DISH tips

It just got easier to sneak in a dinner, a real one, before a performance in New York at three of the city’s major cultural venues. The reason: these new restaurants are inside the building-or at least the complex.

It's incredible to think that a little over a century ago, Beijing was a kind of low-rise walled fortress, its nine humongous gates locked shut every night. 

“I’d been making ice cream for the longest time and I'd never bothered to make flavours that would’ve made sense in an African context,” says Tapiwa Guzha. “Once I realised that, I couldn’t ignore it.” 

Portugal’s cuisine has been shaped by many factors, from its fertile, sun-baked olive groves and vineyards to its centuries-old love affair with the sea.

Think of the classic New England dish, and it's likely your mind will go one of two ways — to the lobster roll, served warm in a hot dog-style bun with lashings of butter and lemon juice, or to clam chowder, served rich, thick and creamy in a steaming bowl, the ultimate comfort food. But if you really want to eat like the Bostonians do, you need to get the lowdown on the culinary scene from a local — and Nia Grace, chef at the Grace by Nia supper club in the Seaport district, knows exactly what's on the city's menu. With intricate creations and twists on New England classics, here are the hottest dishes in Boston right now.

While ceviche is seen as a local dish in many countries from Chile to Mexico, Peruvians call this famous concoction of raw fish marinated in lime juice Peru’s national dish. UNESCO recently added Peru’s ceviche—and the cultural surrounding it—to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Best known in Phnom Penh as Chef Nak, Rotanak Ros has spent over a decade traveling around Cambodia, recovering, preserving, and spotlighting traditional Khmer recipes. The richness of the region's cuisine, which she says comprises “at least a thousand dishes” from over a thousand years of history, collides in one place: her hometown of Phnom Penh (say it: “pa-nom penn”). “This is not just the hub for art or culture,” says Ros. “This is the place where everyone comes for a better life—and when they come from different parts of Cambodia, they bring their food.” On top of hosting market tours, cooking classes, and food-focused homestays for travelers, she also curates the Khmer menu at the Rosewood Phnom Penh's Brasserie Louis. Still, she makes the most of her days off at her favorite spots to eat, drink, and relax in the cradle of Khmer cuisine.

Paging Capt. Kirk to the starship lounge.

“Welcome to the oldest bratwurst kitchen in the world,” says Sofia Hilleprandt, as I duck beneath the wooden ceiling beams. “This wood was cut in 1379.” One of the beams has a cushion attached to it, no doubt because it’s concussed a patron or two. On the walls are weathered pots and pans, alongside knick-knacks and trinkets such as old beer mugs and faded portraits. 

From regenerative farming and organic kitchen gardens to foraged, fermented and plant-based foods, fine-dining menus are increasingly inspired by nature. Eschewing additives and processing, chefs are paying homage to wholefood ingredients, showcasing the likes of heritage grains, heirloom veggies and rare-breed organic meats in creative dishes that are both indulgent and nourishing.

Taiwan, a series of small subtropical islands sat in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, is a destination known for its natural beauty. But these islands are also home to one of East Asia’s most exciting culinary scenes — one that has been influenced not only by the region's unique climate and lush landscapes, but also its rich, multi-faceted history. First inhabited by Austronesian-speaking Indigenous groups, Taiwan has acted as a cultural crossroads for over 500 years, having played host to Japanese, Dutch, Spanish and Chinese settlers. Now, Taiwan's streets sing with sizzling street food, are lined with world-class restaurants and boast dishes that cement the region's cuisine as a melting pot of ingredients and cooking techniques. 

Downtown Los Angeles is bursting with flavour, thanks to the sublime combination of sun-ripened Californian produce, American innovation and global influence from a colourful array of communities. You’ll find authentic Mexican eats alongside traditional Korean dishes; classic Italian plates next to American diner fare — and even examples of all of them fused together. There’s so much to savour, it can be hard to know where to start. These five crucial stop-offs are the perfect intro to DTLA’s many edible highlights.

The city that never sleeps is no match for The Langham, a hotel that delivers one of the best slumbers in the Big Apple. Set along iconic Fifth Avenue in the heart of New York City, The Langham, Fifth Avenue delivers a singular stay. Even among stiff competition in a city that is known for its ultra-luxe accommodations, it distinguishes itself with its impeccable elegance, solicitous service and finely-honed attention to detail. Throw in a spectacular Club lounge and some of the biggest hotel rooms in Manhattan and you’d be hard pressed to find a more restful repose in the city.

Air France has given certain passengers a new reason to say “Oooh la la”when it comes to in-flight dining.

I’m on a dirt path surrounded by swaying coconut palms that offer up little in the way of afternoon shade. The heat is relentless, scattering everyone indoors and blanketing the village with stillness. I hurry along, seeking out an oasis. Then, around a corner I find it — a small farmhouse with a red tiled roof and a spacious balcony.  

River cruise lines have taken note of travelers wanting more immersive cultural experiences that take them deep into the communities they visit.

Cruises are renowned for their lavish buffet restaurants, offering a near unfathomable choice of food options almost around the clock. But from cold food and the risk of spreading viruses on serving utensils to the high amount of wastage, there are significant downsides to cruise ship buffets.

A few years ago, visiting Devon in a wet and windy summer, chef Margie Nomura, host of theDesert Island Dishespodcast, stumbled across Beachhouse cafe on a soggy dog walk at South Milton Sands.

As a dynamic coastal city in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland has a wonderful, diverse arts scene, and its delectable cuisine inspires people from all over the country to visit the city that’s called the “bright side of the bay” for its fantastic weather. What you may not know is that this diverse, progressive city also has one of the best vegan food scenes in the country. Here are just some of the restaurants of Oakland’s vegan food trail you should try.

For New Year's, I thought it would be fun to go skiing in another country while casually conversing with a friend I had known for over 20 years. A few days after I brought it up, she bought her plane ticket from Florida to Barcelona.

At Duke’s Lobster & Seafood—a popular restaurant at Finest Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic—all-inclusive guests can order their lobster dishes however they please. Steamed in a lemon-butter sauce, perhaps? Or thermidor-style with mushrooms and shallots. How about grilled with a white wine and garlic sauce or succulent pieces piled on linguine? Actually, why not just try the decadent dish a different way each night because the lobster—and this may be a shellshocker—is indeed included in the all-inclusive rate.