You might not think you’d discover a real gourmet treat in a tiny Irish beach town, but creamy gold awaits those who venture to Strandhill in County Sligo. The folks at seaside Mammy Johnston’s have been making gelato for three generations and now its chief ice-cream churner, Neil Byrne, has struck gold in the home of gelato.
At Italy’s Sigep Rimini trade show, which brings artisan bakers, gelato makers and coffee connoisseurs together, he picked up an award for the best honeycomb-flavoured gelato. Seems like these two countries share more than just the first letter of their names.
Few experiences make us cry: the death of a loved one, a Budweiser commercial during the Super Bowl, and Will Horowitz’s Pops Pastrami sandwich. The recipe, an updated version of his grandfather’s original concoction, includes house-smoked pastrami, buttermilk-cured pickles and a healthy dose of fresh dill, along with some extra napkins to wipe up your tears of happiness, I mean, your mouth.
You’ll find this delicacy at the East Village delicatessen, Harry & Ida’s Meat and Supply Co, and if you feel the need to weep a little longer in the privacy of your hotel or home, they sell pastrami by the pound, too.
The sandwich tastes even better served with a slice of history.
Ditch the butter chicken and get ready to forget everything you thought you knew about Indian food – right in the heart of downtown Bangkok. Head chef Gaggan Anand has put together a refreshing culinary experience unlike any other you’ll find in this vibrant city. Situated in a stately, whitewashed colonial mansion, Gaggan Restaurant specialises in progressive Indian cuisine – an innovative seasonal approach to the regional dishes and street food of Anand’s homeland.
Enjoy a meal in the bright, airy dining room, from the four-seat ‘library’ full of cookbooks or at the exclusive chef’s table with an intimate view of the kitchen. It may feel cheeky seeking out Indian food in a city full of local delights, but a meal at Gaggan is not to be missed.
Fancy chomping on a crispy tarantula spiced with black pepper and lime sauce? From contemporary creations to long-forgotten recipes, Romdeng in Phnom Penh serves authentic Cambodian cuisine with a twist.
The restaurant is staffed by former street kids and run by Mith Samlanh, an organisation that works with the city’s marginalised youth. Set in a beautiful colonial building, Romdeng is decorated with wood carvings and locally made furniture, and the silk goods and cushions that adorn the restaurant’s interior are all crafted by sewing students at Mith Samlanh.
In the realm of street food it doesn’t get much better than sai oua. For those of you who don’t speak the lingo, that is simply Laos sausage. It’s one of the most popular dishes in the north of the country, and its spicy pork goodness can be found everywhere, including in the food markets popular in both Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
If you’re keen to try it in a sit-down establishment, head to Nangkhambang restaurant on Khoun Boulom Boulevard in Vientiane. This is a popular spot for well-heeled locals (it’s more expensive than the places they’d normally dine), but the staff members are quite used to catering to out-of-towners, too. They do a great Laos snag, but you’ll also find other unique local dishes like frog stuffed with pork and lemongrass, as well as staples including grilled river fish, papaya salad and sticky rice.
If you’re a fan of Anthony Bourdain you may have already heard about Bale Dutung (the name means ‘house of wood’), a family-run restaurant in Angeles City where chef Claude Tayag puts a contemporary spin on traditional Filipino dishes.
There’s a choice of set menus, including one inspired by Bourdain’s visit, serving up dishes like fiddlehead fern salad, lechon (roasted suckling pig) tortilla and sushi of crab fat and catfish. Don’t eat a thing before you get there – you’ll be enjoying about 10 courses – and ensure you book ahead.
A quiet night out is just about the only thing not on the menu at this legendary steak and seafood grill. A Colombian institution, Andrés Carne de Res is a hedonistic powerhouse of eating, drinking, dancing and pure fun located in Chía, about 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Bogotá (trust us, it’s worth the trip).
Come here if you’re after a festive, high-energy atmosphere to accompany your ceviche and Argentine steaks, and stick around to groove along with a live band or seasoned DJ until the wee hours. Just don’t forget to book – this popular eatery can pack out with more than 1000 people at any one time, almost every night.
Tear a chunk of pork from the bone, crack open a clam, chow down on a dumpling and follow up with a mouthful of sausage. Next in line are mussels, chicken, barnacles and spuds.
Hailing from the Chiloé Archipelago, Chile’s curanto is a meat-lover’s feast. Traditionally the bounty is bundled over hot rocks, wrapped in nalca (wild rhubarb) leaves and left for a couple of hours to bake.
The resulting repast, curanto en hoyo, is served on special occasions, when dozens of hungry mouths plunder the mountain of meats.
Head to Chiloé Island to sample the purist’s dish, or for a taste that’s widely available on the mainland, order curanto en olla. Cooked in a pot, the dish combines juicy seafood with a fragrant broth.
Dig in and wash it all down with a glass of local chardonnay.
Take dining to a whole new level at Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, the world’s first all-glass underwater restaurant. One of 12 restaurants at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort, it’s located five metres below the surface and has panoramic views of the surrounding coral gardens.
Wrap up (the aquatic tunnel can get chilly) and munch through the tasting menu while schools of clownfish dart just beyond the glass. Dine at night on the six-course prix fixe menu featuring contemporary European cuisine and watch as bigger fish and predators arrive. Just try to ignore that Patagonian toothfish eyeing you off – you’re probably eating his cousin.
Get ready to redefine the phrase ‘experience your food’ at Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, a noodle-based theme park. Honouring one of Japan’s national dishes – it was, in fact, appropriated from a Chinese meal – this museum boasts rides, shops, tastings and historical information completely devoted to the soupy goodness that is ramen.
Take a stroll through the refashioned dagashi-ya (old-fashioned sweet shops) or challenge a friend on the 30-metre slot-car racetrack. While you’re there, be sure to get slurping, since a whole swathe of varieties is being dished up.
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