Toronto,
11
January
2018
|
16:40
Europe/Amsterdam

The best winter destinations for gourmands

Whether you’re planning to eat seasonally in 2018 or just fancy a different kind of holiday: here are the best winter destinations for gourmands.

Granville Island in Vancouver, Canada

The food festival that devours an entire city

The food festival that devours an entire city

The Dine Out Vancouver Festival is a city wide event that includes over 270 restaurants and is credited with raising the profile and demand for Asian food in Vancouver.

Kicking off at the end of January, visitors to the festival will find culinary and cocktail making classes, ‘brunch crawls’ and set-price menus in the city’s most exclusive restaurants. There’s even a private shopping tour on Granville Island where a celebrity chef will help you chose the ingredients for your own brunch menu.

If you’re still hungry after your culinary adventures, the O Canada House Bed & Breakfast has snacks available to guests day-and-night, alongside 24-hour access to the pantry and truly gigantic breakfasts.

Hobart in Tasmania, Australia

Make the most of the local farms and orchards in Hobart

Make the most of the local farms and orchards in Hobart

From plum puddings to baked apples, fruit that comes into season during the winter months is worth savouring. It also forms an important part of Hobart’s Taste festival.

This Tasmanian-based event is held at the city of Hobart’s waterfront area and over 500,000 visitors flock to make the most of the fresh seafood and fruit from the local orchards. The festival also includes a performance program, with exhibitions and dramatic showcases alongside cuisines stretching from India to Italy.

As the festival is mainly held on the city’s waterfront, check into the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart for a riverview and easy access.

Tynemouth in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Serving everything from homemade jam to the hottest Tandori in the North-East

Serving everything from homemade jam to the hottest Tandori in the North-East

Tynemouth is a small, genteel Victorian seaside town which provides the perfect amount of whimsy for Tyne and Wear’s annual Victorian Christmas Fare. And in 2017 – next to the roasting chestnuts and incredibly potent mulled wine – a new foodie event is being planned.

The Tynemouth Food Festival usually runs through the summer but this November the cobbled streets of the town will play host to over 50-local food vendors. With produce ranging from homemade jam to the hottest Tandori in the North-East.

Once you’ve stocked up at the food market retire to the Tynemouth Grand Hotel where you’ll find an award-winning restaurant and miles of sea views.

Alella in Barcelona, Spain

Raise a glass to celebrate tasty traditions in Alella

Raise a glass to celebrate tasty traditions in Alella

Thanks to its coastal location Alella has the freshest seafood all year around. However it’s in December that the village’s food really comes into it’s own, with seasonal treats and feasts to rival a Dickens novel.

Visitors begin the tour by sampling some of the local wines at a traditional bodega, followed by a trip to a 17th century farmstead. Here you will indulge in a winter feast of calçotada (barbecued spring onions, served with romesco sauce) and a main course of grilled botifarra sausages.

The calçotada are a Catalan tradition designed to celebrate friendship and family, so if you’re enjoying the welcoming atmosphere and good food, why not turn the day-trip into a weekend away and check into the Hotel Arrey Alella?

Napa Valley in California, USA

Get to the heart of what makes a truly delectable truffle

Get to the heart of what makes a truly delectable truffle

The Napa Truffle Festival has been a star-feature on gourmand calendars for the last eight years and in 2018 the organisers are going even bigger and better.

With a focus on the science behind truffles (as well as their delicious and unique flavours) some of the best chefs in the world will meet with experts and scientists to get to the heart of what makes a truly delectable truffle.

And there are plenty of activities and tasting sessions plans for casual truffle fans, alongside the near-mandatory wine tasting that no visit to Napa Valley is complete without. Looking for somewhere to stay? Festival goers get a discount at The Westin Verasa.