Favorite Food Towns - Non-USA

[Stinky The Clown]

Like the other related post, what's your favorite city, apart from those in the US, for great food?

For me, there are two ..... Paris and Amalfi.

Paris really does have great food and great food sensibilities. True enough, they're insufferably anal about food, but it can't be argued that it is anything but great.

Amalfi, on the other hand is very laid back. That said, they have truly world class food there. A little known fact is that more truly great Italian chefs worldwide hail from Amalfi than any other city. More than from Rome or Florence or even Naples. The food is quintessentially Italian. Almost the entire cuisine is based on the freshest of ingredients prepared as simply as is possible. It is, in my estimation, the Italian culinary sensibility that allows the food to rise above so much else in the world.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Lima

Fish, fish, fish, escabache, seviche, you name it, fish fixed in the most wonderful ways.

Anticucho sold from carts on the streets in the not-so-great neighborhoods. After you figure out you're not eating sirloin, it doesn't matter. With tiny potatoes roasting there with the beef hearts. All slightly vinegar-flavored.

Papas. What they can do with potatoes. Naturally. And yucca, cooked sweet and slow, presented in banana leaves.

Great ice cream in Peru, too.

In Tuscany, Lucca. Some absolutely marvelous little places that you can't even see from outside - you really need a local to take you along.

(I still want an apple pancake, a Ledo's pizza, and who wants my family? I'm keeping the dog.)

[imenja]

2. Athens

Greeks make the simplest dishes taste amazing. Chicken and potatoes like you've never tasted. The best yogurt in the world, so good calling it yogurt doesn't convey how delicious it is.

[The empressof all]

3. Bologna

Even better than Florence IMO. But then again I've really had to search for bad food in Italy.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. A friend of mine went to hotel/chef school in Bologna

I'm sure he's prejudiced, but he would agree with you whole heartedly. He did an apprenticeship in Swizterland (Luzerne, I **think**) but always looks to/cites Balogna as the greatest food city in the world.

We tend to disagree on a lot of things. :)

[The empressof all]

5. Oh but H2S

Have you ever been? You can do a little trio vacation and do Venice, Bologna and Florence. I'm not a big fan of the food in Venice and think it's the worst in Italy. I just love it for it's personality. I think it's time for you and Sparkly to do another honeymoon.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. We've never been to northern Italy.

Its almost like another country compared to the south. We're going to Rotterdam (I have some business there) this October. Still not sure what else we'll do. I was thinking of driving thru Belgium and then on to Normandy. Maybe we can adjust plans .......

[The empressof all]

7. Now Belgium is a great place to eat

Brussels is fabulous. I haven't been there in over 15 years but I loved it there. The mussels, the pomme frites, (with the mayonnaise-Yum)---The absolutely best chocolate. I prefer it to Swiss. They have terrific coffee there too if I remember correctly.

[tishaLA]

8. You're right on all counts about Belgium

Some amazing food there. And don't forget to mention the world's BEST BEER!

But I also love Paris.....

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I just re-read this .... Venice ... you're right

I have another friend who lives there. Well, just outside, but in the metro area. She and her husband are originally from Rome. They have nothing good to say about the food or restaurants there. A few years ago she was on a committee in our professional association that was charged with planning a convention for our European division. Most of the committee wanted Venice (mainly cuz its cheap in off season). She held out for Capri, arguing that, for foodservice consultants, food matters. :)

[pscot]

10. Barcelona

Great food, wonderful people. Not a lot of pretention, but good variety and interesting preparation. Plenty of seafood.

[kestrel91316]

11. The renaissance village of Lourmarin in the Luberon, Provence, France

I spent 10 days there in 2001. It is some sort of restaurant Mecca, with 11 great restaurants in a tiny village, 2 of which have Michelin stars.

I WANT TO GO BACK!!!!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Avignon France

The best chefs are all from there...it's where the French go to eat...sauces up the wazooo!

[TaleWgnDg]

13. My very very favorite non-U.S.A. city for food?

.
My very very favorite non-U.S.A. city for food? Without hesitation: Milan, Italy. My second favorite city or area for all the opposite reasons? Bavaria, Germany. And, my third most favorite foreign spot to eat is on an open balcony high on a volcanic cliff overlooking the bluest sea, the Mediterranean, on the Island of Santorini, Greece.

Geesh, all of that makes me hungry for some great food! Good people, and great scenery.

.

[mtnester]

14. Pick any village off the beaten path in Mexico

you will never have better open grilled chcken or fish.

Simple, fabulous.