Exquisite delicacies, sparkling drinks, and a sophisticated ambiance are the ingredients that make culinary journeys the finest hour of all gourmets. Every kitchen in Europe has its own personal character, and some top restaurants offer culinary delights from distant countries. Top wines are served with fine dining, and a delicious digestif rounds off the meal. Taste delicacies that are famous around the world, right at their place of origin, where they taste best.
Destinations for gourmets in Germany
Every year the Michelin Guide awards stars to excellent restaurants that satisfy even the most demanding gourmets. The kitchens have to prove themselves every year and there are only a few that can keep three stars, the highest possible number, permanently. The front runner in Germany is the Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, which has been receiving three Michelin stars since the early 1990s. The restaurant serves haute cuisine to its guests; the menu includes, for example, truffled Santa scallops, grilled Breton lobster, or sweetbreads in Jurançon jelly. Munich is also ideal as a travel destination if you want to feast and enjoy, you can also use deutsche bahn fahrplanauskunft to fix your schedule. The Königlicher Hirschgarten restaurant offers brunch, delicious beer, and culinary journeys through Bavarian cuisine. You can feast on sushi and sashimi just like in Japan in Hamburg, where the well-known TV chef Steffen Henssler runs several restaurants. Lucullan enjoyment also awaits you along some of the themed streets, travel the German Wine Route, the Beer and Castle Route, or the Baden Asparagus Route to discover the special specialties of the country.
Eat and drink like a god in France
France, home to numerous specialties that are known and appreciated all over the world, is perfect for gourmet trips. Excellent wine is cultivated in Burgundy and many other wine-growing regions, and the white mold cheese Camembert comes from Normandy. Alsace is famous for fine foie gras and hearty tarte flambée. Popular travel destinations there are Strasbourg and Colmar, the place is crisscrossed by canals and is therefore also known as Little Venice. A pearl among the sparkling wines is champagne, which is named after the region from which it comes. Champagne is located in the north of France, historically significant cities such as Reims and Troyes invite you to stay there.
Lush holidays in the warm south of Europe
There are some countries on the Mediterranean in southern Europe that invite you to a culinary journey. Enjoy the sun and delicious tapas in Spain. Hot and cold appetizers are offered, including albondigas, small meatballs in tomato sauce, Serrano ham, and Manchego, a flavorful cheese made from sheep’s milk. In summer, the cold vegetable soup Gazpacho is a refreshing meal. If you are on holiday in the province of Valencia, you should definitely try the national dish paella. The rice dish is traditionally refined with saffron, it is prepared with seafood or with chicken and rabbit, but there are also some vegetarian options. The Andalusian town of Jerez de la Frontera is the home of sherry, not far from the sun-kissed Costa de la Luz. Italy is also a formidable holiday destination for connoisseurs. Tuscany attracts gourmets with fish and game dishes, a specialty is the fish soup Cacciucco from Livorno. Puglia is a true paradise for gourmets, cheeses such as scamorza and mozzarella, mussels, and sea urchins pamper the palate here. If you want to taste fresh truffles, Italy is the right place for you. The season for white truffles, which are mainly found in Piedmont, extends from October to New Year’s Eve, while Umbria is known for black truffles. Greece is also a fantastic destination for gourmets. Dishes with lamb, moussaka, and desserts sweetened with honey make up the cuisine of the country.
Try exotic delicacies on long-distance trips
In distant countries, you can expect not only extraordinary hotels but also exotic dishes. For example, you can try antelope steak when you stay at a lodge in Africa. If you are on holiday in a riad in Morocco, it is worth trying the tagine: The dish is made from tender meat and fresh vegetables in a stew made of clay. In Australia, the kangaroo, emu, and crocodile are exceptional specialties. Vegans and vegetarians are in good hands in India, where there are numerous meat-free dishes. Varied curries, spinach-lentil dhal, and chutneys with naan bread are what make Indian cuisine so attractive. Those who love spicy food will also be delighted by a culinary journey through India.