The World on a Plate
You can see a country through its monuments, but you truly understand it through its food.
A perfectly folded dumpling, a bowl of curry, a slice of cheese ripened in a mountain cave — each dish is a small biography of a place. For many modern travellers, the best itineraries aren’t built around landmarks, but around markets, kitchens, vineyards and family tables.
At Tamarind Global Holidays, we design culinary travel experiences where flavour is the hero: cooking classes, chef’s tables, vineyard picnics and quiet street food discoveries. Here are seven gourmet getaways around the world where food isn’t just part of the journey — it is the journey.
1. Tuscany, Italy – Truffles, Chianti and Timeless Tables
If you dream of slow lunches and golden hills, Tuscany is your culinary homecoming.
Flavours of the land
- Autumn truffle hunts in mist-covered forests near San Miniato
- Visits to family-run Chianti wineries with barrel tastings and vineyard picnics
- Olive oil mills where you taste new-season oil on warm, rustic bread
Tuscany’s food is deceptively simple: pappardelle with wild boar ragù, ribollita soup, pecorino with chestnut honey. The luxury lies in the ingredients, the techniques, and the patience.
Your gourmet Tuscany trail can include
- A private cooking class in a farmhouse kitchen
- Truffle foraging with a tartufaio (and his dogs), followed by a truffle-infused lunch
- Restaurant reservations at Michelin-starred trattorias and tiny village osterias
This is ideal for travellers seeking a romantic luxury food and wine holiday with a strong sense of place.
2. Kyoto, Japan – Where Cuisine Becomes Ceremony
In Kyoto, food is not just nourishment — it is philosophy, aesthetics and mindfulness on a plate.
Kaiseki, the art of the meal
Kaiseki is Japan’s highest culinary expression: a multi-course meal that follows the seasons, the region and a delicate balance of flavours and textures.
- Tiny dishes presented like jewellery
- Seasonal ingredients from mountain, river and sea
- Hand-thrown ceramics, lacquerware and exquisite plating
Beyond kaiseki, Kyoto also offers:
- Intimate sushi counters, where every movement is a performance
- Matcha ceremonies in traditional tea houses
- Nishiki Market strolls to sample pickles, tofu, sweets and local snacks
With Tamarind, you can enjoy:
- Chef’s counter seats at top Kyoto restaurants
- Private introductions to tea masters
- Local guides who decode etiquette and tradition so you can relax and savour
Kyoto is for travellers seeking a deeply refined, culturally rich food journey.
3. Provence, France – Markets, Rosé and Mediterranean Ease
In Provence, life itself feels like it’s seasoned with olive oil and sunshine.
Market mornings, vineyard afternoons
- Wander through village markets piled with tomatoes, chèvre, herbs and peaches
- Sample olives, tapenades and freshly baked fougasse
- Sip rosé at family vineyards in Côtes de Provence or Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Meals are long, languid and outdoors whenever possible: grilled fish, ratatouille, bouillabaisse, and cheese boards that last all evening.
A Tamarind-crafted Provence getaway can include:
- Cooking lessons with local chefs in farmhouse kitchens
- Market-to-table days where you shop and cook your own French menu
- Lunches at countryside auberges, paired with just the right wine
This is a perfect Mediterranean gourmet escape for travellers who love food, design and slow living.
4. Kerala, India – The Spice Coast Reimagined
For centuries, Kerala has welcomed traders from across the world — and you can taste that history in every dish.
Spice routes on a plate
- Pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and clove from misty plantations in Thekkady and Wayanad
- Coconut and curry leaf in every tempering
- Portuguese, Arab and Dutch influences layered into coastal recipes
Signature experiences include:
- Fishing at dawn and cooking your catch in a seaside home
- Learning to make appam, stew, meen moilee and prawn manga curry
- Exploring spice plantations with naturalists who connect each plant to a dish
Many boutique backwater and plantation stays now offer dedicated culinary packages that blend Ayurveda, local produce and indulgence in just the right proportions.
Kerala is ideal for travellers keen on an Indian culinary holiday that feels international in technique and variety, yet deeply rooted in home-grown flavour.
5. San Sebastián, Spain – Pintxos and the Soul of Basque Cuisine
A small city with a big culinary reputation, San Sebastián is often called the food capital of Europe.
Pintxo culture and Michelin stars
- Pintxo bars line the old town, each perfecting their own tiny masterpieces: anchovies, crab, cod, jamón, peppers
- The city and region have an astonishing concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants
- Txakoli, a lightly sparkling local wine, flows freely over conversations and counter tops
A Tamarind-designed foodie stay in San Sebastián can include:
- A pintxo-hop with a local expert
- Degustation menus at world-renowned restaurants
- Day trips into the surrounding countryside for cider houses and farm lunches
For food lovers, this is a bucket-list European gourmet getaway.
6. Marrakech, Morocco – A Feast for the Senses
In Marrakech, food is inseparable from fragrance, colour and sound.
From souk to rooftop
- Jemaa el-Fna square turns into an open-air kitchen at dusk
- Souks overflow with saffron, cumin, preserved lemons, olives and dates
- Riad courtyards offer calm, with mint tea poured high into delicate glasses
Experiences include:
- Cooking classes in traditional riads, learning tajines, couscous and zaalouk
- Farm visits to herb gardens outside the city
- Desert or palm grove dinners under lanterns and star-filled skies
Marrakech offers a heady, theatrical North African food journey that lingers long after the last bite.
7. Goa, India – Latin Soul on the Arabian Sea
A former Portuguese colony turned global beach favourite, Goa blends Indian spice with Latin flair.
History in every bite
- Xacuti, cafreal, vindaloo, sorpotel – dishes that trace old trade routes
- Feni (cashew or coconut liquor) now reimagined in modern cocktails
- A new generation of bistros, bakeries and fine-dining spots in both North and South Goa
A gourmet Goa itinerary can include:
- Tasting tours through old Panjim and Latin Quarters
- Food walks in villages with home-style meals
- Beachside grills and chef’s tables that reinterpret coastal cuisine
For travellers looking for a global-meets-local culinary escape within India, Goa is the perfect long-weekend or week-long indulgence.
The Art of Eating Well, Anywhere
Gourmet travel is about more than Michelin stars or Instagrammable plates. It’s about:
- Meeting the people who grow, catch and cook your food
- Understanding how landscape, climate and history season every recipe
- Savouring meals slowly, with curiosity and gratitude
At Tamarind Global Holidays, we design food-focused luxury holidays that balance:
- Signature fine-dining experiences with authentic local meals
- Hands-on learning (cooking classes, markets) with pure indulgence
- Comfort and safety with genuine cultural connection
Wherever you go — Tuscany, Kyoto, Marrakech or Kerala — you’ll come back not just with photos, but with flavours and stories you’ll never forget.
