Here at Destinology, we love food. When a food-based blog post was suggested, staff pitched in with preferred dishes, memories, and photos of our favourite meals from our travels. Join us, as we travel down the Pacific rim, from Japan to Indonesia, on our Foodie Tour of the Far East.
Japan
Japanese food is likely to be familiar to most. Thanks to its simple yet delicious cuisine, authentic Japanese dishes can be found at many of our resorts and hotels all around the world. Of course, it's not just sushi and ramen that makes Japan such a foodie favourite, but also the environment where you eat. Take a tour through Tokyo and Kyoto, and search for the Yaktai - food carts with small dining areas. Once seated, you are encouraged to interact with others, creating new friends while discovering a land that can seem alien to the West.
Vietnam
Travel down through the South China Sea, and we arrive in the beautiful country of Vietnam. Stay in the Four Seasons Nam Hai, and discover a range of local cuisine around Hoi An, including a banh xeo, a crispy pancake filled with rice. Alternatively, search out for Vietnam's answer to KFC, Ga nuong. Honey-marinated chicken is grilled and repeatedly coated, which results in a tender meat and crispy coating (yes, this author is drooling), to be served with rice.
Thailand
Head west along the Indochinese peninsula to the foodie paradise of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Here, wander through this teeming metropolis on Destinology's night tour, and head to a street food stall with a Michelin Star. Roan Jay Fai's small restaurant, serving traditional Thai cuisine, is still fondly remembered in the Destinology office nearly four years later. If you're staying at the Angsana Laguna Phuket, walk through the Phuket Old Town, and discover the unique and exotic produce in the Sunday Market.
Malaysia
South of Thailand, Malaysia is home to what is undoubtedly one of Asia's most unique dishes. As you enjoy the bright lights and palm trees of Kuala Lumpur, keep an eye out for Nasi Kerabu, a rice dish served with bean sprouts, fired coconut, and fish sauce. What makes this dish different is the way the rice is cooked; flower petals are mixed in to create a distinctive, blue-coloured rice, to complete the rainbow of colour that is this dish.
Singapore
On our journey so far, street food has dominated. As we arrive in the modernist city-state of Singapore, a more upmarket delicacy comes into focus, Chili Crabs. This expensive treat is likely to be seen on many of the menus of our hotels and resorts. This dish is often served with a bao bun, which is used to scoop up the sauce and crab legs.
Indonesia
Swinging east, into the nearly 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia, our foodie adventure continues. Hop across each island, and find its own twist on a dish. Stay in the clifftop Bulgari Resort Bali and head out into the towns of Bali. There, amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life, each street vendor produces a traditional satay meal, with a distinction that makes each vendor's dish unique. Finish off each meal with a Bakpao, a fluffy bun often filled with a sweet treat, such as chocolate.
Of course, in such a rich culinary environment, there are many more dishes, snacks, and flavours we've yet to experience. As you enjoy your own travel, seek out the culinary delights around you, and let us know what our we need to try next.
