All travelers must eat. Pictured above, part of yesterday’s dinner at my cousins’ house, veggie potato gratin with sliced carrots, black olives and Persil.

For dessert, homemade apple pie with vanilla sauce.

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According to scientific research, you’ll live longer the more chocolate you eat. Since I read that statement in a magazine last month I found myself eating more chocolate than usual. Earlier this year I joked about having to book two seats on the flight once I travel to London, because of all the chocolate I’d eaten. Fortunately my love for chocolate hasn’t gone that far — even though I’ve never had much self-control in this particular area.

I know you’re supposed to eat only two or three pieces at a time of that fine, dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, but sometimes I just can’t resist taking another piece, and another one, and another one, and before I know it I’ve finished a whole chocolate bar. (Does that make me a chocoholic?) Although, when I make a bit of an effort, I can feel satisfied with not more than a few pieces. Chocolate contains healthy antioxidants but also mucho caffeine, so a moderate intake is to prefer. Even if excess can feel good in the moment, it does more harm than good in the long run. But enough about that. Earlier today I wrote about three of my favorite chocolatiers at iwannagothere.com, a terrific site where independent travelers can share recommendations with each other, and I wanted to share them with you too.

1. Chocolat
Storgatan 54
582 Linköping
Sweden

If you ever find yourself in Linköping, Sweden’s fifth largest city, do visit Chocolat at least once. This chocolatier and café is located near the main square, across the street from a restaurant called Hamlet. Easy to find. Once inside, you can choose between various chocolate truffles, special delicacies, and different cakes and sweets. Don’t miss their hazelnuts in chocolate with coffee taste.

2. Peter Beier Chokolade
Brogatan 44
Halmstad
Sweden

Another place worth visiting is Peter Beier Chokolade in central Halmstad. This Danish chocolatier makes some of the best truffles in Europe. Sit down in a comfy seat and order a chocolate drink, and don’t forget selecting a couple of truffles to bring home before you leave. They offer both milk chocolate and dairy free treats.

3. The Chocolate Society
32 Shepherd Market
London W1J 7
UK

When I moved to London in 2005 I discovered The Chocolate Society in Shepherd Market, Mayfair. A great location, especially during the warmer months when you can sit outside. I particularly recommend purchasing one of their dark chocolate brownies — perfect in taste and consistency, one of the best I’ve ever tasted. You can see my full reviews and photos in the guide Chocolatiers. And, if you aren’t already a iwannagothere member, do sign up to share some of your favorite places and find good travel tips for your next trip.

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Japan can be a land of great culinary adventures. Japanese cuisine is so distinctive and unique that you should absolutely experience an authentic Japanese dish while in country. Here are seven recommendations.

Sushi

If there’s any food in Japan that is unmistakably Japanese, it is sushi. This rice roll with different types of fillings can be considered Japan’s national dish because it represents Japan in the culinary world. Forget about California rolls, sushi in Japan is different and you will find sushi types that you haven’t seen before.

Japanese Curry

Curry is a dish that you can find in many places but Japanese curry has a taste that is quite unique. There is a smokiness and sweetness to Japanese curry that makes it stand out. Try out their curry rice and many curry variants.

Sake

While not really a food but a liquor, Sake is nevertheless crucial in experiencing Japan through your taste buds. Sake is a rice based wine that, depending on the season, is served chilled, in room temperature or heated. This alcoholic beverage is the traditional drink for ceremonies and other celebrations.

Manju

Traditional desserts in Japan can be great unique experience. One of the more popular desserts is manju, a sweet bun made from flour, rice flour and buckwheat and with a delicious filling of red bean paste. The red bean paste is made from azuki beans and sugar. Other fillings are also put in the manju like orange cream fruit fillings. Sometimes the manju itself is flavored.

Natto

This food is not for those with delicate stomachs. Natto is fermenting bean paste that has a rotten smell. This food is usually eaten during breakfast. It may smell bad but many people say that it actually tastes quite good. A good tip when eating natto is to just eat it quickly before the smell gets in the way.

Ramen

The Japanese love noodles. Some people may say that you should try eating yakisoba, which is fried noodles. Yakisoba is indeed very tasty but for a wonderful noodle experience nothing can beat eating ramen. Ramen is noodles in soup. There are many variations of this popular dish, starting with the soup itself. For example, you can get a soy based, miso based, or salt based. Then you get different toppings depending on where you eat it.

Each prefecture, or region, actually has its own variation of ramen, which makes traveling to these places all the more exciting because you get to eat a regional ramen specialty.

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No matter where I am, I love starting the day with a healthy breakfast. This is one of my favorites: soy yogurt with oatmeal, sunflower seeds, lax seeds, nuts and berries.

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Thailand is known for its great food. Thai food is tasty, spicy, delicious, and cheap. No matter where you go in the country, you’ll find food everywhere. From restaurants to street vendors selling everything imaginable, you could walk into the jungle and still find someone selling food. Next time you find yourself in Thailand, here are some delicious dishes you can’t leave the country without trying:

Spring Rolls – Whether fried or fresh, spring rolls make for a great snack. Street stalls sell these all over and they make a great quick meal. Make sure to add some chili sauce for added flavor.

Pad Thai – Probably Thailand’s most famous dish, this noodle dish is made with eggs, tofu, and green onions. You can find it everywhere but the place to eat it is from the street stalls in the Thai neighborhoods. It will be the best Pad Thai you ever eat.

Som Tam – This spicy salad is native to northeast Thailand but is one of the most commonly eaten dishes in all of the country.  Every Thai loves it.  It’s made from shredded papaya, tomatoes, lemon juice, peanuts, and a lot of chilies. It’s one of the spiciest dishes in the country and if you aren’t careful, it will burn your mouth off.

Pad Seeu – This is a thick noodle dish made with bok choy.  The thick sticky noodles are quickly cooked with bok choy and oyster sauce. It’s really tasty and one of the most flavorful dishes in Thailand. Though the portions are usually small, the noodles are thick and heavy and you can get easily filled up by this dish.

Curry – You can get a wide variety of curries here in Thailand from red to green to clear to peanut based. No matter what you get it will always be good. My favorite is Masuman curry which is made from peanuts and potatoes and is a yellow curry.

Fried Rice – This simple dish is found everywhere and while not exotic or special, the street vendors here make some excellent rice. It’s quickly fried with a few Thai spices and is really tasty.

Fruit – Thailand has many delicious fruits. The tropical weather here makes it easy to grow great and succulent fruits. On every street corner, you’ll find someone selling the freshest fruit around — all for 30 cents.

Thailand is a great country with great food.  So the next time you are there, make sure you try these dishes and make sure you eat frequently at the street vendors. They are safe to eat and have some of the best food around.

Matthew Kepnes has been blogging his way around the world for more than three years. You can read more about his adventures at his blog, Nomadic Matt as well about his recent ebook making money with your travel blog so you can have your travels pay for themselves!

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3. Goreng Pisang: A Street Hawker Delight in Penang, Malaysia

Written by: Cheryl Marie Cordeiro Photos: Kevin Cordeiro

Having grown up in Singapore where street hawkers who sold their food along the roadsides were cleaned off its streets around the 1960s with a government initiative to spruce up the island, visiting Penang, an island off the northwest coast of the Peninsula of Malaysia, is like visiting a scene from Singapore’s past.

Penang, like Singapore, was a former British colony, the island was given by the Sultan of Kedah to the British East India Company in 1786, in exchange for military protection against the Siamese and Burmese armies. Their history is evident in the architecture of the older buildings that mostly reflect in its design, a colonial style of living with large compound houses along Gurney Road, and what used to be the suburbs of the city center. But as with most Asian economies, the face of Penang is changing radically, with skyscrapers now surrounding these older buildings from the 1700s, making the landscape quite eclectic in reflecting both old and new.

Despite food courts (a collection of food stalls that sell specific dishes per stall) becoming incorporated into the newly built skyscrapers in Penang, what remains a delight are the easily accessible food hawker stalls still found along the roadsides of this island that produce authentic local on the spot for their customers. Customers often either stand to consume their meal or sit on the metal foldable tables and chairs provided by the stalls, along the roadside.

It was at one such coffeeshop corner and street that I came across this man in a brightly coloured shirt, hawking goreng pisang or deep fried bananas in a sumptuously prepared batter. The locals in Penang eat goreng pisang as a snack or dessert and its variants can be found across Southeast-Asia, from the Philippines to Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. In Thailand for example, the fried bananas are often accompanied by drizzled caramelized sugar whilst in Malaysia and Singapore, goreng pisang is eaten on its own. In Sweden, one might find a variant of this dessert in Chinese restaurants, served with ice-cream, though in my opinion, the batter in which the bananas are dipped into prior to frying is slightly different in the Chinese restaurants found in Gothenburg, than the ones sold alongside the streets in Penang, Malaysia.

The man who sold these goreng pisangs had a simple hawker stall that was attached to his motorcycle. This gave him mobility and he could technically, place his hawker stall along any street corner he wished. In a basket attached to his motorcycle, he had other vegetable roots such as tapioca and sweet potato, which he would then dip into the same batter and fry. These are no less delicious to the tastebuds, though I personally prefer the deep fried bananas that melt in your mouth at first bite.

I couldn’t help but ask the man for his batter recipe, after my first bite into the goreng pisang. He gave a warm smile and said that there was no magic in the recipe; the batter is a combination of equal portions of flour and rice-flour, with a dash of cornstarch and some water. A pinch of salt and sugar are added and voila, the batter is done! Use some vegetable oil to fry the bananas in and you can serve this with anything from soft cheese to ice-cream. Well, I couldn’t wait to come back to Sweden to give this a try!

Generally, I found the people of Penang warm hearted and friendly, ready to share their local culture with visitors. When in Penang, the local food hawkers along the roadside will prove a worthy try and adventure since it is with these people, with recipes usually handed down from generations past, that one can get a true taste of the culinary delights of the place.

Street hawkers are a common sight on the island of Penang, Malaysia, where one can get authentic local food.

His hawker stall is simple, attached to his motorcycle, so that he is mobile and can literally park his stall anywhere along the street.

The frying process.

Apart from bananas, this man was also hawking deep fried sweet potatoes and tapioca, which he stores fresh in this basket attached to his motorcycle.

The writer is a PhD student with Gothenburg University and writes about travel, food, fashion and lifestyle in her free time. More of her writings can be found at her website at www.cmariec.com/blog.

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Written by: Cate Dowman

Mapo-gu is home to one of Seoul’s oldest fine arts universities – Hongdae. Like most art university areas, Mapo gu attracts the edgier side of the city to it, through its fashion, music and eateries. It’s a place best described as boho, minus chic, plus character. An area experiencing a rejuvenation, Mapo-gu is fast becoming one of Seoul’s happening places to be.  Cafes are no exception to this change, all fighting to stake their claim; many survive, others die a quick death. No matter how often you come to Mapo, you will be surprised to see a new eatery or three open for business.

Eighteen months ago a special cafe design museum, Cafe aA, set up base in Mapo and has been going strong ever since. The museum is a popular piece for expat and design bloggers. Of course myself too, the better late than never blogger. The cafe museum is popular because it’s unique.

Cafe aA does the cafe scene on a large individualistic scale. It offers more than just coffee and tea. It’s a cafe, furniture store, museum package, housing an eclectic mix of designer furniture (let me drop in Tom Dixon, Marcel Breuer), lovingly appreciated by its owner, Korean businessman, Mr Kim. You will often see him around his cafe – he is the quiet man sometimes with a hat, always with dark rimmed glasses, who mingles with, rather than stands out from, his cafe crowd.

© Joe May

From my past visits, I would say that Mr Kim envisioned the cafe’s design long before he built the place. No detail has been been overlooked from flooring, lighting, seating, outdoor tiles, balustrades, even the rest rooms. The combination of eras, Italian turn of the century meets retro, clash gently enough to stimulate the mind and conversation.

But the beauty of the cafe lies not just with the design, it’s a cafe that doesn’t discriminate. People come here from all corners of Seoul for that double A cafe experience: amateur photographers vying for that shot, girlfriends gaggling over cake, dates cooing in the corners; mum and dads looking on intrigued.

My favourite time to visit is during the week, when it’s near empty, and bossa nova permeates the cafe; heaven.

© Joe May

From a caffeine perspective, the espresso based coffees, teas and non-caffeinated drinks are decent, but the food is a little lame. I recommend visiting this cafe for its atmosphere and design, not for its dining experience.

Cafe aA is easy to get to from Hongdae subway station line 2.

408 -11 Seokyo dong, Mapo gu, Seoul.

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Written by: Cate Dowman

Yes there’s a lot more to this country! As much as I love NZ, I have begun to tire of telling people there is more to New Zealand than pristine landscapes, mountains and Lord of the Rings. Oh and sheep.

When you visit NZ you will be pleasantly surprised at its cafe culture, which may only be less than 20 years old, but has become very much a part of the NZ lifestyle. And I mean cafes that make really good coffee, homestyle cooking and atmosphere. For a good number of New Zealanders (kiwis), life revolves around cafes be it work meetings, networking, weekend brunches, family outings, the list goes on.

It doesn’t matter where you go in the cities or towns, you will always come upon a cafe, locally owned and operated selling good coffee, tea and food. That’s just how it is in this country. You won’t often find a Starbucks or MacCafe (Amen!), except for inner city locations.

In July this year I was travelling through the western coast of the South Island with a friend. It was winter and winter in this part of the country means freezing cold and annoyingly windy. I found a small cafe in the town of Greymouth, where I had stayed overnight, and gravitated towards it unknowingly. It was zero degrees Celsius outside, and cosy degrees inside. Naturally the cafe was popular. I sank into an old sofa, no untrue let me rephrase, the sofa’s springs were so far gone, it had no choice but to let me sink into it. I was cast into the sofa but that was ok because there was jazz playing softly in the background and warming my hands was a cup of my favourite coffee: flat white.

© Cate Dowman

Most Kiwis and Aussies know what I’m talking about when I refer to a flat white. I have not been able to explain it properly to non Australasians but here goes. Take a doubleshot of espresso and add hot steamed milk, just a little, not too much or you will end up with a latte. It all goes in a cup smaller than a cappuccino size and bigger than a double shot espresso size.

This is a great drink for people who like their coffee strong without having to drink it black. If you end up with a drink thats milky and weak, you have either a lousy barista or the wrong drink.

To find out more about the history of cafes in Australasia you can read about it on this website I recently discovered, Cafe Culture Downunder.

It’s an informative website dedicated to coffee lovers and coffee professionals. A great read if you have some spare time.

So, to all you expat Kiwis and Ozzies who are, at this moment, pining for a good flat white, I dedicate this post to you.

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“In addition to supplying some of the finest wines to the world, these destinations offer visitors outstanding hotels, restaurants and wine tours,” said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.

1. Bordeaux, France

An incredible wine-tasting experience awaits visitors to France’s Bordeaux region, one of the world’s most sough-after wine destinations. Its vineyards produce everything from table wines to the costliest bottles in the world.

2. Napa Valley, California

Each year, millions of wine enthusiasts travel to Napa Valley to enjoy sensational wine and stunning scenery. With an ideal Mediterranean climate, the valley is home to nearly 400 wineries that offer a variety of grapes, from Zinfandel to Cabernet Sauvignon.

3. Tuscany, Italy

A magical location to taste the local “vino”, the Tuscany province of Italy combines natural and historic beauty with unique vineyards and cuisine. Renowned for its reds like Montalcino and Chianti, Tuscany is one of the most renowned wine destinations and a true delight for the senses.

4. Champagne-Ardenne, France

With carefully tended vineyards in the midst of a striking landscape, the Champagne region is famous for the much-loved sparkling white wine that shares its name.

5. Barossa Valley, Australia

Highly praised for its beautiful surroundings and robust varieties of red wine including Shiraz, Barossa Valley in Southern Australia is a terrific destination for both sightseers and wine connoisseurs.

6. La Rioja, Spain

Because of the delicious vanilla flavors and the oak aging, Spain’s most well-known wine region offers especially characteristic wines. Acknowledged for its exceptional reds, La Rioja is divided into three areas: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Baja.

7. Sonoma Valley, California

Featuring picturesque towns, gorgeous surroundings and well-attended vineyards, the Sonoma Valley was nicknamed the “Valley of the Moon” by once Sonoma local and celebrated writer Jack London.

8. Valle Central, Chile

The Curicó’s chardonnays and the Maipo Valley’s cabernets attract wine lovers from both near and far away. Set among the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean just outside the capital Santiago, the Valle Central is an internationally acclaimed wine destination.

9. Stellenbosch, South Africa

With more than 100 wine cellars to visit, Stellenbosch belongs to the Cape Winelands region and is home to one of South Africa’s most popular wine routes.

© Miro Schaap

10. Marlborough, New Zealand

Recognized for its adorable Sauvignon Blancs, Marlborough is widely seen as New Zealand’s birthplace of winemaking.

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How can we find new restaurants? Nowadays, most people surf online when looking for dinner venues, new openings and the latest buzz about the best chef in town.

BooRah Restaurant Search covers various states in the U.S. and is constantly launching new cities. I gave it a go and searched for Vegetarian Restaurants in L.A., Pizza in Chicago, and gourmet food in New York. With honest and genuine user reviews, an easy search function and fun “Boo” or “Rah” ratings, I bet BooRah will stay a hit among foodies and restaurant owners.

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TONIGHT, at 10 p.m. ET, the new season of Anthony Bourdain’s popular show “No Reservations” premieres on Travel Channel. In tonight’s programme, chef, world traveller, and best-selling author Anthony Bourdain explores the food culture in Laos.

Upcoming episodes include, among others, Vietnam, into the jungle in Malaysia, London/Edinburgh, upscale food in New Zealand, and the very best of Las Vegas. For more details, see the TV Schedule.

Also, take part in the conversation on Anthony’s blog, or follow him on Twitter to receive the latest updates.

One last tip, avid food readers might want to check out Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach.

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Stefano Riboli

With a welcome as warm as the sun-baked hills of Tuscany, San Antonio Winery offers the atmosphere of a European wine estate and quality wines made from grapes grown on the owners’ vineyards in Monterey, Santa Barbara and Napa Counties.

San Antonio Winery was founded by Santo Cambianica who in 1917 left his home in Italy’s Northern Province of Lombardy and settled in Los Angeles’ Italian-American community. The winery named after Santo’s patron saint still remains in its initial location on Lamar Street, now Downtown L.A.’s up-and-coming River District.

In 1938, Santo’s nephew, Stefano Riboli, expanded his uncle’s company with the same spirit of dedication and originality San Antonio Winery operates today. Under the guidance of Anthony Riboli, the first member of the fourth generation to join this family’s business, San Antonio Winery has won more than 1,000 awards in international and national competitions.

Recently, Travel Blissful had the opportunity to talk with Stefano Riboli about the company that continues to represent the Riboli family’s history of passion and excellence.

Erica Johansson: What is the best part with running a family business?

Stefano Riboli: The best part is seeing my family every day. Working hard and working together as families do in my native Bergamo, Italy.

What changes have you made with San Antonio Winery since your uncle Santo Cambianica founded the company?

Many changes were made since I began working at the Winery 70 years ago. We grew along with the industry. We always strived to make top notch wine and learned through trial and error. My wife and I made fantastic changes to our company starting in the late 1940’s. She was instrumental in creating the first wine tasting room and Winery restaurant in the State. She had and still has incredible visions for our company and is always striving for excellence.

Who are your customers? Mostly people from California or many tourists as well?

We have so many loyal customers. Many of them are multi generational customers whose grandparents and parents were raised in North East Los Angeles. We have many tourists as well that come from Europe and Asia.

I read about your Wine Seminars. Could you tell us a bit about them?

Fantastic wine seminars are offered monthly. They are paired with 3-4 course amazing lunches and 8-10 wines. They are wonderful for the novice or even wine snobs.

Maddalena Restauarant

Your Maddalena Restaurant seems wonderful. Are you serving vegetarian or vegan dishes as well?

Since my wife is from Piemonte , Italy we feature natural, wholesome dishes similar to those that we prepare at home. Lot’s of fresh garden vegetables, pasta’s and great seafood. Each day we feature a flavorful vegetarian dish.

For more information about San Antonio Winery, visit www.sanantoniowinery.com

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Pamper yourselves with an exclusive Valentine’s stay at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, the finest address in London. Arrive to a flower adorned room and indulge in a glass of Dom Perignon with your loved one before having afternoon tea in the elegant Park Room. The skilled Chef offers various delicious treats such as heart-shaped cup-cakes, mille-feiulles or rich, dark chocolate cake.

A romantic promenade in Hyde Park might be just what you need before taking a seat in the sumptuous Red Bar where you can sip cocktails and enjoy each other’s company, a perfect Valentine’s delight.

Later you can order an appetising course from room service and spend the evening in privacy in the comfort of your own hotel room.

The Valentine’s package costs £1,200 (excluding VAT) and can be booked through reservations on +44(0)20 7399 8008. Full payment in advance is required and rooms are subject to availability.

After serving as a private home for the Grosvenor family, Grosvenor House opened to the public in May 1929 and quickly became the hotel for a high-profile circle. Its current four year multi-million pound renovation finishes this year when Grosvenor House will acquire the status as the European flagship for the JW Marriott brand.

For more information about the hotel, visit Grosvenor House.

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Live band at Chambre Neuf

The nightlife in the French ski resort Chamonix will satisfy most budgets and personalities.

1. South Bar – For the music.

2. Chambre Neuf – The most popular afterski place in Chamonix

3. MBC – The first Micro Brewery & Restaurant in the Mont Blanc region.

4. Soul Food – Bar offering terrific drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, the music is a cool mix of soul, funk, reggae and hip hop.

5. Tigre Tigre – Cocktail bar/restaurant serving Indian food.

6. The Jekyll – Irish Pub

For more info about Chamonix, read Inside track to Chamonix in the Guardian.

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According to the new Michelin Tokyo restaurant guide, the Japanese capital is the place to be for real gourmet dining. The city’s 150 selected restaurants received 191 stars in total, more than any other city in the world. Paris “only” has 97 stars. Sixty percent of the chosen restaurants serve Japanese food, some French, a handful of Chinese and Italian, and one Spanish.

Visit the Michelin Guide’s website for more information about their guides.

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