The southern most state of India, Kerala is also known as God’s own country. Anyone who has ever set foot in this gorgeously lush green land of backwaters, coconut trees and the sea would know why it is so fondly called the most beautiful state of India. A very popular destination with the both Indian and non Indian tourists, Kerala is famous for its Ayurvedic Retreat centers and magnificent beaches.

I share a special connection with Kerala and perhaps that is why I just absolutely love everything about it; the culture, the history, the scenic beauty, the people and of course the cuisine! The cuisine of Kerala is distinctly vibrant due the lavish use of exotic spices like cloves, cinnamon, green cardamom, peppercorns, long pepper, black cumin and the quintessential kudampuli (a dried fruit similar to tamarind). Hey, it is not known as the spice capital of India for nothing. A wide variety of premium quality spices and produced and exported to the whole world from Kerala.

The state is blessed with the bounty of the sea and the locals know how to make the best of it. I ate the most lip smacking delicious fish curry flavored with chillies, coconut milk and kudampuli in Cochin. Anotther Kerala speciality which I aboslutely love is Appam – a melt in your mouth soft spongy slightly sweetish pancake with a thick center made out of rice flour. Hot appams with egg curry make the most delectable lunch! If you are into exploring exotic destinations that offer the best of cuisine, I would highly recommend adding this coastal paradise to your gastronomic adventures!

Oh, and how can I not mention the dangeroulsy addictive snack – banana chips! These chips are made with fresh green plantain that is sliced and deep fried in coconut oil. These crunchy bites are so delicious that you will forget your diet but the calories are totally worth pleasing your tastebuds!

Eating is an important part of the Barcelonian culture, something to be valued, taken seriously and enjoyed to the fullest in true Catalan style. Barecelona offers some of the freshest and best tasting seafood ever. Many dishes are based on nuts, garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, herbs and dried fruits indihgenous to the land.

One of the most famous Catalan dishes is ubiquitious paamb tomàquet which is nothing but fresh peasent bread rubbed with tomato, a trickle of olive oil and pinch of salt. It is pure magic created by the simplest ingredients!

The one thing to keep in mind is do as the locals do in Bareclona. Try and dapt to the local timing (this would be tough if you come from a fast paced never slows down place like New York); have breakfast when the Barcelonians do, lunch with them, even have “tea” with the old ladies and children and you will easily be able to wait until after 9PM for dinner. Also, another tip that I would like to share is that “Paella” is not a Catalan dish.Traditional Catalan restaurants don’t even have Paella on their menu. That doesn’t mean you wont find good Paella in Barcelona. It merely means you need to go to a touristy restaurant to eat Paella and touristy restaurants usually aim to the please the tourist’s pallete. So if you would like to savor local favorites ask for Paamb Tomaquet (Bread with Tomato) and a glass cava instead!

Paris is without a doubt the ultimate Culinary Mecca. It is “the” place that every food enthusiast must visit once in their lifetime! It is indeed the most gastronomic city in the world. The city is so full of outstandingly excellent food establishments, that it is almost impossible to choose among the wealth of choices. With food that is guaranteed to be sublime and service that is impeccable, Paris food joints stop at nothing to ensure a meal that pleases all the senses. What struck me the most about Paris was the utmost passion and love for food that Parisians have! They are so passionate about food and it sure reflects in the impeccable quality of food. I enjoyed every single meal I ate in my 2 weeks there. Every experience right from my morning coffee and chocolate croissant at the hole in the wall hotel I stayed at in Marais to the salmon omelet in Dalayou to the melt in the mouth macaroons in Pierre Hermes was perfection redefined! If there is a thing called culinary h(e)aven, it sure is Paris!

When I left Paris, I had only two thoughts; one, I would learn French and second, I would put up with the gloomy weather (it was cloudy & damp; rainy for the entire 2 weeks I was there) for the rest of my life if I could savor this food!