Travel the World of Food with Waukee

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, became the best food destination in 2024. While a lot is happening in the world, food will always play an important part in our lives. Everybody has favorites, but it doesn’t mean their opinions will not intersect. “Best Food Destinations in the World – Travelers’ Choice” provides a list of cities  According to travelers whose opinion is based on their experiences in the country, city, hotels, and restaurants, the best food destinations around the world were picked and awarded, giving them a touristic advantage. All those cities are located in different parts of the world, but they all have one thing in common, outstanding cuisine that they are famous for. Moreover, there are people everywhere who are familiar with those cuisines. People in the Waukee High School were not an exception and were asked to share their favorite dish. 

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, mostly known for its rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French influences and centuries-old architecture. It is also very famous for its delicious street food. 

A Vietnamese student was asked to answer a question about her favorite national dish. Soon, she answered, giving a detailed description of the dish. “My favorite Vietnamese cuisine would be Bún Riêu Cua, a tomato-based soup made with rice vermicelli, crab meat, and fried tofu!”- says Kayla Quach, a senior at Waukee High School. 

Coming in second place is Rome, Italy. Most people associate it with pasta and gelato, and they are not wrong. When it comes to making delicious food, the “Eternal City”, rich in history, is indeed one of the best. 

Anthony DelliQuadri, a Waukee High School sophomore with Italian ancestry, shared his favorite Italian dish that his grandmother makes him occasionally. “There is this red sauce that she makes, and it is so good paired with pasta!”, he enthusiastically replied. The sauce he was talking about is called Ragù Alla Bolognese. It is a meat-based sauce in Italian cuisine, typical of Bologna. It is usually used to dress tagliatelle al ragù and to prepare lasagne alla bolognese.

India is one of the special cases when not only one but two cities from the same country are in the top destinations. New Delhi got 6th and Jaipur got 12th place. Both cities are equally beautiful and 

“I can’t choose just one dish,” says a junior Sirjan Kaur, “I have been to Rajasthan, and I am going to say that what I enjoyed and what they like to eat there is baati.” 

13th place was given to Baku, Azerbaijan. The “City of Winds”, Baku is the capital city with an outstanding mixture of old and modern architecture and a variety of historic sites. The city is full of colors and food. It is a port city, extremely rich in oil and gas. 

Azerbaijani exchange student stated that although there are a lot of dishes she likes, the most memorable and delicious is gürzə. “Twice or thrice a year, my grandma makes it specifically for me because she knows how much I enjoy it. Even though her health is declining, she cooks it to surprise me and make me happy, but usually, I help her out with that process”, says an exchange student and a senior Ayla Taghiyeva.  

14th place is Istanbul. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, located in both Europe and Asia and also rich in history. Back in time, it used to be referred to as Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. Mostly, famous for its gorgeous Mosques, but also delicious street food popular all over the world. 

Filiz Sonmez, a Turkish Waukee student, put a lot of thought into this question. “Oh, baklava is probably my favorite Turkish dish.” was the answer she gave us after a couple of moments of thinking. Baklava is a famous Turkish dessert. It is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry sheets, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey. It goes especially well with tea. 

The last destination for this article is Kyoto, Japan, being awarded 22nd place. Kyoto, which used to be the capital, is famous for its numerous Buddhist temples, palaces, and Shinto shrines. Unlike the new capital, Kyoto is the center of traditional Japanese culture. It is also considered by many as one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. 

Waukee High School German language teacher Mr. Jones, who stayed in Japan for a month, answered the question about his favorite Japanese dish by naming a popular street snack, takoyaki, also known as squid balls. “I’d say mochi, but if I am talking about non-deserts, there is this food called squid balls.” Takoyaki is a dumpling made from grilled puffs of seasoned batter with a small piece of octopus meat in the middle, with sauces and seasonings scattered along the top. 

Considering such a variety of foods in the world, it is only reasonable to try and explore the different cuisines. Asking your international friends, watching videos, and researching various cultures can help to broaden are very good ways to discover new foods to try. Be curious and explore.