Steam rises from the earth as heated volcanic stones surrender their heat to layers of lamb, vegetables, and bread wrapped in flax leaves. The air fills with an earthy aroma that speaks to thousands of years of tradition. This is hāngī, and it represents just one facet of New Zealand's remarkable culinary tapestry—a cuisine where indigenous Māori traditions interweave with contemporary innovation to create something entirely unique.New Zealand traditional food…

The first breath you take in Marrakech's medina carries stories. Imagine cumin and coriander dancing with rose petals as the sharp tang of preserved lemons mingling with the honeyed warmth of dates ripening in the sun. These markets breathe life into Moroccan culinary heritage, and the families have occupied these same vendor stalls for generations.The morning light filters through the medina's ancient walls, casting geometric shadows across pyramids of spices…

In a Bangkok shophouse kitchen, a grandmother grinds chilies and galangal in a granite mortar, the pestle striking a rhythm her hands learned sixty years ago. She doesn't measure. The red curry paste she's building exists in her muscle memory, passed down from her own grandmother when all Thai cooking happened over charcoal. Traditional Thai food isn't a collection of recipes you can download and replicate. It's a language spoken…

In the cobblestone streets of Oaxaca, Mexico, morning air carries whispers of charred chiles and grinding corn. These ancient aromas have perfumed this valley for millennia. Here, in Mexico's cultural heartland, traditional Oaxacan food represents far more than sustenance. It embodies indigenous wisdom, Spanish colonial influence, and generations of culinary artistry passed down through weathered hands and whispered recipes.Oaxaca stands as Mexico's undisputed food capital of Mexico, a designation earned…

Jose Salazar to open Safi in the summer of 2024 After traveling in Morocco with Modern Adventure, James Beard Award Winning Chef, Jose Salazar was blown away by Moroccan hospitality, especially when it was paired with wine. Fast forward two years, and he's literally crafted an ode to that experience in the form of a wine bar, Safi. It's slated to open in the former spot of Jose's beloved restaurant…

Crista worked in physical therapy, engineering recruiting, biotech sales, and banking before heading to Guerneville, where one of her duties as “unofficial mayor” is hosting the town’s annual parades. Just for the love of it, she created a food and travel concept show called Lost in Taste, where she explores local cultures using food as her lens. Energy to Spare Driven by an insatiable lust for life (and a healthy…

Shota is a culinary innovator who weaves magic into every dish he creates. From the acclaimed, Adana, to his casually exquisite hotspot, Taku, Shota is known for remixing traditional Japanese cuisine with the uniqueness of the Pacific Northwest. We cannot wait to see what this native son and perennial James Beard favorite uncovers in Japan. TV Guide Not only did he best Bobby Flay, Shota was also voted a Top…

There’s more to Amanda Cohen than her restaurant Dirt Candy, though Dirt Candy is pretty cool, too—even historian Paul Freedman agrees (see his book, Ten Restaurants that Changed America). But we digress: Amanda might be a James Beard-nominated chef, but she’s also an advocate and innovator with a soft spot for contemporary art. Art Enthusiast When she’s not competing on Iron Chef or volunteering for the non-profit No Kid Hungry,…

A World Away You’ll know when you’ve arrived. Motorbikes zipping and weaving in every direction, overloaded with families and livestock. Homes packed on top of stores, squeezed by railroad. Chattering tradespeople with their blacksmith stalls and eyebrow-trimming stations on street corners. The quiet pagodas, lazy lakeside cafes, and the haunting scents… the way Old Quarter streets fill with the delicious smoke of grilled meat just before sunset. You’re in Hanoi.…

Welcome to the Haro Wine Festival, where the wine flows freely and heritage takes center stage in a cultural event that’s part harvest homage, part joyful chaos. On a warm June morning in northern Spain, the streets of Haro begin to hum with anticipation. White shirts are pressed, red bandanas are tied, and the scent of tempranillo lingers faintly in the air. Locals and visitors alike gather not for a…