Food and drink
A slice of Chicago – Kia Ora
“Chicago is a city of big appetites. Its hunger for power, money and growth are woven into the fabric of the metropolis, from the soaring skyline down to its political machinations. It stands to reason, then, that Chicago’s native cuisine is filling and hearty, heavy on the cheese, beef and potatoes.”
Do the loco moco – Metro
“It’s my last day in Honolulu and I’ve finally summoned the courage to order the state’s most famous dish. It’s called loco moco and, honestly, it’s ghastly. An anaemic hamburger patty squats on a bed of rice, swimming in gravy and topped with a fried egg. To the side, a scoop of ‘macaroni salad’ — mayonnaise-soaked pasta elbows — congeals morosely.”
Plate-hopping in Portugal – Dish
“Let me tell you about the Portuguese and fish. In this nation hitched along Europe’s western edge, fish are everywhere. They’re underfoot, in the design of the mosaic pavements. They’re above your head, painted onto glazed azulejos tiles and coiled around stone columns. They’re celebrated in small-town museums, with popular folk songs, and at the Feast of St Anthony, an annual bacchanal of drinking, dancing… and sardine eating.”
On the menu: Christchurch – Kia Ora
“At Super in Lyttelton, chef Anna Meyerhoff incorporates Maori kai into many of her dishes – the crispy-soft hangi kumara flatbread with karengo butter is incredibly moreish, and her sesame, horopito and fried shallot seasoning takes a bowl of edamame to a whole new level.”
Feel the beat in Miami – Dish
“It wasn’t even cafecito time and already the Ball & Chain felt like a party, bodies swaying to the music while the bartender banged out percussion with a knife against his ice scoop. The signature cocktail here is a strong and smoky Calle Ocho Old-Fashioned made with Cuban Bacardi rum and tobacco leaves, but that’s a drink best left to the sultry night-time.”
A river runs through it – Dish
“We retire to the on-site store to devour slices of baguette smothered in truffle butter, drink icy Rosé, and discuss how feasible it would be, really, to give everything up for the life of a French trufficulteur.”
10 must-gave Melbourne eating and drinking experiences – Flight Centre
“Every food-loving Melbournian goes to Queen Vic Market. Not just on the weekends, when it can seem like half the city has descended on the 140-year-old marketplace, but on weekdays too, for fresh produce and quick bites: Turkish borek, German bratwurst, none-more-Australian fish and chips, and so much more.”
A beginner’s guide to Oktoberfest – Flight Centre
“Any Kiwi backpacker will tell you Oktoberfest is one of the biggest, rowdiest parties in Europe – but that's not necessarily how locals see it. For Bavarians, Oktoberfest is a cultural touchstone and a place for all ages to have fun, preferably without being hassled by drunken foreigners.”
Melbourne’s new order – Kia Ora
“You’re greeted by an elegant young man dressed in fashionably draped black. He directs you to a silent waiting area, as cool and empty as a Tesla showroom, and informs you that the elevator will be arriving shortly. Your destination: the 55th floor of Melbourne’s Rialto building, and a dining experience like nothing else in the city.”
5 ways to eat like a local in LA – Flight Centre
“For a dinner of barbecue and mandu dumplings, set a course for the increasingly fashionable Koreatown district – then stick around for a drink at neighbourhood bar Dan Sung Sa, a favourite of the late Anthony Bourdain and home to some of the greatest fried chicken in America (on second thoughts, consider skipping dinner and heading straight here).”
A weekend in NZ’s cheap eats capital – The Spinoff
“Further down the laneway, in the old laundry room of what was once the Hannah’s Shoe Factory, peanut butter maestros Fix & Fogg encourage customers to get experimental. Peanut butter, sauerkraut and avocado toast with microgreens? Sounds great, but please, after you.”
Bottled poetry – Metro
“It’s probably the most famous — and over-used — wine-related aphorism of them all. Wine, said Robert Louis Stevenson, is bottled poetry. These days, the quote is indelibly connected to the Napa Valley wine region, but Stevenson wasn’t actually referring to Napa wines.”
On the menu: Timaru & Geraldine – Kia Ora
“This bar isn’t just unique to Timaru, it’s surely one of the most idiosyncratic drinking spots in the entire country. The cavernous 1870 National Bank of New Zealand has been reimagined as a bizarro gentlemen’s club, filled with an extraordinary collection of antiques and collectibles from South Canterbury and abroad.”
For the fun of it (LA eating) – Dish
“Head straight down Normandie Avenue from The Line and you come to Guelaguetza, the widely-lauded restaurant that celebrates the food of Oaxaca, Mexico’s culinary capital. Founded 24 years ago by the Lopez family, Guelaguetza (say it “gela-getza”) is now run by the second generation.”
Portugal’s top food and drink experiences – Flight Centre
“The Portuguese are also keen devourers of canned fish, a surprisingly popular bar snack usually served with a hunk of cornbread to mop up the juices. A tin of sardines and a Sagres beer is an only-in-Portugal experience, but for many visitors it’s the colourful vintage-style tins that are the real draw.”