Discover the cultural and culinary secrets of Russia

By MiNDFOOD

Local gingerbread.
Local gingerbread.

Food-focused travel is hotter than ever as Aussie’s appetites for this type of travel continues to rise. And now, Russia can be added to the travel menu.

Europe remains a favourite destination for foodies, with Northern Spain taking front and centre on the world’s stage. The region is a firm favourite thanks to the most recent World’s 50 Best Restaurants being held in Bilbao, plus the release of ‘Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eat List’, naming eating pintxos in San Sebastián as the top foodie experience for 2018. But, there is a host of other foodie destinations out there just waiting to be discovered.

“Increasingly, travellers are looking to experience food based trips overseas, as they offer a unique way to experience a destination. Learning to cook salt cod salad from a local in their home, after buying fresh produce from the local market, offers a great way to gain insight into a culture, and our travellers are craving these type of experiences and local interactions,” says Intrepid Travel Food Product Manager Neil Coletta.

Russian Real Food Adventure

This year, Intrepid added Vegan Food trips to the menu in Italy, India and Thailand and 2019 will see a Russia itinerary added as an emerging foodie destination.

“Our food trips are all about pushing boundaries in regions you wouldn’t immediately think of as a foodie destination. Cue Russia, which offers plenty of local interactions like eating Pelmeni with a family in St Petersburg, and enjoying a traditional Tatar lunch including the famous chak-chak, Russia’s national, honey-drenched sweet,” Coletta says.

Food culture in Russia is insular, and there are plenty of dishes travellers can try on this tour that don’t really exist anywhere else. This 10-day tour is delicious on its own, or the perfect side dish to a larger European adventure.

Travellers can experience an array of urban and rural food experiences in Russia including learning how to make borscht from locals, enjoy a hearty, home-cooked feast with a Tatar family, joining a Vodka tasting tour in Moscow and eating at Soviet-style canteens.

Local gingerbread.

Returning to Intrepid’s 2019 menu is:

Armenia & Georgia Real Food Adventure

Originally a one-off expedition-style trip, Intrepid’s Armenia & Georgia Food trip is here to stay after selling out this year. And it’s easy to see why. Starting in Yerevan and led by a local leader, the trip explores the best of local food including traditional Armenian barbecue, grilled trout and tolma. While Georgia offers an array of food to taste including Adjarian-style khachapuri (cheese pie), hearty chakhokhbili, khinkali (Georgian dumplings), plus local wines and cheeses matched by expert sommeliers. 

Taiwan Real Food Adventure

The Taiwan Real Food Adventure has been permanently added to the menu from 2019, and the trip has a new addition of visiting Taiwan’s oldest city, Tainan, which is largely considered the food capital of the south. This trip includes eating at famous Taipei institutions, a visit to a whisky distillery and travellers can help sell sweet potatoes with locals to benefit single mothers.

Intrepid Travel and Lonely Planet are offering two people the chance to enjoy Lonely Planet’s number one eating experience on Intrepid’s Northern Spain Real Food Adventure, including flights.

Russia Real Food Adventure – 10 Days, from AUD $2,695 / NZD $2,860

Northern Spain Real Food Adventure – 10 Days, from AUD $3,595 / NZD $4,165

For more on these exciting foodie adventures, click here.

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