Cities and the Foods That Made Them Well-Known

Food is such an essential aspect of travel. New gastronomic experiences add a dash of exoticism to the discoveries we make on our trips. The flavors we encounter stay with us when we return home, either in our memories or, if we have the talent to replicate them, in our stomachs as well. Some cities will always be linked with the foods that originated there. To get your mouth watering, learn about these cities and the cuisine that made them famous.

📍 Kobe, Japan: Kobe Beef

Beef from Kobe is considered to be the world's richest in marbling, with the creamiest, most luscious, and best-flavored streaks of fat. The region's strict restrictions for its livestock have resulted in Kobe beef being one of the most costly in the world. Kobe beef is in short supply and expensive due to the fact that only 3,000 head of cattle qualify each year as real Kobe cattle.

📍 Beijing, China: Peking Duck

Peking duck is said to have originated during the Ming Dynasty, however variations of the dish had existed for centuries prior. Bianyifang, China's first peking duck restaurant, founded in the early 15th century in Beijing. The dish is still a must-try culinary phenomenon if you visit the restaurant in China's capital today. Bianyifang employs the closed-oven cooking technique, which involves gradually cooking the meat to keep it moist and tender. Meanwhile, long-time competitor Quanjude favours the hung-oven roasting method, in which the bird is roasted fast over an open fire to create a crispy skin.

📍 Vienna, Austria: Wiener Schnitzel

Italians will tell you that Austria's national dish is an import, and that the Cotoletta alla Milanese was so excellent that their northern neighbours couldn't help but claim it as their own. However, if you say that in Vienna, you will be received with a chilly response. According to the Austrians, the custom of preparing breaded and deep-fried meat in Vienna predates the invention of schnitzel. Unlike the Italian variant, there is no bone in a real wiener schnitzel, and the meat must always be veal. If you order a schnitzel wiener art, it will almost always be made with pork.

📍 Bakewell, United Kingdom: Bakewell Pudding and Tart

Visitors to the Derbyshire town of Bakewell should be aware of the distinction between the two sweet delicacies that bear its name. Around 1860, a chef made a mistake that resulted in the original Bakewell pudding. She had meant to prepare a strawberry tart, but instead covered it with a creamy almond custard, creating what quickly became one of England's most popular sweets. The Bakewell tart appeared later in the twentieth century. This pastry is covered with either icing or flaked almonds and frangipane sponge. It is also a popular choice around the country. As a guest, make sure to taste both and decide for yourself which one you prefer.

📍 Buffalo, United States: Buffalo Wings

They're a must-have at any quality sports bar, barbeque, or party. Buffalo wings were created in Buffalo, New York in 1964. Teressa Bellissimo covered a dish of wings with a special sauce and served them to Anchor Bar patrons, who were delighted. Wings are cut in half, deep-fried, and generously slathered in that delicious red sauce comprised of cayenne pepper and Worcestershire sauce. There's also a festival in Buffalo, albeit it didn't exist until Bill Murray's character in the 2001 film Osmosis Jones suggested it.

📍 Naples, Italy: Pizza

The southern Italian city of Naples has a long heritage of manufacturing pizza, but in order to call your pie "authentic Neapolitan pizza," you must be a member of the Associazione Verace Pizza Neapolitana. This regulatory body's mission is to guarantee that the techniques and ingredients utilised are genuine. For tourists who see the sticker in the window, it serves as a guarantee of high quality. There will most likely be a big line. Sorbillo's is one such establishment with a long wait, where it's not uncommon to find oneself waiting for an hour and a half or more to enjoy one of the delicious pizzas on the menu.

📍 Brussels, Belgium: Waffles

Belgium is famous for its waffles, but did you know there are several varieties? The Belgian waffle is big and rectangular, but the Liege waffle is thicker, smaller, and round. The latter also has clumps of sugar, but the Brussels version is typically coated with powdered sugar frosting. These delectable treats may be topped with a variety of toppings, such as rich chocolate sauce, melted butter, and fresh fruit topped with cream. Why would you stop getting a second one?

📍 Huancayo, Peru: Papa a la Huancaína

Forget about ceviche and grilled cuy (guinea pig). One of the greatest dishes you'll find in Peru is papa a la huancana. Huancayo, a highland city, is the inspiration for this wonderful potato dish. According to some reports, it was a favourite of the labourers who built the Central Railroad, and the ladies of Huancayo served them with cooked potatoes coated with cheese, pepper, and milk sauce. Others argue that the meal was marketed to train passengers. The fact that aji amarillo, a major component, is grown on the coast rather than in the highlands lends support to the notion that it originated in Lma.

📍 Chicago, United States: Deep Dish Pizza Chicago Style

Chicago's famed deep-dish pizza, with crusts up to 3 inches tall, was developed at Pizzeria Uno in 1943 and has been satisfying hunger and fueling city-vs.-city rivalries for almost 70 years. Not too shabby.

These are just a few but we know there’s a lot more. Tell us your favorite and Let us know in the comments below if you know any cities and dishes that are always intertwined together!