As culinary tourism continues to grow, Linked Tourism has narrowed down its top destinations to send travellers to, a food fuelled getaway in the US or Asia, highlighting festivals as well as some unique dishes worth trying.
In New York State top picks include Long Island’s legendary Oyster Festival, taking place in Oct and featuring freshly shucked oysters, as well as oyster eating and shucking competitions. There’s also the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival in Sep, bringing together more than 300 wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries, artisan producers and gourmet food vendors for a week-end of tastings in Rhinebeck.
In Asia, the go-to is the Wine & Dine Festival, on 29 Oct–01 Nov this year, and boasting more than 300 international wine, craft spirit and gourmet food booths.
. . . Film
Taking cues from the set-jetting trend, film-inspired dining options in the US include Twede’s Cafe in Washington State’s North Bend, which was the Double R Diner in Twin Peaks, as well as Port Angeles’ Bella Italia, where Edward took Bella on their first date in Twilight. In New York State, there’s Lake Placid Lodge’s Artisans restaurant, which starred in season two of Succession, Phoenicia Diner in the Catskills, which was Pip’s Bar & Grille in Severance, and Red Coach Inn near Niagara Falls, which served as the filming location for scenes from Jim and Pam’s wedding in The Office.
. . . Unique
For clients who want something a little different, send them to Boise’s Westside Drive In for an Idaho Ice Cream Potato, or to Seattle, where they can sample a cream cheese-topped Seattle dog, or for the more daring, geoduck sashimi, this available at Taylor Shellfish Farms Oyster Bars.
In Asia, send them to Okinawa to sample umi bodo, also known as sea grapes, typically enjoyed with beer, or mimiga which is thinly sliced pig’s ears boiled, tossed in vinegar, and served with a dressing. See more HERE.
