemak is a fragrant coconut-milk rice mixture, served with sambal sauce, fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts, and cucumber and cooked with screw pine (pandan) leaves. Available on almost every street corner, this much-loved classic hits all the notes.
Photo: Ⓒ Simon Reddy/Alamy
Malaysia’s national dish, nasi lemak is a fragrant coconut-milk rice mixture, served with sambal sauce, fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts, and cucumber and cooked with screw pine (pandan) leaves. Available on almost every street corner, this much-loved classic hits all the notes.
Photo: Ⓒ Simon Reddy/Alamy
Pintxos in San Sebastián, Spain
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
Among the most highly ranked cities for Michelin-starred restaurants, San Sebastián boasts pintxos (the equivalent of small tapas) with über-creative takes on classics and beyond. Spain’s haute cuisine shines in this culinary paradise on the Basque coast.
Photo: iStockphoto
Among the most highly ranked cities for Michelin-starred restaurants, San Sebastián boasts pintxos (the equivalent of small tapas) with über-creative takes on classics and beyond. Spain’s haute cuisine shines in this culinary paradise on the Basque coast.
Photo: iStockphoto
Advertisement
Pastel de Nata in Lisbon
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
The most iconic Portuguese pastry, the pastel de nata is a sublime custard tart with hints of lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla. Buttery goodness in the middle, crunchy sweetness on top—what’s not to love?
Photo: iStockphoto
The most iconic Portuguese pastry, the pastel de nata is a sublime custard tart with hints of lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla. Buttery goodness in the middle, crunchy sweetness on top—what’s not to love?
Photo: iStockphoto
Mole in Puebla, Mexico
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
Mole, a specialty in the Mexican city of Puebla, is a labor of love. The spicy-sweet combination of this rich, chocolate-colored sauce takes arduous preparation and packs ingredients such as ancho chiles, spices like anise and coriander, sesame seeds, almonds, peanuts, stale bread, brown sugar, raisins, chocolate, and ripe plantains. The culminating dish is fit for the gods.
Photo: iStockphoto
Mole, a specialty in the Mexican city of Puebla, is a labor of love. The spicy-sweet combination of this rich, chocolate-colored sauce takes arduous preparation and packs ingredients such as ancho chiles, spices like anise and coriander, sesame seeds, almonds, peanuts, stale bread, brown sugar, raisins, chocolate, and ripe plantains. The culminating dish is fit for the gods.
Photo: iStockphoto
Sichuan Hot Pot in China
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
This isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re an extreme spice lover, you’ll welcome the tears that come from the hot pot’s perfect nexus of pain and pleasure.
Photo: iStockphoto
This isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re an extreme spice lover, you’ll welcome the tears that come from the hot pot’s perfect nexus of pain and pleasure.
Photo: iStockphoto
Advertisement
Tagine in Morocco
See More of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
This slow-cooked savory stew, typically made with sliced meat, poultry, or fish and lots of herbs and spices, is true Moroccan soul food. Cooked for hours in a clay cooking pot with a conical lid (known as a tagine), this irresistible dish is served with couscous or bread and can be found all over Morocco.
Photo: iStockphoto
This slow-cooked savory stew, typically made with sliced meat, poultry, or fish and lots of herbs and spices, is true Moroccan soul food. Cooked for hours in a clay cooking pot with a conical lid (known as a tagine), this irresistible dish is served with couscous or bread and can be found all over Morocco.
Photo: iStockphoto
-- By Kavita Mokha
See All of the Food Worth Traveling For: What to Eat and Where to Eat It
More from Travel + Leisure:
Counting Down America's 20 Most Charming Cities
12 Mesmerizing Places to Watch Flowers Bloom
The Best Places to Travel in 2015
Best Walking Shoes for Travel
40 Reasons to Travel Now
Advertisement
Also on HuffPost:
