It’s no secret that the UK is a nation of foodies, with a love of cooking shows, celebrity chefs and foreign cuisine. According to our recent research, this love of food is now influencing the way Brits travel, with 31% considering dining options when choosing a holiday destination and 55% having ‘flown for food’ within the last 5 years.
Top of the travel table is France, the nation’s favourite country to travel to for food (52%), whilst the favourite foodie city is Florence with over half of the UK regions surveyed naming this as their dream destination for dinner.
Eating out abroad awakens our adventurous side, with 42% of British holidaymakers stating they are more likely to try new dishes and dining experiences when eating out abroad. Women are the bravest when it comes to trying new foods with 44% making adventurous choices compared to only 39% of men.
Stamp your culinary passport – 25 ‘Fly to Try’ dishes
With the summer travel season in full swing, we’ve compiled a list of must-try dishes from dining destinations around the globe. From traditional dishes to new takes on local cuisine, these ‘Fly to Try’ dishes are well worth the flight:
- Bangkok – Coconut and turmeric curry of blue swimmer crab at Nahm
- Chicago – Spinach margherita deep dish pizza at Gino’s East
- Dublin – Whole split lobster at Lobstar
- Florence – Tagliatelle al sugo at Trattoria Sabatino
- Guanacaste – Trilingual ceviche at HiR Fine Dining
- Hong Kong – Sunday brunch dim sum at Duddell’s
- London – Sunday roast at Roast
- London – Meat fruit at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
- London – Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
- Los Angeles – Zucchini lasagna at Plant Food + Wine
- Madrid – Jamón joselito at TATEL Madrid
- Melbourne – Sticky pork belly at Red Spice Road
- Mexico City – Mole Madre at Pujol
- Munich – White sausage and pretzel at Wirtshaus zum Straubinger
- Montreal – Disco poutine at Deville Dinerbar
- New Orleans – Oyster po’boy at Emeril’s New Orleans
- New York City – Porterhouse steak at Keens Steakhouse
- Oranjestad – Scallops tempura at The Kitchen Table by White
- Paris – Steak frites at Le Relais de l’Entrecote
- San Francisco – Roast chicken with bread salad at Zuni Cafe
- Shanghai – Double boiled fish maw soup, crab claw, sea whelk in coconut at Jin Xuan
- Singapore – Beef buah keluak at Candlenut
- Sydney – Wood-roasted Moran family lamb at CHISWICK
- Tokyo – Kobo rainbow sushi at Itamae Sushi Edo
- Vancouver – Chilled seafood platter at COAST
When asked what was important when selecting where to dine, it’s not just the cuisine on offer that is driving holiday dining choices. Our research revealed that a ‘reliable menu and service’ is the most important factor to the nation, with 52% of Brits ranking this as very important.
Adrian Valeriano, VP EMEA for OpenTable, comments, “Over time travel and dining have become synonymous. Our latest research shows that the local cuisine and dining choices now form an integral part of the holiday decision making process and in-country experience. Nothing immerses a traveller in their new surroundings like an authentic local dining experience but the choice of where to go can often be overwhelming and this is where OpenTable can be indispensable. Read reviews, check out menus and quickly make your reservation in advance, all in your local language, and dine with confidence, wherever in the world you are.”
For more culinary travel inspiration and to enter OpenTable’s “Will Fly for Food” social media contest, visit: http://willflyforfood.opentable.com/. The prize includes dinner for two at the legendary Pujol restaurant in Mexico City, a foodie walking tour of Mexico City, round-trip airfare and three-nights of hotel accommodations for two. Good luck!
