Adventure may come in myriad forms, but at least with food, you can get your adrenaline going without risking life and limb. Take your taste buds on a voyage of exploration with these exotic food festivals.
Just like the name suggests, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival, hosted in the tiny New Zealand west coast town each March, welcomes more than 15,000 revelers each year. They travel to this remote coastal town for the imaginative ‘wild’ dishes prepared by some of the country’s best chefs. Dishes range from huhu grubs and worm truffles to deep-fried lamb testicles and crocodile-stuffed rabbit, all washed down with a cold locally-produced Monteith’s beer.
Mingle with more than 70 celebrity chefs at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado. Held in and around Aspen’s Grand Tasting Pavilion each June, visitors can expect to sample signature dishes from the likes of Gail Simmons, Jacques Pepin, and José Andrés, and delicious tipples from renowned local mixologist Anthony Bohlinger.
Food meets romance in Ireland each September when the Galway International Oyster Festival brings the foodie’s aphrodisiac to the dynamic Irish city. Would-be Romeos can woo their Juliets with oyster-inspired dishes on the Seafood Trail, local craft beers at gastropubs, gourmet fare at the Masquerade ‘Mardi Gras’ moveable feast, and titbits at the World Oyster Opening Championships.
Arguably the world’s largest food festival, Oktoberfest takes place in late September and early October in the German city of Munich. During this iconic event, more than 6 million people will drink locally produced beer and Bavarian delicacies, including hendl roast chicken, schweinebraten (roast pork), schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), and white weisswurst sausages.
The annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival welcomes more than 180,000 foodies to its new venue at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, each October. Visitors and locals alike can trawl through the almost 300 booths manned by master chefs and sommeliers offering wine-paired meals, seminars, and classes. Extend the gourmet experience through the rest of the month with a host of festival perks at the city’s eateries.
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