Anyone that knows me knows that I love food. I have my favorite restaurants, cities, and flavors that help me determine where I’m going next. In Asia, there are some dishes that are worth it, no matter how long the flight.
- Hanoi presents the Vietnamese crepe. You can still feel the French influence in Southeast Asia especially in the cuisine. One of my absolute favorite dishes is Bánh xèo. The crepe is made of rice flour and turmeric. From there, it is filled is a fresh mix of pork shrimp, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs. To eat, take a lettuce leaf and put some of the crepe on it, both the crispy outside and succulent filling. Dip it in the sauce and eat with your hands.
- Chengdu presents the Chongqing Hot Pot. This dish isn’t for the faint of heart. A supremely spicy, steaming hot, and pain inducing broth that you dip your seafood, meats and veggies into. The star ingredient is the Sichuan pepper which has a citrusy floral aroma and a mouth numbing effect. Eaten year round, this dish is especially popular in the cold winter months.
- Seoul presents Chicken Ginseng Soup. In the summer, locals love the cooling effect of this chicken dish. Fresh ginseng, garlic and sweet rice are stuffed into a young chicken and cooked to form a nutritious soup. Although Korean food is famous for its bold flavors, the mild comfort food is a serious energy booster.
- Tokyo presents sushi. I know that there are many foods in Japan that are worth traveling for, but sushi is on the top of my list. If you are new to the sushi craze, try one of the conveyor belt establishments so you can look before you eat. My favorite sushi experience was learning to make sushi at my guide’s home. She took us to the market and then we got to make all the different types of sushi you see in restaurants. So much fun and so tasty!
- Bangkok presents papaya salad. The city is full of markets filled with vibrantly colorful fresh produce. What’s so great about this salad? It hits all the flavor notes – sweet, salty, sour, a little bitter and it’s so refreshing! Everyone’s recipe is unique, but the basic dressing is lime juice and fish sauce, sweetened with palm sugar, pounded with garlic and chili. This sauce is finally added to shredded unripen green papaya for an awesome bite.
Have you eaten these dishes where they originated? What foods are you willing to travel for?