Delicious Destinations for Foodie Travellers

Think you are not a foodie? Does the very word conjure up images of molecular cuisine, Michelin star dining, a restaurant critic sitting alone at a table, criticising but not really enjoying his food? No, you are not a foodie, or are you?

I used to think like that, but then I realised that I love my food, good food I mean, and I have been fortunate enough to have sampled some incredible foodie experiences around the world.

In this post I will share with you some of my favourites, which include eating great platters of food on upturned barrels in Bologna. Now I know it does not sound glamorous, but if you plan to visit Bologna, let me know and I will let you know where to go for a wonderful casual lunch (and where to avoid). No matter how short my trip to Bologna, I always take a suitcase to fill with fresh pasta and other delicious ingredients. It is not called Bologna La Grassa (Bologna the fat) for nothing!

In Rome there is a little restaurant down a side street, not far from the Piazza di Spagna. The restaurant is owned by two sisters, one works front of house, one back of house, doing all the cooking. The food is fabulous and you can tell that it was made with love, the restaurant is a little quirky, and I just love it, I go there whenever I am in Rome. I have sent a number of people there now, all with great feedback.

In Le Marche (also Italy), earlier this year, I went truffle hunting for the first time. Did you know that truffle hunting is serious business, there is a truffle stock exchange, there are truffle thieves who will break onto your land at night and dig up your truffles, and a trained truffle hunting dog can cost in the region of 7,000 euros?! Like I said, serious business, but for those who swoon at the pungent earthy smell of truffles fresh from the ground, there is no price tag. Fancy trying it for yourself? I can arrange a private experience, you can seek out your truffles with the aid of your canine companion, and then Tia Anna will make wholewheat pasta from scratch and shave your freshly discovered truffle on top! You will enjoy the Italian outdoors and sip wine from local wine makers whilst listening how best to cook truffles, from the experts. Black truffles are best in May, and if you are looking for white truffles, November is the best time to visit.

Again in Italy, I can arrange for you to have private cooking classes in the home of a local lady. In some cases you might be taught by a Marchesa. Your day might start with a visit to a local market where you will learn how to choose the best produce – is it the smell, the touch or the weight that makes it the best? Returning to the Marchesa’s house you will create a simple masterpiece that will taste better than you can imagine so few ingredients ever could!

Based on what I have talked about so far, you might think that Italy is the only option for Gourmet Holidays. Not so..

In Morocco you might fill your luggage with the scents of the souk, from wonderfully colourful spices, to jars of preserved lemons and olives stuffed with peppers. There is a wonderful cooking school where you can learn to make your own tagine, then perhaps you might treat yourself to some colour tagine dishes from the souk, and impress your friends with your own creation at home.

In Argentina you can tour the vineyards of Mendoza by bicycle, sampling delicious Malbec, although hiring a car and driver is perhaps a better idea! You might fancy a traditional Asado (Argentine BBQ) on the pampas after riding out with the gauchos, or a simple Choripan, (the Argentine version of a hot dog, but with better quality meat), on a back street near La Boca.

France, like Italy, is wonderful for Luxury Culinary Experiences from private visits to invitation-only Champagne houses, to the luscious jam filled muffins on the breakfast menu at the Plaza Athénée in Paris. You can cycle the wine routes in Burgundy, enjoy a private cooking lesson, discovering the tricks on how to make anything Patisserie to Bouillabaisse, and learn the importance of buying locally and cooking seasonal. Love cooking? Perhaps you might be tempted to purchase some splendid copper-bottomed pots and pans at a certain cookshop in Beaune.

Last month I was fortunate enough to enjoy an aperitif and some canapes at Flocons de Sel in Megève, owned by 3 star Michelin chef, Emmanuel Renaut. Emmanuel has 3 restaurants in Megève. For a true Michelin star experience, book a room in the hotel at Flocons de Sel so you do not have to venture far after your dinner, and your game of Boules in the basement, accompanied of course by a glass or two of Chartreuse. Emmanuel loves Chartreuse. Bookings are not easy to come by, so make sure you make yours well in advance.

Earlier this year I organised a private dinner on the Seine for a group of 20 VIP guests. It was a visual and oral extravaganza and my client’s guests were utterly delighted.

In China I can arrange for you to learn how to make Dim Sum or teach you what are the steps to make the perfect cup of tea in a traditional tea ceremony. In Barcelona we can do a private tapas tour, in Burgundy you can head out on a bicycle and we can arrange a private picnic in a meadow of wildflowers, complete with a fresh baguette, local cheese and wine, a wonderfully sticky tarte tatin, and much more.

In Iceland you can enjoy lunch in a greenhouse full of tomatoes, and in New Zealand you can take a helicopter tour trip over Milford Sound and out to the coast where you will land on some rocks. Here the co pilot will hop out to catch some crayfish for you, before whisking you off to a private island where you can enjoy a walk on the beach and a couple of glasses of champagne whilst your crayfish cooks.

For something a little closer to home, the tasting menu at a certain boutique hotel in Devon, where I just spent the weekend, will make your heart sing.

Near or far, whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, I can create a culinary experience to suit your style and tastes. All you need to do is tell me what you enjoy, and I will create a journey around your destination, that your taste buds will never forget.

To discuss your Luxury Culinary Getaway, email me on janet@janetmactavish.travel and let’s talk about food.