10 Foods Worth Traveling For Around the World (And the Stories Behind Them)

A Travel Deliciously Guide to the Dishes, Makers & Traditions That Make a Trip Truly Unforgettable

Food is one of the world’s greatest storytellers. A single bite can transport you into a city’s soul, a family’s tradition, or a culture’s history. At Travel Deliciously, we believe the most memorable trips begin at the table—or sometimes in a chocolate kitchen, bakery, vineyard, or nonna’s home.

Across our culinary tours and global adventures, these are the 10 foods genuinely worth traveling for—and the stories, makers, and traditions behind them that make each flavor unforgettable.

1. Detroit-Style Pizza (Detroit, USA)

Crispy, cheesy, caramelized—and born in a blue steel automotive pan.

Detroit-style pizza isn’t just a regional favorite—it’s a culinary symbol of the city’s industrial heritage. The original pizzas were baked in repurposed auto factory pans, giving them that iconic fried, crispy edge.

On our Detroit Food & City Tours, guests taste this Motor City masterpiece and learn how post-war factories, immigrant bakeries, and family entrepreneurs shaped a style now celebrated nationwide.

Why travel for it?
Because every slice tells the story of a city that reinvents itself—deliciously.

2. Fresh Pierogi (Kraków & Polish Highlands, Poland)

Made by hand. Shared by heart. Passed down through generations.

Pierogi are more than dumplings; they are cultural heirlooms. When you roll dough with Polish home cooks and village women—as we do on our culinary journeys—you’re not simply making lunch. You’re participating in a ritual of celebration, survival, and family unity.

During our Poland tours, travelers prepare pierogi the traditional way: at long wooden tables, in community halls, and with recipes older than the buildings themselves.

Why travel for them?
Because pierogi connect you to the soul of Poland—and the warm people who keep its traditions alive.

3. Limoncello & Scialatielli Pasta (Amalfi Coast, Italy)

Sunshine in a glass and pasta made by nonnas whose hands tell a thousand stories.

Amalfi lemons are unlike any other—large, fragrant, and protected by centuries of terraced farming. Their flavor becomes the backbone of both limoncello and countless Amalfi dishes.

On our Travel Deliciously Amalfi tours, nonnas invite us into their kitchens to learn:

  • how limoncello is perfected
  • how scialatielli pasta is rolled and cut
  • how coastal traditions shape each recipe

Why travel for it?
Because eating with a nonna is the purest form of culinary time travel.

4. Bavarian Pretzels & Oktoberfest Beer (Munich, Germany)

Where centuries-old brewing laws meet fairytale castles and festival joy.

Germany is home to some of the most iconic beer and bread traditions in the world, shaped by the Reinheitsgebot (the 1516 beer purity law). At Oktoberfest, pretzels the size of your head pair perfectly with steins filled by local Bavarian brewers who have perfected their craft over generations.

Our upcoming 2026 Oktoberfest & Fairytale Castles trip lets guests taste these traditions at the source—inside beer halls, village bakeries, and the fairy-tale towns that inspired the Brothers Grimm.

Why travel for it?
You haven’t really had a pretzel—or a beer—until you’ve had one in Bavaria.

5. Beignets & Lowcountry Seafood (Savannah & Charleston, USA)

Where Southern charm meets deep culinary heritage.

The American South is a treasure chest of food traditions shaped by African, Caribbean, and European influences. In Savannah and Charleston, dishes like Gullah-Geechee seafood stews, shrimp and grits, sweetgrass honey, and pillowy beignets showcase centuries of cultural blending.

Our Springtime in Savannah & Charleston tour celebrates these flavors through local bakers, fishermen, storytellers, and historic markets.

Why travel for it?
Because the South tells its story one plate at a time—and every bite feels like home.

6. Hot Chicken (Nashville, USA)

Spicy. Legendary. Born out of revenge—and perfected by a community.

Nashville hot chicken’s origin story is as fiery as the dish itself: a jealous lover, a little spite, and one unforgettable recipe. Today, hot chicken is a symbol of Nashville’s identity, crafted by families and small storefronts that put heart and history into every crunch.

On our 2026 Nashville trip, we’ll taste hot chicken from the original pioneers and learn how this dish became a cultural phenomenon.

Why travel for it?
Because flavor with a story simply tastes better.

7. Sonoma Wines & Farmstead Cheeses (Sonoma County, USA)

Where terroir, tradition, and small farmers shine.

California wine country is about much more than vineyards—it’s about the artisans who nurture the land. Sonoma’s small-batch winemakers and family-run creameries produce some of the most expressive, soulful wines and cheeses in the world.

Our 2027 Sonoma trip will feature tastings with farmers, vintners, and cheesemakers who pour passion into every bottle and wheel.

Why travel for it?
Because when you meet the maker, you taste the place.

personal tour guides to Sonoma wine trip
personal tour guides to Sonoma wine trip

8. Herbes de Provence & Olive Oil (Provence & Monaco)

Fragrant fields, sun-drenched groves, and flavors that define French cuisine.

Provence is famous for lavender, yes—but the region’s true culinary heroes are its herbes de Provence, artisanal olive oils, honey, nougat, and market-fresh produce. These flavors are the heartbeat of village life.

Our 2026 Provence & Monaco tour brings travelers into olive mills, spice shops, and open-air markets where artisans have crafted culinary beauty for generations.

Why travel for it?
Because Provence tastes exactly the way it smells—heavenly.

9. African Bush Meals & Local Market Dishes (Africa, Safari Regions)

A blend of wilderness, tradition, and incredibly warm hospitality.

On safari, meals are more than sustenance. They are hospitality, ceremony, and connection. From slow-cooked stews to grilled game to fresh market produce prepared by local chefs, safari cuisine reflects the region’s landscape and cultures.

Our upcoming African Safari experience will highlight:

  • local food traditions
  • open-fire cooking
  • traditional breads
  • artisan spices & condiments

Why travel for it?
Because sharing a meal under an African sky is unlike anything else on Earth.

10. New York City Holiday Treats (NYC, USA)

A melting pot of global flavors—and the heart of holiday magic.

During our NYC Christmas 2026 trip, we’ll taste foods that represent communities from around the world:

  • Jewish bakeries making time-honored classics
  • Italian-American Christmas cookies
  • Manhattan chocolatiers
  • Holiday market treats from dozens of cultures

Each bite reflects a different immigrant story—and together, they form the culinary tapestry of New York.

Why travel for it?
Because NYC offers the world’s flavors in one glittering holiday wonderland.

Washington Square Park Christmas Tree, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NYC

Ready to Taste the World?

Whether you join us for Oktoberfest, a Southern spring escape, a Sonoma wine retreat, a European Christmas Market journey, or an African Safari, Travel Deliciously brings you directly into the kitchens, stories, and traditions that shape each destination.

These aren’t just foods worth traveling for—
Their stories are worth sharing.

Explore our 2026 & 2027 trips at TravelDeliciously.com