By Lauren Sherman
These spots offer up the
ultimate in global cuisine.
Tradition is a powerful
sentiment. That's why these pillars of global cuisine remain
the top cities for foodies.
In Depth: World’s Best Cities To Eat
Well
Behind The Numbers
The list is
derived from the 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index, released
in June. It surveyed 10,000 people from 20 countries--each chosen
for geographic and economic diversity--in April of this year. It
asked them to rank 50 cities on such varied subjects as climate,
physical attractiveness, restaurants and nightlife. Cities were
judged on lifestyle, buzz, multiculturalism and attractiveness.
To determine which cities
were most-closely associated with good food, respondents were asked
to look at a list of subjects--including food--and indicate which
ones they would find interesting in the city. Cities with the
highest number of respondents saying "yes" to the subject
"food" ranked highest.
Formerly known as the
Anholt City Brands Index, the survey was started in 2005 by Simon
Anholt, who works as an independent adviser to 20 national,
regional and city governments on brand strategy and public
diplomacy. In 2009 he joined forces with New York-headquartered
market research firm GfK Roper to create a new report that included
more respondents from non-European countries, as well as a mix of
respondents from both developed and developing countries.
Mexico
City and Barcelona round out the top
five. While some Americans and Canadians might not regard Mexico
City's as a culinary hotspot, those in Europe and Asia do.
"What they believe, whether it's true or false, is what
they're conditioned to believe," says Anholt. "Mexico
City gets huge scores from Egypt, Russia, Sweden and Australia to
name a few, which shows that Mexican is becoming an increasingly
important cuisine globally."
One would assume that
Mexico City and Barcelona's governments have touted their
respective culinary scenes through advertising and marketing to
tourists. Anholt says no.
"You can spend a
couple of million dollars on an advertising campaign, but if the
food isn't really that good, people aren't going to eat
it," he says. "If [it] actually changes, then people will
come on their own accord."
He says Mexico City and
Barcelona have benefited from an increase in continental tourism
overall--due mostly to cheaper flights--as well as a heightened
interest in culinary travel. The Portland, Ore.-based trade group
the International Culinary Tourism Association says that the term
"culinary tourism" didn't enter the lexicon until
around 2001. In 2007, just in the U.S. alone, 27 million travelers
embarked on food-centric vacations, according to the most recent
data--making up 17% of overall leisure vacations--according to the
U.S. Travel Association, a trade group based in Washington,
D.C.
While the top five best
cities for foodies represent what are probably the top five most
popular cuisines worldwide, there are some other contenders
climbing the ranks. Chinese food, for example, is becoming a
cuisine that food-lovers take seriously. There's even a
culinary travel tour group--Beijing-based Hias Gourmet--dedicated
to culinary tourism throughout the country. Three Chinese
cities--Hong Kong, Beijing and
Shanghai--placed seven, eight and 10,
respectively. Cantonese food rules in each of these cities, and
delicacies such as Shanghai's hairy crab, Beijing's
beggar's chicken and Hong Kong's dim sum add local
flavor.
While Morimoto serves
melt-in-your mouth sushi in New York, his culinary ideas are deeply
rooted in Japan. And although Hakkasan is one of London's most
beloved restaurants, its food is Chinese, not British. "Both
the UK and the U.S. are wonderful for eating out," says
Anholt. "But it doesn't change the fact that people still
think American food means
McDonalds."
In Depth: World’s Best Cities To Eat
Well
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Sunday, December 6, 2009
World's Best Cities To Eat Well
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From the Community…
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Posted by Sun Sep 6, 2009 5:40pm PDT
Report AbuseAt Weaver's Po Boy Sandwiches, 800 Navarre Ave, New Orleans, LA, I usually eat "Grilled Ham" on a Po Boy with Mayo on it, that is one delicious Po Boy sandwich I ever ate! They have plenty more to try out, ya'll have to give it a try, you will love it! Thanks "Weaver's Po Boy Sandwiches" - thanks for all the great food ya'll cook for your customers! Keep up the great work ya'll doing! God Bless ya'll, thanks again! Me07212009Ar
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:43pm PDT
Report AbuseId much rather goto Miami FL USA they have some of the best food in the world.
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:44pm PDT
Report AbuseLyon competes with Paris for the best food in France. Many up and coming cooks first make their name and reputation in Lyon before moving to Paris.
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:45pm PDT
Report Abusewhy oh why would New Orleans not be on this list? Obviously an oversight.
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:46pm PDT
Report Abusethe paella isn't even from barcelona (Valencia), and the food there sucks compared to the rest of spain and especially the rest of europe. London (ethnic, not british places) and NY >>> Barcelona
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:48pm PDT
Report Abuseand New Orleans is good, but not even in the top 5 for the U.S.
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:51pm PDT
Report AbuseThis is all a bunch of "horse hockey"!! These snobby fellers don't know what they're talking about. I bet they never et the hog jowels down Arkansas way, nor have they dined on the great beef barbeque in Kansas City!
Maybe I should try some of these foreign delicacies, maybe I won't be so CHUBBY!
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Posted by Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:57pm PDT
Report AbusePaella is native to Valencia - not Barcelona, which is in Cataluña - and that is where the best paella is found.
Barcelona has an interesting trend lately of "author's restaurants", small restaurants run by one or two young chefs who often double as servers. They usually offer a set menu at a reasonable price.
As commented above, there are plenty of excellent cities for eating well in Spain, and I'm not sure that Barcelona is the best of them.
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