Four great destinations for food lovers

Are you passionate about international cuisine? Here are four places where the food is simply divine.

Peru
Peru, and Lima in particular, is an increasingly popular food-tourism destination. Its eclectic cuisine draws from such diverse cultures as Spain, China and Africa. What’s on the menu? Key dishes include: ceviche, fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices; chica morada, a drink made from purple corn; alpaca meat; chupe de camarones, a type of shrimp chowder and lomo saltado, a traditional Peruvian beef stir fry.

Spain
In addition to its famous tapas and incredible seafood, Spain offers a wealth of dishes appealing to many different tastes, including: paella, a Valencian rice dish with roots in antiquity; gazpacho, a cold tomato soup; cocido madrileño, a chickpea-based stew; bocadillo,
a meat and cheese sandwich and churros, fried-dough pastries sprinkled with sugar.

Morocco
Moroccan cuisine is influenced by a variety of the country’s multi-ethnic cultures, particularly the Arab, Berber and European gastronomic traditions. A few staples are: carrot and orange salad; fish tagine; harira, a traditional soup and pastilla, a kind of elaborate meat pie traditionally made with pigeon. And if you’re in Marrakesh, be sure to treat yourself to the city’s renowned street food.

India
Indian cuisine is characterized by its sophisticated spice mixtures, which often incorporate ginger, cumin, cardamom and cloves. From north to south, the country offers a wide array of dishes, many of them region-specific — a good reason to travel widely! However, vegetables and dried fruits are often at the heart of Indian dishes. Some popular food options are: dhal, a lentil-based soup; vegetable curry; chicken tandoori; naan bread and lassi, a yogurt-based drink.