Top 10 cities for foodies

New York
The view from street-level New York – where food stands sell giant pretzels and sauerkraut-smothered hot dogs – does little to promote the gastronomical paradise that lies behind city facades. Indeed, New York is a 24/7 foodie paradise, a city that has served as a melting pot for every culture under the sun, showcases every cuisine imaginable, and adds some unexpected fusions that could only be dreamt up here. From haute-French establishments like award-winning Le Bernardin, to overstuffed smoked-meat sandwiches at Katz’s Deli, dining out in New York is a joy, whether you’re indulging in the simple or the sublime.

San Francisco
The 1849 Gold Rush may have given San Francisco its start, but what keeps people coming back to this hilly West Coast city is a different kind of treasure: a trove of top-notch menus showcasing multicultural cuisines, fresh California produce, and world-renowned chefs. The combination has created a feeding frenzy among the dining elite and dining options as diverse as the people who come to visit. Splurge on a plate of pistachio-crusted foie gras at the upscale Fleur de Lys, or sample some homemade tortillas at Mijita, where Iron Chef Traci Des Jardins serves authentic dishes her Mexican grandmother used to make. A trip to North Beach (San Fran’s Little Italy) and Chinatown may sound somewhat cliché, but for traditional pasta delights and the chance to experience the world’s second-largest Chinatown outside of Asia, there's no better place to let those taste buds wander.

Rome
When in Rome – mangia mangia mangia! Dining in this Italian capital is an experience that’s arguably just as pleasurable as seeing the awe-inspiring ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for the first time, and, thankfully, eating and drinking well in the Eternal City is a piece of cake (or should we say pie – pizza pie, that is). Just follow the locals to the nearest caffè or pick up your own fresh produce every morning at the bustling, picturesque Campo de Fiori market and sit down for a bite by the nearby Bernini Fountain. While Northern Italy is famous for its pesto and truffles, Tuscany for its olive oil and beans, Sicily for its sweets, and the south for its seafood and spice, Roman cuisine boasts all of this and more. From home-style Italian cooking in charming trattorias to innovative fare in designer restaurants, the old streets of Rome will have you savoring la dolce vita.

Tokyo
Grab your chopsticks and go to town on the freshest sushi around – accompanied by the finest sake, of course. From beautifully displayed sashimi, sushi, and tempura, to succulent skewers of yakitori (barbeque-dipped grilled chicken) – best washed down with ji-biru (Japanese beer) – to hefty bowls of delicious yaki-udon (stir-fried noodles), and French-influenced meals of caviar and foie gras, Tokyo’s cuisine provides a Zen-like eating experience indeed. Case in point: The Kaiseki Feast, a traditional 14-course tasting menu of fresh fish, tofu, hand-made noodles, and local produce, is offered at various restaurants. And, thanks to Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Market (one of the world’s largest fish markets), some 3000 tons of fresh catch is doled out daily which, fortunately, can be sampled at any of the city’s countless restaurants.

Vancouver
While you might assume that you need to head to Asia to sample the ultimate in Chinese cuisine, you needn’t leave North America at all to dabble in some of China’s finest – just head northwest, to Vancouver! With its variety of international cuisines and unique Pacific Northwest cooking, this Canadian city has become one of the world’s top dining cities. But it’s the Chinese fare that really gets gastronauts excited: An influx of Chinese immigration in the mid-19th century sparked the development of the city’s Chinatown (now the second-largest Chinatown in North America after San Francisco’s) and nowadays, whether you’re hankering for dim sum or a pork bun, you’ll find them – and much more – in the neighborhood’s muddled streets.

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