Food, wine and travel are a few of my favourite things and I’m going to take a wild guess I’m not alone on this one. What’s better than enjoying good food and wine? Not much, except maybe doing so while travelling.
One of the most delicious ways to experience a culture, food festivals are the ultimate trip for your tastebuds. With celebrations of food becoming an increasingly popular worldwide phenomenon, here are five feast-worthy festivals around which to plan your travel in 2016.
1. Taste, Worldwide
Calling themselves the world’s greatest restaurant festival, with more than 20 events worldwide, Taste has a food festival option for everyone. From Auckland to Toronto, chances are there’s an event that will fit in with your travel plans this year, with the added bonus of not one but two festivals in London, so you can try the best of both summer and winter seasonal menus.
Featuring world class chefs, a stellar selection of wine and beverages and live entertainment – Taste has a whole lot to love.
Plan your world food tour at Taste Festivals.
2. Savour, Singapore
Last year’s Savour event in Singapore saw over 18,000 self-proclaimed foodies gather to treat their tastebuds to over 50 signature dishes from a range of restaurants represented. A melting pot for many Southeast Asian cultures, Singapore’s Savour is the perfect way to experience a rage of cuisines from Michelin-starred chefs.
With hands-on demonstrations and a gourmet market, the event also takes place outdoors, because as we Australians know, there’s nothing quite like dining alfresco. Savour was held in the last week of March last year, and the dates for this year are soon to be released.
Keep an eye out at Savour.
3. The Rolling Kitchen Festival, Amsterdam
When it comes to quality food at affordable prices, it’s been all about the food trucks lately. May this year sees Westerpark, Amsterdam’s largest green space, filled with over 100 food trucks that are closely followed by 50,000 visitors all hungry for a feed.
The food on offer isn’t only Dutch delicacies either. With other cuisines such as fresh Italian pizza, there’s sure to be something to suit all appetites. The festival also offers demonstrations, live music and no entrance charge – what better way to experience Amsterdam?
Festival dates are 12–16 May 2016. Find out more at Iamsterdam.
4. International Oyster and Seafood Festival, Ireland
Ok, so oysters aren’t for everyone. But how about when they’re accompanied with champagne or Irish stout? During the last week of September in Galway, Ireland, Henry VIII’s mollusc of choice is celebrated with competitors coming from all around the world for the oyster eating competition.
Still not sold? Well, you can also sample other seafood such as lobster. As the festival organisers say “miss it at your ‘pearl’”.
Festival dates are 22–25 September. Find out more at Galway Oyster Festival.
5. Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia
Yes, I know, I’m totally biased, but it’s hard to beat the brilliant cuisine we have at home. Held in March, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is where food and wine lovers soak up the local culture and cuisine, quite literally.
With over 200 events held around the city, the real challenge is deciding where to go and what to eat!
Festival dates are 4–13 March. Find all the details at Melbourne Food and Wine.
Have you recently been to a food festival worth writing home about?
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