From Huffington Post
Cities like Paris and San Francisco may get all the attention from discerning foodies, but they’re not the only places luring curious epicureans. The lesser-known dining scenes below are ambitious and unconventional, they’re buzzing with new and noteworthy chefs, and they’re diverse and unexpected.
Men load a basket with watermelons at the wholesale fruit market in Lima on March 19, 2010. AFP PHOTO/Ernesto Benavides (Photo credit should read ERNESTO BENAVIDES/AFP/Getty Images)
After taking into account reputation, versatility and reviews from critics and globe-trotting gourmands, we’ve come up with eight up-and-coming dining hot spots to visit this year — before they’re officially on every food-lover’s map.
Lima, Peru
In Lima, boundary-pushing plates — like sea urchin ceviche and raw tuna tail layered with yellow-pepper puree — aren’t hard to find. Thanks to Lima’s diverse cultural influences, you can sample everything from African-Creole to Japanese-Peruvian fare here. To sample fusion dishes with a little extra panache, visit Rafael Restaurant, located in the seafront suburb of Miraflores about 7 miles south of central Lima. Prefer an authentic Peruvian entree? Head to La Mar (also located in Miraflores), to indulge in lomo saltado (a succulent cut of sirloin layered with onions and tomatoes). And if you happen to be visiting in the fall, follow your taste buds to the Mistura Food Festival (Sept. 5-14), which features Peruvian staples like fresh ceviche with chili peppers, sweet potato and corn.
Best Kept Secret: For a midday bite, go to Chez Wong, a lunch-only “cevicheria” that features high-quality sole ceviche served only a few simple ways: sweet or sour and either warm or cold.
Hong Kong
Nowadays, you’ll discover more in Hong Kong than delicious dim sum and braised pork belly: Restaurants here serve up an eclectic variety of cuisines, from French to Vietnamese. The city houses a mix of white-tablecloth restaurants, snazzy cocktail bars, low-key barbecue joints and noodle establishments. If you prefer to stick to local fare, Yiu Tung Street’s vibrant outdoor market stalls, known as dai pai dongs, make it easy to eat well on the cheap. When it comes to dessert, the fluffy, flaky egg waffles found at Lee Keung Kee North Point along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade are a hit among sweet-toothed visitors.
Best Kept Secret: The Michelin-star rated dim sum at Tim Ho Wan offers tasty (and affordable) dim-sum creations like steamed pork dumplings and baked buns with barbecued pork.
Bologna, Italy
While Italy has long been a magnet for food and wine lovers, Bologna is the go-to place for pasta-obsessed epicureans exploring the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. Affectionately called La Grassa, or “the Fat One,” Bologna is where the scent of ragu sauce, prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese wafts through the air along centuries-old streets. Splurge for a meal at Trattoria Anna Maria, which is known for its tortellini. You’ll find this legendary eatery off of via Belle Arti in the heart of Bologna
Best Kept Secret: Venture to La Terrazza off of via del Parco for an elegant setting and Mediterranean-inspired plates — such as Tagliolini pasta topped with clams, zucchini and pumpkin flowers — prepared with seasonal ingredients.
Melbourne, Australia
Sydney, with its spectacular location on the Tasman Sea, has long appealed to foodies craving fresh, local seafood. But restaurants like Attica (a San Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurant) in Sydney’s southern counterpart dish up intrepid entrees like salted red kangaroo and minted potato. The diverse culinary offerings have even inspired rising chefs, such as Roy Choi and Magnus Nilsson, to head to the city. And thanks to the city’s melting pot of cultural influences, Melbourne plates some eclectic and surprising cuisine choices. Don’t skip sampling the decadent lamb shoulder prepared in chamomile at Pei Modern.
Best Kept Secret: To try intriguing dishes like hot and sour Thai beef salad or caramelized taro pudding coupled with banana and lime, stroll to Easy Tiger, located on Smith Street in the hip, food-forward Collingwood neighborhood.
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