Travel not only broadens your mind and exposes you to other cultures, but it gives you the opportunity to taste the different flavors all around the world. Here are just a few exciting culinary experiences you might want to add to your bucket list.
Take the Colchagua Wine Valley in Chile. Located just south of the capital city of Santiago, Colchagua has veritably exploded onto the world’s wine scene in recent years. Boasting an ideal microclimate similar to California’s Napa Valley, the region produces smooth Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, among others. After strolling Santiago’s colorful markets with local chefs and dining at trendsetting el Mestizo restaurant, you’ll enjoy private tastings at some of Colchagua’s top wineries, including Casa Silva and Angostura, Chile’s oldest. At MontGras Winery, you can even blend your own wine to take home. Cap off your visit with a flightseeing tour to view the lush vineyards from above.
Care for some rhinos with that vino? Then consider a tasty adventure in cosmopolitan Cape Town. Just a short drive from the Cape Winelands, South Africa’s major wine-growing area, Cape Town is the birthplace of savory Cape Malay cuisine. Fusing Asian, European and African influences, Cape Malay’s distinctive flavor comes from delicately blended spices such as turmeric, cumin, cardamom, garlic and ginger. Discover age-old kitchen secrets during your hands-on Malay cooking class, and dine on superb contemporary Cape dishes at elegant Catharina’s restaurant. Outstanding wildlife viewing at Sabi Sand Game Reserve – which borders world-renowned Kruger National Park – and an exclusive Chef’s Table in Johannesburg are just hours away.
If you’re really ready to spice things up, then set out for Southeast Asia to explore the region’s rich culinary heritage. For example, in Singapore, you can attend a class at the esteemed Coriander Leaf Cooking Studio. There, you’ll gain insider tips and techniques on preparing the city-state’s fascinating mix of Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. In bustling Bangkok, get hands-on instruction for preparing fine Thai cuisine at the Oriental Thai Cooking School. Under the watchful gaze of master instructors, you’ll learn to properly ground pastes, stir-fry and stew foods. Upon graduating, you’ll enjoy a rewarding lunch of your delicious work.
