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ABOVE: COURTESY OF UNIVERSALIMAGESGROUP/GETTYIMAGES; COURTESY OF JOHN HARPER/GETTYIMAGESFrom the spices in South India to fresh cheese from Rome, T+L India readers pick
the best domestic and international food destinations.BEST FOOD DESTINATION
Andhra Pradesh
The notoriously spicy cuisine of Andhra Pradesh draws
inspiration from the various communities that reside
here. The food here is characteristically spicy and tangy
with a liberal use of chilies, tamarind, coconut, and
other traditional spices. While the Telangana region has
flavours rooted in Persian and Afghan cuisines,
the coastal region of Andhra takes pride in its slow-
cooked delicacies. Dishes such as pulihora (tamarind
rice), karapu annam (chilli rice), chapala pulusu (fish
gravy), bhuna gosht (slow cooked mutton), and shahi tukre
(dessert) will leave a riot of flavours in your mouth.West Bengal
The first thing that comes to mind when you think of
Bengali cuisine is fish, rice, and sweets such as rosogulla
and sondesh. The mishti doi, served in an earthen bowl,
is another popular dessert. Thanks to Bengal’s vast
coastline, a rich variety of seafood options make for
a dominant form of protein intake of the region. Other
popular Bengali dishes are begun bhaja (a brinjal delicacy),
luchi (a type of bread), macher jhol (a fish recipe),
doi machch (a yoghurt-based fish curry), and kosha
mangsho (mutton curry).INDIA’S BEST AWARDS
Rome, Italy
‘When in Rome, do as
the Romans do’—eat like
a local and relish the real
flavours of Roman cuisine.
Prepared with seasonal
ingredients such as fava
beans, shellfish, globe
artichokes, with generous
amounts of olive oil and
cheese, Roman cuisine
is best explored in local
neighbourhoods such
as Testaccio, Centro
Storico, and the Jewish
Ghetto. The must-haves
include pasta carbonara,
carciofi, zucchini flowers,
bruschetta, and a legit
wood-fired pizza.Madrid , Spain
The food scene in Madrid
is an amalgamation of
traditional Spanish cuisine
and several international
cuisines. The local cuisine
is constantly evolving and
draws inspiration from
Andalusians, Galicians,
Asturians, and others who
have settled in the region
over generations. The
dishes native to Madrid are
tapas, churros, calamares
a la romana, tortilla de
patatas, bocadillos de
calamares, and chopitos.
The Spanish capital is also
very popular for bakeries
like Viena Capellanes.DOMESTIC
INTERNATIONAL
Tourists dine at
The Pantheon, Rome.Head to the lakeside restaurant,
Eat Street, in Andhra Pradesh,
to enjoy authentic delicacies.80 travelandleisureindia.in