Culinary Adventures: Tasting The World’s Most Unique And Delicious Dishes

Lifestyle Collective August 26, 2023

By Andrés Muñoz

We travel for many different reasons. There’s historical tourism, where people visit significant sites like ancient Roman ruins or Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Then there’s literary or film tourism, where book enthusiasts explore the locations described in books or used in movies and relive their favourite characters’ adventures.

On a personal note, the focus of my travels for several years has been music-festival-based. I’ve travelled to different countries, basking in the communal thrill of watching live performers capture the audience’s attention. 

These are fascinating styles, but one type of travel might hit the senses in a much more unique and captivating way than several other experiences. As they say in the musical Oliver!: Food, glorious food!

Culinary tourism navigates into the magical world of flavours. There are few things as distinctive about a place as its food, and there are just as many fascinating dishes as historical buildings, books, or festivals in a given location. Join me on this delicious journey! We’ll explore destinations and highlight some of their most exciting or historical dishes. Bon appétit!

Mexico City: Where Pastor Reigns Supreme

I lived for a while in Mexico. But, since I only had a little experience with spicy food in my home country, I was more than willing to try things out. During my time there, I learned that hot food is a way of life, a vital spark you need in your diet! Most restaurants naturally add hot sauce to their dishes, and while it took me the first couple of weeks to be convinced, I eventually got hooked. 

Now, I still like to occasionally meet with friends to try different hot sauces and see how they spark up (or even fry!) our taste buds. 

Hot sauces aside, you’ve never had a true taco until you try a taco al pastor from a street vendor on the streets of Mexico City. Yeah, you might have tried tacos in different places worldwide or even made your own with your friends at home, but you got to go to where it became iconic. Originally inspired by Lebanese immigrants that arrived in the country, Mexican street vendors have perfected this recipe and made it an art form, making this street dish an absolute must.  

South Africa: The Real Dried Meat

I haven’t tried this one yet, but biltong sounds like the genuine and original version of how to make dried strips of cured meat. I first heard about this one while watching an episode of Hot Ones, where South African comedian and show host Trevor Noah spoke about his country’s cuisine.

The closest thing that you might consider is beef jerky. Still, unlike the American snack, biltong differs in several ways: The strips of meat are much thicker, while jerky is composed of very thin strips. They cure biltong using a combination of vinegar, spices, and salt, while typically, salt and sugar are the only things used in jerky drying. Biltong is not sweet, and jerky is full of sugar additives.

Furthermore, biltong has had countless recipes passed down through generations. It is a distinct part of the culinary heritage of not just South Africa but several neighbouring countries, such as Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Japan: The Alleyway Of Flavours

I won’t recommend a specific dish, but a place, a key location in Japan, that has a distinct charm: Omoide Yokochō. Located in the busy Shinjuku district, Omoide Yokochō is a living reminder of Japan’s Showa period (the 1926-1989 period corresponding to Emperor Hirohito’s reign). 

Right after the Second World War, it was the location where people would obtain black-market goods. There were cabarets and bars back then, and while you won’t see these establishments nowadays, you will find many small and unique restaurants, all crammed up along a very narrow street. You get the true feeling of what Japan in the 20th Century was all about. Take cash with you!

The key spots to visit as you journey Omoide Yokochō are the following: 

Kabuto is a restaurant that serves you nothing but eel. You can order skewers of any parts of the eel or a set composed of several pieces. Yasubee has been in the neighbourhood since 1951 and boasts one of the largest sake menus in Omoide Yokochō. Finally, Sushi Tatsu is the only sushi restaurant in the street and has been open for 70 years(!). Kenji Murakami, the second-generation owner and president of Shinjuku Nishiguchi Omoide Yokocho, runs the show and also gives tourists a first timers’ guide to the neighbourhood.  

After thinking and writing about these places and dishes, I am thinking of changing my travelling style. Fewer music festivals, more restaurants! What other key locations or dishes would you like to recommend? Let us know in the comments section below!