Food has long been regarded as a respected hobby, and is an incentive for the development of a separate area of tourism - gastronomic. This is not just a journey through famous wine cellars and exotic restaurants for the jaded gluttons, but also a way to experience other cultures through local food.
Introducing the best cities in the world for gastronomic tourism... The list was compiled by gourmets from the editorial staff of the British edition of the Telegraph.
10. Bangkok, Thailand
Being in Bangkok and not ordering Pad Tai (noodles with fried tofu cheese, chicken fillet slices, peanuts, shrimp and legumes, with tamarind sauce) is a crime against taste buds. Among the exotic gastronomic delights of Bangkok, fried insects can be noted.
9. New Orleans, USA
Famous for its oyster sandwiches called Po'Boy (short for poor boy). Once these sandwiches were eaten by poor Louisiana hard workers, and now they are served in fast food cafes and some restaurants. Also in the “visiting menu” of New Orleans it is worth including Louisiana gumbo - this is both soup and sauce at the same time. The city is home to a large Vietnamese community, so tourists have a chance to try the traditional Pho Bo - broth with noodles and beef.
8. Lyon, France
In Lyon, the famous Lyon potatoes are prepared, chopped and fried with onions and parsley. Fans of a hearty breakfast should go to a bouchon (Lyon restaurant) and eat mashon - a dish of pork rinds, lamb, lentils, meat salad, cheese and sausage.
7. Bologna, Italy
Bologna is known in Italy as La Grassa ("fat man") for its delicious and satisfying food. The most popular are Bolognese sauce, boiled Mortadella sausage, prosciutto or dry-cured ham and Parmesan cheese.
6. Mendoza, Argentina
Here they cook a huge steak "Asado", which is legendary. Only men are engaged in its preparation, and meat is served with a very spicy chimichurri sauce. The city is surrounded by some of the country's finest wine estates.
5. New York, USA
The top 5 best cities in the world for food tourism tops America's culinary epicenter. Here you can taste dishes of various cuisines: Chinese, Indian, Russian, Latin American, African and many others. Hell's Kitchen is considered the gastronomic paradise of New York - the Manhattan area. It houses 8 of the city's favorite eateries, including The Brooklyn Kitchen and Blue Bottle Coffee.
4. Jaipur, India
The ranking of the best places for gourmet tourists continues to be one of the few cities where the favorite food of the Rajputs, an aristocratic military class, is served. Fans of spicy food should try Lal Maas, a spicy lamb dish (45 chili peppers for 1 kg of meat).
3. London, UK
The UK may not have always been famous for its cuisine, but the English capital is now home to some of the best restaurants in the world. Many immigrant communities have contributed to the variety of their menus, and Indian cuisine in London is considered one of the best in the world.
2. Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi's old city center beckons to taste the spices and flavors of Vietnamese cuisine with the perfect balance of salty, sweet and sour flavors. Freshly prepared dishes are sold on the streets of Hanoi, such as the vietburger (a baguette filled with pâté with herbs and cucumber) and nyok mam, a fish sauce that smells awful and tastes great. And coffee lovers will have a chance to taste coffee with egg yolk.
1. Tokyo, Japan
As the political center of Japan for over four centuries, Tokyo has had a major impact on Japanese cuisine. Some local dishes have become so popular that other cities are now claiming their "authorship". Those who have visited Tokyo for the purpose of gastronomic tourism may like buckwheat soba noodles, soup of sumo wrestlers "Tyanko-nabe" and "Tsukudani" - small fish and shellfish with soy sauce and sweet rice wine. The city also has themed cafes with maids and butlers, and cafes where you can play with pets (cats, decorative rabbits).