THE JOURNAL
d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant, Australia. Photo courtesy of d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant
Beyond the world’s established foodie capitals – London, New York, Tokyo – where high rents, big appetites and bigger opinions keep restaurant turnover high amid a host of food trends, there’s a wealth of equally worthy corners of the globe to explore. From lesser-known cities starting to hit their stride to rural regions with world-class produce, we explore five new food destinations worth dusting off your passport for this year.
Manila, Philippines
Left: barramundi, arugula, preserved lemon and olive. Photo courtesy of Savage. Right: Savage, Manila. Photo courtesy of Savage
While dishes such as adobo and sinigang soup have long been a culinary export of the Philippines and grace many restaurant menus across the globe, Manila’s own food scene is enjoying something of a golden age. An archetypal melting pot of Asian, American and Spanish influences along with traditional Filipino cooking techniques, dishes and ingredients are being re-examined by a new wave of chefs seeking to add their own stamp. Last year, Filipino-British chef Mr Josh Boutwood opened Savage, where a menu of wood-fired meals includes carabao cheese and pork belly with cola and pineapple among its oak-smoked highlights. Elsewhere, French-trained chef Ms Miko Calo – an alumnus of Mr Joël Robuchon – is set to launch Metronome in Manila’s business hub Makati this spring. With a French-meets-Filipino predilection, the bistro will shine a light on some of the country’s most interesting flavours.
Trondheim, Norway
Left: en sånn grønn en. Photo by Mr Marius Rua, photo courtesy of Fagn. Right: Credo, Trondheim. Photo by Mr Geir Mogen, photo courtesy of Credo
Norway’s third largest city has long remained under the radar with its more illustrious Scandi neighbours taking the culinary plaudits as the New Nordic movement gathered momentum. Yet, Trondheim recently landed two stars in the latest Michelin guide – a sign that the city’s food scene was coming of age. At Credo, head chef Ms Heidi Bjerkan became the first female Norwegian chef to receive a star for her fine-dining set menus that focus on hyperlocal sustainable meat, fish and vegetables from the Trøndelag region, all served in a striking former factory setting. The other winner was Fagn, where chef Mr Jonas Nåvik has put his own twist on traditional Norwegian dishes inspired by the dramatic surrounds of the Trondheim Fjord.
Kent, UK
Left: warm spring vegetable salad, house made ricotta and picked walnut. Photograph courtesy of The Fordwich Arms. Right: The Pig at Bridge Place. Photograph courtesy of The Pig Hotels
Long known as the Garden of England, Kent’s bountiful supply of fruit, vegetables and seafood are increasingly luring big-hitting chefs from the city to the country. Joining The Sportsman in Seasalter and The West House at Biddenden in the Michelin guide last year was The Fordwich Arms, a gastropub run by chef Mr Dan Smith, formerly of London’s Clove Club, whose new setting sees him serve high-end takes on British classics using Kentish produce. This spring also sees the launch of a Canterbury outpost of The Pig hotel, whose kitchen garden lies at the heart of its seasonal cooking. Meanwhile, chef Mr Tobyn Excell’s Sael supper clubs seat just six but provide an insight into Kent’s culinary charms with dishes shaped by foraged indigenous produce.
Miami, US
Left: Norman Van Aken fish sandwich. Photo courtesy of Time Out Food Market Miami. Right: La Placita, Miami. Photo courtesy of La Placita
The Magic City’s food scene has traditionally played second fiddle to its nightlife but a series of new openings – inspired by the city’s Latin links – are putting it on the foodie map. Puerto Rican chef Mr Jose Mendin has added to a food empire that includes Habitat in the 1 Hotel South Beach and the Pubbelly chain of diners with the launch of La Placita, where his salt-cod fritters, suckling pig and octopus escabeche are highlights from a menu inspired by his home nation. Elsewhere, Bakan has brought high-end Mexican fare to Wynwood amid artsy surrounds, while the Time Out Market concept expands to Miami this spring with 17 food concepts from the city’s top chefs and cocktail bars under one roof.
Adelaide, Australia
Left: Hibachi grilled chicken satay skewers. Photo courtesy of d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant. Right: d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant, Adelaide. Photo courtesy of d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant
While Melbourne and Sydney may shout louder, Adelaide’s laid-back locals have always prided themselves on the quality of their dining scene. Half an hour south of the city, the world-class wine region of McLaren Vale has recently welcomed a number of restaurants worthy of its vineyards. These include the striking d’Arenberg Cube, a Rubik-esque glass and steel tower that provides a unique setting for inventive tasting menus, which come matched by wines from the surrounding area. Back in Adelaide and the city’s first ever silver-service restaurant, which opened in 1973 as part of the historic Ayers House, has relaunched after 20 years with a far less starchy guise. Henry’s Table has ditched its white-gloved history and now features a relaxed menu that traverses genres and cuisines, although the wine list remains strictly South Australian.