Food plays an important role in everyone’s travel memories. In my travel to some 56 countries, I remember many classic meals that expressed the culture as much as any sights did. Paring down the list of memorable meals from my journeys to just 26 entries was as difficult as choosing from Da Dong’s 160-page roast duck menu.
There are going to be wonderful experiences left out. In fact, fewer than a third of the countries I have visited are represented. Some of my favorite cuisines, including pasta in Italy and barbeque in America, are missing. Why? Because there isn’t a remarkable establishment I feel absolutely compelled to return to. The list also excludes items I can prepare even better at home, from my mother’s spaghetti sauce to my Hungarian goulash, which I think is tastier than any I had in Budapest.
And so, in no particular order, here are the memorable meals from my journeys.
1. Beijing duck . . . Da Dong Roast Duck, Beijing
The truth is, Beijing duck, as prepared in Beijing, may be my favorite meal. I have dined many times at Quanjude, the 7-story restaurant on Hepingmen Street where it all began. It’s very good there, as it should be – they have been serving “Peking duck” since 1864! It’s good at Made in China, but I go there for the Beggar’s Chicken instead. It’s the chefs at Da Dong who have taken Beijing duck to another level. Crispy, juicy, not oily – just perfection, at any of their upscale Beijing locations.
2. Chicago deep dish pizza . . . Pizzeria Uno, Chicago
I love pizza and have eaten countless varieties from their birthplace in Naples to New York. It doesn’t matter, because Chicago deep dish pizza redefines this category. And no place is better than the original, Pizzeria Uno. My dad started dining there right after WWII. I was raising a glass in his honor there one time, and at that instant a full glass of beer flipped off a nearby waitress tray. The place holds memories.
3. Tom Yum Goong . . . Bangkok
I can’t seem to choose a favorite restaurant in Bangkok for this dish, but nobody outside of Thailand can quite duplicate its deliciousness. Spicy prawn soup with lemongrass, chili, galangal, lime leaves, fish sauce – no wonder yum is in the name.
4. Soufflé, onion soup . . . Le Soufflé, Paris
France is known for soufflés, and no place does them better than Le Soufflé in Paris. Cheese, spinach – I order several; but we always start with the best onion soup gratinée. I have been dining here for more than 50 years and never been disappointed.
5. Kung Pao chicken, “squirrel” fish . . . E Mei, Beijing
One of my favorite Beijing restaurants is E Mei, a popular neighborhood establishment near the financial district in the west. I am always the only Caucasian there, ready to sit with Chinese friends and share Gong Bao Ji Ding (Kung Pao chicken with hints of coffee), Songshu Guiyu (a sweet and sour fish shaped like a squirrel), purple yams, and more
6. Fish & chips . . . Quinlan’s, Killarney, Ireland
Nobody does fish & chips quite like the folks in the U.K. We loved the lightly battered ones from Quinlan’s on Killarney’s main street so much, we just kept going back. That’s a sign of a memorable meal, especially when followed by a Guinness.
7. Sushi . . . Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo
These days, people eat sushi all over the world, even from supermarkets. There is one place on the planet where the fish is the freshest – the famous Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Tiny establishments ring the world’s largest market. Arrive early in the morning, grab a stool and prepare to be delighted.
8. Best Mexican . . . San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
It’s difficult for me to single out a best Mexican restaurant in this city that sits several hours outside Mexico City and is known for its food. If I had to pick just one, I might choose La Azotea for its unique jicama tacos and its dramatic views. There are 300 restaurants to sample here. If you can’t decide, you can try your own hand at Chef Gaby’s La Fonda Rosa cooking school.
9. Afternoon tea . . . Fortnum & Mason, London
Sometimes travel creates a stroke of serendipity. We literally stumbled upon the original Fortnum & Mason while strolling back to our hotel in Mayfair. Afternoon tea here is a delightfully British tradition.
10. Sichuan “comfort food” . . . South Beauty, Chengdu
There is something special about eating Sichuan food at the source. Even though South Beauty is a chain in China, the Chengdu location is ideal for Dan Dan Mian (noodle), Yu Xiang Qiezi (spicy eggplant), and other succulent dishes.
11. Emince de veau . . . Château Gütsch, Luzern
The photo is of the iconic Château Gütsch, which sits high above Luzern, Switzerland. Their dining room setting is perfect for a classic Swiss dish, Emince de veau – tiny pieces of tender veal cooked in a decadent cream sauce on top of noodles.
12. Best sandwich . . . Lucca Delicatessen, San Francisco
How does a sandwich make the list of memorable meals from my journeys? It’s easy when we keep returning to Lucca Delicatessen in the Marina District of San Francisco. Step to the crowded counter and start pointing. Still-warm Acme sourdough bread? Yes, please. Salami, Mortadella, Swiss cheese, avocado, homemade pickled peppers, red onion, olives, lettuce – are we done yet?
13. Egg tarts . . . Koh Kret, Thailand
What exactly are eggs tarts doing in the middle of a post about memorable meals? My excuse is that I love them, from Europe to Macau. And the most memorable ones are baked in their own little clay pottery made here on Koh Kret Island, in Thailand.
14. Jamon Iberico de Belotta . . . Madrid and Barcelona
When my Madrid friend took me into his business conference room and started slicing a leg of ham, I knew I was about to learn something special. The finest ham in the world starts with black Iberico pigs, who graze in pastures of oak trees on the fallen acorns. The hams are then cured for about 4 years. The paper-thin slices of the sweet, nutty goodness are truly a celebration of the noble Spanish pig.
15. Jiaozi (dumplings) . . . Beijing
Different regions in China are known for their specialties, and Beijing is the dumpling capital in my book. Especially popular for an inexpensive lunch, I have one friend who would typically eat two dozen for lunch every day. Dip in Chinese vinegar and some chili paste. I have taken several Jiaozi-making classes at The Hutong, but I’m still not very good at it.
16. Bratwurst & sauerkraut . . . Hofbrauhaus, Munich
How could something so simple as a meal of sausage and sauerkraut, with either a hard roll and cheese or soft pretzel be so memorable? Those of you who have been to Bavaria know what I’m talking about.
17. Chicken Hormok . . . Manda de Laos, Luang Prabang
Start with Yam Mak Pee, a banana blossom salad. Follow with Mol Kai, chicken in a red curry sauce with coconut milk and Kaffir lime leaves. Finish with Sangkhaya Makpao, a coconut crème brûlée. I kept returning for the haute cuisine in a hot tropical setting, at Manda de Laos in Luang Prabang, Laos.
18. Best South Indian . . . Ragam, London
I have not visited India and am no expert when it comes to Indian cuisine. I do know that London has some pretty good South Indian food, thanks to the large ethnic presence there. Our meal at Ragam was definitely memorable.
19. “Water boiled fish” . . . The Place, Beijing
Shui Zhu Yu in Mandarin means water boiled fish. The dish is so much more. You are shown your live fish, which they gently boil, then place in a pot of hot oil that is infused with hua jiao, the Sichuan peppercorns that literally numb your mouth (in a good way). This is another taste sensation that is difficult to duplicate outside of China.
20. Lobster & fried clams . . . Gloucester House, Mass
Unfortunately, I am allergic to most hard-shell seafood, including oysters, mussels, and clams. Fry those clams, and I’m back at the table. Add a boiled 1-pound lobster just pulled out of the Atlantic, and I’m in heaven. The name of heaven is Gloucester House, in the harbor of Gloucester, Massachusetts.
21. Street food . . . Hanoi, Vietnam
No list of memorable meals would be complete without an entry for street food. Hanoi is where Anthony Bourdain and President Obama sat down on little blue stools and ate spring rolls with local beer. They filmed it in May, 2016, two years after my many similar meals on the streets of Hanoi, home of the best street food on the planet.
22. Steak & fries . . . Le Relais de Venise, Paris
Is it the best steak I have ever eaten? No. The best unlimited fries? Maybe not. So why is the wait to get into Le Relais de Venise, in Paris, often an hour? Because it is the most memorable entrecôte and pommes frites in the most memorable setting in the most memorable city.
23. Xiao Long Bao . . . Din Tai Fung, Shanghai
There is a 100-year-old saying, “often imitated, never duplicated.” That is appropriate for Din Tai Fung’s version of the famous Chinese pork soup dumpling. First, poke a hole with your chopstick to let the steam out of this delicate indulgence; then enjoy in one bite. The good news is that Din Tai Fung has been able to duplicate this treat at its restaurants around the world, although nothing beats the Shanghai location.
24. Cheese fondue . . . Gruyères, Switzerland
Cheese fondue has to be one of the most misunderstood dishes in the world. Cheap varieties have populated menus, even created chains. Believe me, nothing comes close to the authentic fondue served in this medieval town that is the home of Gruyères cheese. Blended with Emmenthal and other secret ingredients, served with big cubes of French bread, bubbling over an open flame. It warms my soul just thinking about it.
25. Fried chicken . . . Mrs. Wilkes, Savannah, Georgia
Who doesn’t love southern fried chicken? The most memorable versions are from the U.S. southern states. For me, that means a trip to Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, where it is served “all you can eat,” with all the fixins.
26. Best pastry buffet . . . Ipê, Iguazu Falls, Brazil
For a person with a sweet tooth, this was a tough category. How could I pass over the pastries of Vienna? In short, the desserts of Brazil are made with a heavy dose of sweetened condensed milk, for which I have a weakness. So, I indulge on flan that tops Mexico, crème brûlée to rival France, out-of-this-world chestnut souffle, and more.
Do you have any questions? What are your most memorable meals? Feel free to comment at the bottom of this post.
What’s upscale?
A few of the restaurants could be pricey, such as Da Dong.
What’s budget?
Most of these meals come with quite reasonable prices, proving you don’t need to spend a fortune to create a lasting memory.
