Fellow foodies, rejoice! The hospitality and tourism industries are back in full swing following the pandemic, and it’s time to plan your next culinary adventure.
But before you start setting your sights on far-flung destinations abroad, make sure you don’t neglect the array of amazing cultural hotspots we have right here on our doorstep.
Not only can staycations be more convenient and less expensive than trips abroad, but they’re also a great way to discover hidden gems you might never have heard of.
THE UK’S TOP 10 FOODIE CITIES
- London
- Edinburgh
- Bristol
- Manchester
- Glasgow
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Birmingham
- Brighton
- Leeds
- Belfast
OUR CHEF’S FAVOURITE FOODIE DESTINATIONS
We caught up with Irini Tzortzoglou — one of the professional chefs at The Cookaway — to find out what she looks for in a culinary destination.
Irini, the proud winner of MasterChef 2019, splits her time between the UK and Greece. Describing Greece as a foodie haven in itself, she nonetheless admits that she doesn’t often have to travel far for great food in the UK. “I am very fortunate to live in Cumbria for a large part of the year, which has the highest concentration of Michelin-star restaurants outside London and some pretty amazing gastro pubs, too.”
When planning her own foodie holidays, however, Irini advises looking to areas with rich culinary traditions and amazing raw ingredients. “These places tend to attract the best chefs anyway, so I never go wrong in my choices.”
In terms of a favourite meal, she’s always on the lookout for great fish: “I have a passion for seafood and love going to Scotland for that. And, not a very long drive from Cartmel, the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby is where I run to when I’ve missed a good plate of fish and chips!”
A taste of Italy in the heart of the city
