WORLDS BEST CITIES FOR FOOD

Worlds Best Cities for Food

Yu Lan/Shutterstock Lan/Shutterstock Yu

Cafe-Creperie Breizh Caf by COG LOG LAB

HONG KONG
Hong Kong is known as one of the culinary meccas of the worldand for good reason. The citys international inuences create a melting pot of food options, as hungry eaters can sample everything from bottomless noodle bowls to deep-fried slices of French toast with peanut butter. For midnight cravings, visit one of the citys night markets. At the Temple Street Night Market (Temple St., Mong Kok), visitors can sample fresh seafood or choose from one of the markets delicious desserts. A trip to Hong Kong wouldnt be complete without dim sum. For dumplings steamed to perfection, visit Lin Heung Tea House (160 Wellington St; +852 2544-4556), an 80-year-old restaurant thats a favorite among locals. Another local favorite, Under Bridge Spicy Crab (421-425 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai; +852 2893-1289; underspicycrab.com) is not to be missed, with its extensive menu and super fresh seafood, although make sure you have a jug of water or beer, as this mild spicy would be blazing hot anywhere else. After sampling seafood and dim sum, stop for a cup of tea at LockCha Tea House (290B Queens Road Central, Sheung Wan; +852 2805-1360; lockcha. com). The house is half retail store, and you can sample different brews before you order. Finally, Hong Kong boasts a number of culinary festivals throughout the year. During the Cheung Chau Bun Festival (Pak She Street, Cheung Chau; +852 2981-0663; cheungchau.org), a four-day Thanksgiving feast, locals climb 60-foot towers of sweet buns in pursuit of good fortune.

PARIS
The City of Love is also the city that loves to eat. For a modern take on a traditional crperie, visit Breizh Caf (109 rue Vieille du Temple, 3eMarais; +33 1-42-72-13-77; breizhcafe.com) in the Marais neighborhood. The caf serves traditional Breton savory galettes with meat and cheese, but also crafts dessert crepes from Valrhona chocolate and homemade caramel. Paris is known for its outdoor markets, and Boulevard Raspail (6eSt-Germain-desPres) is one of the citys best. On Sundays, shoppers can browse through rows of fresh, organic produce, and the market is also open on Tuesdays and Fridays with nonorganic food. Eating well is paramount at Guy Savoy (18 rue Troyon, 17eChamps-lyses; +33 1-4380-40-61; guysavoy.com), a restaurant on the Champs-lyses that bears the name of its world-famous chef. Diners can try dishes ranging from sea bass with spices to delicate vanilla-scented mille-feuilles. To further satisfy your sweet tooth, visit Angelina (226 Rue de Rivoli; +33-1-42-60-82-00; angelinaparis.fr) on the Rue de Rivoli. The tearoom offers a wide variety of elegantly crafted pastries and sweetsbut dont leave without ordering the famous hot chocolate. To remember your sweet time in Paris, bring back some treats from Le Bonbon au Palais (19 rue Monge; +33 1-78-56-15-72; bonbonsaupalais.fr). Carrying over 200 of the 650 bonbons considered part of Frances history, youll be sure to nd something delectable. Dont miss the candied owers or uffy avored guimauves (marshmallows).

Worlds Best Cities for Food

New_York_150 by Anders Carlsson

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NEW YORK
In a city as large as New York, diners can pick their pleasure. From street food to vestar restaurants, the culinary scene offers something for every eater. For elegant, unexpected dishes with a creative twist, visit Eleven Madison Park (11 Madison Ave. at 24th St, Flatiron District; 212/889-0905; elevenmadisonpark.com) in the citys Flatiron District. Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm offers a multi-course tasting menu made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. Reservations must be made exactly 28 days in advance to secure a coveted spot in the Art Deco dining room. To satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man (841 Broadway, between E. 13th and E. 14th Sts, East Village; 646/467-8803; maxbrenner. com). The caf offers a unique, chocolatebased menu with dishes like chocolate soup and fondue. For farm fresh produce, visit the Union Square Park and Greenmarket (E. 14th to E. 17th Sts., between Broadway and Park Ave. S, Flatiron District). The market draws purveyors from the tri-state area, and products include fresh-baked pies, cider, local wine, and handcrafted cheese. Steps away from the market is Gotham Bar and Grill (12 E. 12th St., between 5th Ave. and University Pl., Union Square; 212/620-4020; gothambarandgrill.com), where renowned chef Alfred Portale creates architectural food, or towers of stacked ingredients with fresh, seasonal avors. Tip: Gothams prix-xe, three-course lunch is one of the citys best ne-dining deals.

BARCELONA
Barcelona is best known for its tapas, but there are many other foodie attractions throughout the city. Every winter, Catalonians enjoy calotadathe winter feast. The feasts namesake is sweet, long-stemmed calots, or spring onions, and during the last week of January competitors from all over Catalunya compete in a calot-eating contest. Another regional specialty is Iberico ham, a buttery, nutty-tasting meat that is often found in tapas or charcuterie plates. As the sun goes down, set out on one of the citys infamous wine-bar crawls. Regional wines are served with tapas at iconic spots like Cal Pep (Pl. de les Olles 8, Born-Ribera; +34 93/310-7961; calpep.com), including spicy sausage and sizzling bombas, or golf-ball-sized fritters lled with mashed potato and ham. For some of the citys best food-spotting, visit La Boqueria (Rambla 91, Rambla; boqueria. info) in the heart of the city. La Boqueria is Europes oldest mid-city market, and popular items include dried peppers, sausage, spices, and acorn-fed Iberico ham. Or look for some wild mushrooms, another fundamental taste in Catalan cuisine, at Bolets Petrs (867-870; 93/302-5273; boletspetras.com) in La Boqueria. To experience La Vida Tapa visit Tickets (Avinguda Parel lel 164; ticketsbar.es) in the trendy Eixample neighborhood. The bar has great tapas offerings and an interesting bar layout that is meant to represent different, unique aspects of Barcelona. Watch the chefs while they craft a theatrical offering of food, including spherical olives and liquid ravioli.

Worlds Best Cities for Food

ROME
When it comes to Roman food, simplicity is the name of the game. Most trattorias serve traditional dishes, although new waves of chefs are experimenting with different avors and ingredients. For the perfect blend of old and new, visit Agata e Romeo (Via Carlo Alberto 45, Termini; +39 06/446-6115; agataeromeo.it). The husband-and-wife-owned restaurant offers diners traditional dishes with a creative twist: enjoy cacio e pepe with a dash of saffron, or salted cod served ve ways. Visit Buccone (Via di Ripetta 19, Piazza del Popolo; +39 06/361-2154; enotecabuccone.com) for old world ambiance and a taste of Italys nest wines. The wine shop, located in a former carriage house, has shelves of high-quality vintages, and offers a guided tasting tour if you book in advance. Rub elbows with celebrities at Nino (Via Borgognona 11, Spagna; +39 06/678-6752; ristorantenino. it), Romes most celebrated trattoria. The restaurants menu is comprised of authentic, Tuscan fare and offers everything from hearty ribollita soup to cured meats and liver pate. Dont leave the city without stopping by Castroni (Via Cola di Rienzo 196, Vatican; +39 06/687-4383; castroni.it), an internationally renowned food emporium that sells gourmet Italian goods and makes some of the best coffee in Rome.
(Mars 2013) by Philippe

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Courtesy of Off the Grid

LONDON
As a foodie destination, London has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. The citys now vibrant food scene boasts some of the worlds best restaurants, gastropubs, and food emporiums. For Old English style cuisine with a modern twist, visit Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (66 Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge; +44 020/7201-3833) at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Chef Ashley Palmer Watts pays homage to Old English cooking with dishes like Beef Royalea sous vide meat dish slow-cooked for 72 hoursor pineapple Tipsy cake, a dessert modeled after traditional English spit-roasting. Under the railroad tracks of London Bridge Station is Borough Market (Southwark St., Borough; +44 020/7402-1002; boroughmarket.org.uk), a farmers market that boasts some of the citys best fare. Visitors can purchase gourmet meats and cheeses and produce, or stop by one the markets food stands for freshly prepared lunch and desserts. For authentic Indian street food, visit Roti Chai (3 Portman Mews S., Fitzrovia; +44 020/74080101; rotichai.com) behind Selfridges. Popular fare includes street snacks like bhel puri, or puffed rice with exotic spices, and Keralan chicken lollipops with a coriander dipping sauce. Adventurous eaters will enjoy The Giaconda Dining Rooms (9 Denmark St., Soho; +44 020/7240-3334; giacondadining.com), an Australian-run restaurant with a melting pot of modern European cuisine. Diners can sample everything from rack of lamb with gnocchi to ham hock hash with a fried egg.

SAN FRANCISCO
In the culinary realm, San Francisco sets the bar high. The city boasts a diverse food scene, including regional wines, ethnic fare, and an abundance of fantastic produce from local farmers markets. For an 11-course tasting menu full of fresh, Bay Area produce, visit Coi (373 Broadway, North Beach; 415/393-9000; coirestaurant.com). Chef Daniel Patterson forages many of the restaurants ingredients, and offers diners inventive, seasonal dishes. The young, old, and everyone in-between ock to chef Judy Rodgerss Zuni Caf (1658 Market St., Hayes Valley; 415/552-2522; zunicafe.com), where the brick-oven-roasted whole chicken and ourless chocolate gateau Victoire have drawn crowds for over two decades. For an upscale market experience, visit Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (Ferry Plaza at Market St., Embarcadero; 415/2913276; ferrybuildingmarketplace.com). Tables are lined with gourmet cheeses, smoked sh, and locally grown fruit, and diners can whet their appetite with free samples and freshly prepared foods. For a locals-only experience, track down the roving farmers markets and food-truck parks that Off the Grid (www.offthegridsf.com) hosts around the city. Wine lovers will enjoy the Bluxome Street Winery (53 Bluxome St., SoMa; 415/543-5353; bluxomewinery.com), the only winery within city limits. Sample vintages in the tasting room, or stop by the last Saturday of every month for a farmers market with local vendors.

Worlds Best Cities for Food

TOKYO
Tokyo is known for its traditional cuisine, but an inux of new restaurants and culinary techniques has diversied the citys culinary scene. For glamorous dcor and an eclectic menu, visit Tableaux (B1 Sunroser Daikanyama Bldg., 11-6 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku; +81 03/5489-2201; tableaux.jp). Diners can sample everything from crab-andshrimp spring rolls to let mignon with creamed potatoes. For a more traditional dining experience, stop by Inakaya (1F Reine Bldg., 5-3-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku; +84 03/3408-5040), a restaurant that showcases robatayaki cooking. Guests sit at a U-shaped counter and choose ingredients; two cooks then prepare their order and hand it back on an 8-foot wooden paddle. Ume No Hana (2F Aoyama Ms Tower, 2-27-18 MinamiAoyama, Minato-ku; +84 03/5412-0855) also provides a traditional Japanese dining experience. Guests remove their shoes before entering the main dining room, and wooden screens separate the tables. The house specialty, tofu, is cooked many different ways: diners can order it boiled, steamed, or stir-fried.
Chef at Inakaya by Joi Ito

Worlds Best Food Cities

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Ahmet Ihsan Ariturk | Dreamstime.com

AMSTERDAM
Rich, hearty fare and a focus on farm-fresh ingredients make Amsterdam a foodie paradise. For a taste of New Amsterdam cuisine, visit Bolenius (George Gershwinlaan 30, Museum District; +31 020/404-4411; bolenius-restaurant.nl) in the citys Museum District. Many ingredients are sourced from the restaurants garden, and traditional dishes undergo unique transformations: cauliower and ricotta surprise in the house risotto, and old-fashioned Dutch candies are refashioned for dessert. No food lover can visit Amsterdam without sampling rijsttafel, or rice table, at an Indonesian restaurant like Blauw (Amstelveenseweg 158-160, Museum District, +31 020/675-5000). The traditional Indonesian spreadthe Southeast Asian country was once a colony of the Netherlandsfeatures many small plates for sharing, all served with rice on the side. The Red Light District might not be known for its food, but a small alley is home to Blauw Aan De Wal (Oudezijde Achterburgwal 99, Red Light District; +31 020/330-2257; blauwaandewal.com), one of the citys most revered culinary institutions. Located in the courtyard of an old monastery, the restaurant offers a rustic, peaceful dining environment and fresh, Mediterraneaninspired cuisine. Explore where food meets art at De Culinaire Werkplaats (Fannius Scholtenstraat 10; deculinairewerkplaats. nl). Try foodie art with themes like owers or red revisited. Organic eaters enjoy Noordermarkt (Noordermarkt, Jordaan), a weekly organic farmers market held every Saturday. Products include free-range meats, vegan cakes and homemade sauces.
Worlds Best Cities for Food

ISTANBUL
From appetizer-style mezes to plates of fresh seafood, Istanbul is a food lovers dream. For Cretan seafood specialties like sea bass ceviche and grilled calamari, visit Giritli (Keresteci Hakki Sok., Sultanahmet; +90 212/458-2270; giritlirestoran.com). The restaurant offers a multicourse meal and unlimited alcoholic drinks, including raki, an anise-avored spirit and Turkeys national drink. Istanbul is home to a plethora of outdoor markets, and two of the most popular are Balik Pazari (off Istiklal Cad., Beyoglu) and the Egyptian Bazaar (near Yeni Cami Meydani, Eminn). You can shop for sh, fresh produce, and traditional delicacies at Balik Pazari, or walk through stalls with exotic spices and dried fruits at the Bazaar. For a taste of another local specialty, kebab, visit Mabeyin (Kisikli Mh., Kisikli Byk amlica Cd No: 129, skdar; +90 216/4225580; mabeyin.com). Set in a 19th-century mansion, the restaurant offers expertly made mezes, kebabs, and stews. Seek out Mikla (Mesrutiyet Cad. 15, Beyoglu; 212/2935656; miklarestaurant.com) for contemporary cuisine featuring eclectic dishes avored with Turkish and Nordic inuences. Located on the top oor of an 18-story building, Mikla offers incredible 360-degree views of Istanbul as well as unique dishes like smoked lamb loin with walnut pesto and white bean puree. For Turkish recipes you wont nd anywhere else, visit iya (Gneslibahe Sok. 48B, Kadiky; 216/336-3013; ciya.com.tr). The wide range of top-notch kebabs are enticing, and equally intriguing are desserts like candied olives, tomatoes, or eggplant, served with sweet clotted cream.

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Bife de chorizo @ La Cabrera by Ryan Vettese

SINGAPORE
Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, and its food scene embodies that ethos. Hungry visitors can nd cuisine from just about every corner of the globe. Les Amis (#02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., Orchard; +65 6733-2225; lesamis.com.sg), the citys premier French restaurant, is a favorite among Singaporean businessmen and celebrities. Guests can choose from a six-course dinner menu and an impressive wine list. For a fusion of Asian cuisines, visit Jade (The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, CBD; +65 68778188; fullertonhotel.com). The restaurant serves Chinese food with a twistguests can sample everything from cocoa-avored pork ribs to homemade spinach tofu with Japanese nameko mushrooms. Singapore also has some of the best street food in the world. Popular dishes include Hokkein mee, or fried pawn noodles, and Hainanese chicken rice, which is considered Singapores national dish. Singapores multicultural heritage is embraced and commemorated by Immigrants Gastrobar (467 Joo Chiat Road; immigrants-gastrobar.com) where guests can try any of the 20 multicultural culinary heritage dishesfeaturing Chinese, Eurasian, Indian, Malay, and Peranakan traditional avours. Located inside the Flower Dome is Pollen (18 Marina Gardens Drive; +65 64206848; pollen.com.sg) a splurge-worthy eatery where chefs grow many of the herbs and vegetables that avor the dishes. Indulge with Pollens Dessert Degustation menu, which includes a seasonal pre dessert, two delectable desserts, a home-made Pollen ice cream bar and one glass of dessert wine.
Worlds Best Cities for Food

BUENOS AIRES
Buenos Aires has a reputation for good food and the citys diverse culinary scene does not disappoint. While international inuences abound, most of the restaurants are Argentine at their roots. In the heart of the Recoleta neighborhood, Duhau Restaurante (Av. Alvear 1661, Recoleta; +54 11/5171-1340; buenosaires.park.hyatt.com) combines French cooking techniques with the nest South American ingredients. Guests can visit the wine and cheese bar, or sample one of the restaurants gourmet seafood or meat dishes. Rio Alba (Cervio 4499, Palermo; +54 11/4773-5748), a traditional Buenos Aires steakhouse, is known for its tender cuts of beef and attentive service. La Cabrera (Cabrera 5099, Palermo Soho; +54 11/48317002; parrillalacabrera.com) is another popular parrilla that serves everything from grilled goat cheese to mollejas (sweetbreads). Wine lovers will enjoy Terroir (Buschiazzo 3040, Palermo; +54 11/4778-3443; terroir. com.ar), a wine shop located in a Palermo townhouse. Visitors can choose from a large collection of Argentine wine, or participate in private tasting courses. To feel like a true insider visit one of the puertas cerradas, or closed-door restaurants, where amazing chefs work, often in the comfort of their own homes. Enjoy the community and tradition at Adentro Dinner Club (Buenos Aires 1414; adentrodinnerclub.com) when you join Chef Gabrial and his co-owner, girlfriend Kelly, for the asado, a traditional gathering to grill steak and socialize for hours.

MEXICO CITY
From street food to gourmet restaurants, you dont have to look far for good eats in Mexicos capital city. For classic Mexican cuisine, visit cookbook author Patricia Quintanas Izote (Av. Presidente Masaryk 513, at Socrates Col. Polanco; +52 55/5280-1671; izote.com. mx). The restaurant uses Aztec recipes and ingredients to create sophisticated dishes like shark llet with chili and garlic, and lamb steamed in banana leaves. Visitors with a sweet tooth will love the Dulceria de Celaya (5 de Mayo 39, Col. Centro; +52 55/5521-1787; dulceriadecelaya.com), a 19th century candy store that offers a variety of traditional sweets. For mid-day snacks, stop by one of the citys many street stalls and try crispy autas, quesadillas, or gorditas grilled to perfection. Diners can nd more upscale fare at Pujol (Francisco Petrarca 254, Polanco; +52 55/5545-3507; pujol.com.mx), an elegant restaurant that puts a modern spin on traditional Mexican dishes.
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MONTRAL
Cosmopolitan Montral is home to a variety of international cuisines but stays true to its French roots. Visit Old Montral to sample some of the citys best French fare. Try one of the savory or sweet crepes at Chez Suzette (3 Rue St-Paul E.; +1 514/874-1984; creperiechezsuzette.com), or stock up on maple butter cookies at Les Delices de lerable (84 Rue St-Paul E.; +1 514/765-3456; mapledelights.com). Stop by Chez lEpicier (311 Rue St-Paul E., Old Montral; +1 514/8782232; chezlepicier.com) for classic French food with a creative twist. Dishes include a chocolate club sandwich with pineapple fries and white asparagus soup with trufe oil. For something a little different head over to Chinatown for a dim sum breakfast at Maison Kam Fung (1111 rue St-Urbain; 514/878-2888; maisonkamfung.com). Watch the waiters parade dumpling-laden trolleys around, pointing out which dishes youd like. While the city boasts a number of outdoor food markets, Marche Jean-Talon (7070 av. Henri-Julien, Little Italy; +1 514/937-7754; marchespublics-mtl.com) in Little Italy is one of the most popular. Outdoor stalls are lled to the brim with produce, and the markets shops offer everything from meat and sh to freshly baked bread. A foodie trip to Montral is not complete without a stop at the iconic Schwartzs Delicatessen (3895 boul. St-Laurent, The Plateau; 514/842-4813; schwartzsdeli.com). This deli serves up one of the worlds best smoked-meat sandwiches, served piled high on rye and best slathered with spicy deli mustard. Even stars like Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry couldnt resist.
Worlds Best Cities for Food

JERUSALEM
The Holy City is home to a number of foodie destinations, most of which specialize in Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine. For authentic Israeli food with a modern twist, visit Machneyuda (10 Beit Yaakov St., Machaneh Yehuda; +972 02/533-3442) in Jerusalems center city. The menu changes daily but includes classic dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients. After dining at the restaurant, visit its namesake market, Machaneh Yehuda (Off Jaffa St., Machaneh Yehuda). Browse stands lled with fresh produce, sweet confections, and crispy fried balls of falafel. Also popular are Jerusalems cafs. Visit one like Kahlo (31 Bethlehem Rd.; Baka; 02/673-6365) and try one of the generous sandwiches named for the surrounding streets accompanied with a limonana (lemonade with crushed mint). For a midday snack, buy a Jerusalem bagel from a street vendor. The long, oblong-shaped bagels are served with little packets of zaatar, a popular Middle Eastern spice blend. Not to be missed is hummus, especially the delicious sharp and creamy hummus from Abu Shukri (HaGay (Al Wad Rd.) 63, Moslem Quarter; 02/6271538) where the dish is a family specialty. End the night at Chakra (41 King George St., Downtown; +972 02/625-2733; chakra-rest. com), a sophisticated restaurant with an extensive tasting menu. You can sample local specialties like baba ghanoush and bread, or heartier fare like lamb osso buco.

Alinea by Kimberly Vardeman

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CHICAGO
The Windy City knows its food. From upscale restaurants specializing in molecular gastronomy, to smaller neighborhood establishments, theres something for every eater in Americas Second City. For an innovative, 18-course tasting menu that will surprise and delight your palate, visit chef Grant Achatzs Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St., Lincoln Park; 312/867-0110; alinea-restaurant.com). Achatz specializes in molecular gastronomy, and every dish is engineered to yield unexpected pleasures. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, stop by the Green City Market (1790 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park; greencitymarket.org), the citys largest outdoor farmers market that specializes in local, organic produce. Every July, the city hosts Taste of Chicago (Grant Park; cityofchicago.org), one of the countrys largest outdoor food festivals. Sample cuisine from local restaurants and sign up for four-course dinners made by Chicagos nest chefs. At the Slurping Turtle (116 W. Hubbard St; River North; 312/464-0466; slurpingturtle.com) you can nd heaping bowls of slurpable ramen. While the ramen is the main attraction, make room for bincho (white charcoal) grilled meats and yakitori snacks like duck-fat fried chicken. For fresh Mediterranean fare made by a Top Chef champion, stop by Girl & the Goat (809 W. Randolph St., West Loop; 312/492-6262; girlandthegoat.com) in the West Loop. Chef Stephanie Izards inventive dishes include cont goat belly with bourbon butter and grilled baby octopus with guanciale, fava beans, and pistachios.

SYDNEY
Innovative cooking and local produce are staples of Sydneys food scene. The citys Mod Oz cuisine incorporates fresh ingredients and Mediterranean and Asian avors. To sample Mod Oz cooking at its nest, visit Tetsuya (529 Kent St., City Center; +61 02/9267-2900; tetsuyas.com) in Sydneys City Center. Chef Tetsuya Wakuda combines Japanese-French and Western avors to create an 11-course degustation menu that reects the freshest seasonal ingredients. For another taste of Mod Oz cuisine, stop by Rockpool (107 George St., The Rocks; +61 02/9252-1888; rockpool.com). The seasonal four-course menu features everything from duck pastrami to lotus-leaf wrapped chicken, and the restaurants date tart has been a local favorite for over 20 years. Mark your calendar for the International Food Festival (goodfoodmonth.com), which showcases the citys best restaurants, bars, and food businesses. Shoppers will enjoy Paddys Market (9-13 Hay St., Haymarket; paddysmarkets.com.au), the citys largest fresh produce and ea market. Aussies also love dining alfresco so head down to the harbor or beach and settle in for a great meal. For traditional Italian food enjoyed at a locale right on the beach, check out Pilu at Freshwater (On the beach, Moore Rd, Freshwater NSW 2096; 02/9938-3331; piluatfreshwater.com.au). Enjoy Sardinian fare at Pilu, with a signature dish that takes several hours to slow-cookoven-roasted suckling pig, served on the bone with traditional farmhouse suckling pig sausages.

Worlds Best Cities for Food

MARRAKECH
When one thinks of Marrakech, snake charmers and magic lamps usually come to mind. But theres no mystery behind the citys burgeoning food scenevisitors can sample both international cuisine and traditional Moroccan favorites. Visit one of the citys souks, or markets, to bargain for food and try exotic local delicacies. The most bustling marketplacewith roundthe-clock entertainment provided by swaying cobras and dancing monkeys is at Djemaa El Fna (Medina), a square in central Marrakech where visitors can nosh on dates, spiced nuts, and other snacks by day, and on grilled sh, meats, and vegetables after dusk, when portable cooking kiosks crowd the area. Dine by candlelight at Le Tobsil (22 derb Abdellah ben Hessaien, Medina; +212 0524/44-15-23), a restaurant set in a restored palace that serves traditional Moroccan fare. For uffy couscous and melt-in-your mouth lamb tagine, visit Dar Marjana (15 derb Sidi Tair, Bab Doukkala, Medina; +212 0524/38-51-10; darmarjanamarrakech.com), one of the citys premier riad restaurants.
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Worlds Best Food Cities

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COPENHAGEN
Old meets new in Scandinavias capital city, as new Nordic cooking techniques and a revival of traditional favorites creates a vibrant, innovative food scene. For a 20-course tasting menu that epitomizes New Nordic cuisine, visit NOMA (Strandgade 93, Christianshavn; +45 32/96-32-97; noma. dk). Chef Rene Redzepi uses fresh, local ingredients to create artful dishes like potato and bleak, sh roe, and roasted turbot with bitter greens. Geranium (Per Henrik Lings Alle 4, 8, sterbro; +45 69/96-00-20; geranium. dk) combines the best of both worlds, as chefs Rasmus Kofoed and Soren Ledet re-invent classic Scandinavian dishes with modern cooking techniques. Guests can opt for a seven-course tasting menu, or sample an organic vegetarian menu and individual courses instead. Delicious French food is complemented by an outstanding 800 varieties of wine to choose from at Le Sommelier (Bredgade 63-65, Centrum; 33/1145-15; lesommelier.dk). An elegant interior creates an inviting ambience at Le Sommelier where you can enjoy dishes like guinea fowl in a foie-gras sauce or lamb shank and crispy sweetbreads. For a taste of the Danish seas, stop by Fiskebaren (Flsketorvet 100, 1711 Kbenhavn V; +45 32/15-56-56; skebaren.dk), a modern seafood restaurant in Copenhagens meatpacking district. Smorrebrod, or open-faced sandwiches, are a local favorite, and Aamanns (ster Farimagsgade 12; +45 3555-3310; aamanns.dk) offers everything from spiced herring with potatoes and dill to Danish blue cheese with hazelnut crme and nougatine.
Worlds Best Cities for Food

LOS ANGELES
Behind Los Angeless glitz and glamour lies an expansive food scene. Ethnic restaurants abound, and diners can also sample dishes inspired by the farm-to-table movement. For fresh-off-the-dock seafood, visit Providence (5955 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; 323/4604170; providencela.com) in Hollywood. Chef Michael Cimarusti uses French techniques and American and Asian avors to create extensive tasting menus. Its an elegant affair at Melisse (1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 310/395-0881; melisse.com), where Chef Josiah Citrin combines modern French cooking and seasonal produce to create upscale, artfully prepared dishes. To do your own shopping, visit Grand Central Market (317 S. Broadway, between 3rd and 4th Sts., Downtown; 213/624-2378; grandcentralsquare. com) in Downtown Los Angeles. The openair market has been an L.A. xture for almost 100 years, and shoppers can nd fresh produce, tortillas, and a plethora of ethnic food. For a gourmet shopping experience, visit Cube Caf & Marketplace (615 N. La Brea Blvd., Hollywood; 323/9391148; eatatcube.com). The market offers a wide variety of cheese, charcuterie, and pasta, and is also home to a caf and cheese bar. Grab some south-of-the-border taste in pursuit of Southern Californians obsession: tacos. Check out Cacao Mexicatessen (1576 Colorado Blvd.; 323-478-2791; cacaodeli.com) for taco specialties like the carnitas de pato (duck cont) or the aguacate frtio (pankocrusted, lightly fried avocado).

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