Restaurants in Bansko, the popular ski resort town at the foot of the Pirin mountain, offer several local specialties. In this mountainous region in Southwest Bulgaria, the food is... read more →
Restaurants in Sofia offer creative and surprising interpretations of traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Many of the dishes are made from recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.... read more →
Cosmos restaurant in Sofia is one of the best restaurants and a must try in Bulgaria’s capital. The restaurant was referred to us numerous times by locals and chefs... read more →
Plovdiv, the 2019 European Capital of Culture, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Located in the fruitful Thracian Valley, the city sits between seven hills... read more →
On a recent trip to Melnik, Bulgaria, we had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and discover creative Bulgarian cuisine at aEstivum restaurant Zornitza Family Estate. Whenever we... read more →
Bacalhau or Portuguese codfish took us by surprise in Portugal. The simplicity of the dish, the multiple variations and cooking preparation styles and the rich flavors made it land... read more →
Getting familiar with a new city can feel daunting. On our first visit to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city with half a million inhabitants, we were unsure where... read more →
Have you ever been to a wonderland? If you visit Lisbon, don’t miss the chance to go to Sintra to experience the wonderland of Portugal. Sintra is a long... read more →
Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand, has wonderful options for Thai food lovers. The Chiang Mai restaurant scene offers a wide variety of places to eat, from... read more →
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand. It is a popular destination with many Buddhist temples and the Old City worth exploring. The food is one of... read more →
Laos food is one of the best-kept secrets of Southeast Asia. Laos a country tucked between Thailand, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia offers a cuisine rich in flavors, herbs,... read more →
Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos is at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Regarded as the country’s culinary capital, Luang Prabang was once known... read more →
“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world…” Pico... read more →
When you think of comfort foods, what comes to mind? Do you remember some of your favorite childhood foods? The type of food you eat to feel homey and... read more →
Imagine savoring a pecan pie martini, a pecan encrusted grouper, or a slice of White Russian pecan pie? These are some of the pecan specialties you’ll find in Florence,... read more →
On a 5-day whirlwind trip to South Carolina, we hit the historic cities of Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston. Our goal was to explore the food in... read more →
As we prepared for a month-long stay in Austin, the thoughts of Texas barbecue was top of mind. But when we asked locals what food specialty we should have... read more →
Everything is Bigger in Texas. You’ll find big hair, boots, wide open spaces and most importantly: barbecue. Austin is home to some of the best barbecue in the country.... read more →
One of our most surprising discoveries about Las Vegas was the thriving local culinary scene beyond the famous Las Vegas Strip. Known nationwide for the comprehensive collection of... read more →
Where can you find more than 140 restaurants in a three mile stretch in Las Vegas? You’ll be tempted to say the Strip with its thriving culinary scene and... read more →
Did you know, all-you-can-eat-buffets are a huge deal in Las Vegas? In 1941, when Las Vegas was still a sleepy town in the desert, El Rancho Vegas pioneered the... read more →
The culinary scene in Miami is rich and diverse. The city is synonymous with flavors from across Latin America and the Caribbean Islands. On your travels to Miami, take... read more →
Food brings people together and it is one of the best ways to connect to a local culture. At Authentic Food Quest we aim to inspire travelers to connect... read more →
The Alentejo region that covers about 30% of Portugal, is one of the most fascinating areas of the country. It is considered ‘the breadbasket of Portugal’ with rustic flavors... read more →
The quest for authentic food in 2017 opened us up to new tastes, flavors and food travel experiences. Most our time was spent discovering the exotic flavors of Southeast... read more →
Valentine’s Day is not native to Thailand, but is now celebrated with enthusiasm. Gifts are exchanged and plans made for a romantic dinner date. Over time it has become... read more →
In the last two years, we have spent a total of about 9 months in South Florida housesitting. In that period, we’ve had the chance to explore the large... read more →
Would you like to try Nyonya food in Penang? That was the question our friend Kathleen, who writes about heritage and culture at Kat Pegi Mana: Where Is Kat... read more →
Manila was our first city on our quest to authentic food in Southeast Asia. As soon as we landed we were struck by its contrasts. You will find luxurious... read more →
Traveling through food is the best way to experience a local culture. Whether you are traveling within your home state or internationally, exploring the local flavors gives you a... read more →
In July 2016, Michelin shocked the culinary world when they awarded two coveted Michelin stars to Singapore hawker vendors. This was the first time in Michelin history that Asian... read more →
When “Makan” or have you eaten, is the main greeting in Singapore, that immediately tells you something about the importance of food in the country. On our quest for... read more →
Going behind the scenes and getting to know what makes a cuisine special is what we aim to expose with Authentic Food Quest. Cambodian food was a bit of... read more →
One way to understand the people and a place is through the food. By exploring the local flavors, one appreciates the destination at a deeper level. Cambodian cuisine surprised... read more →
Exploring Cambodian cuisine and its local flavors is a journey full of surprises. While eating our way through Southeast Asia, we hadn’t put much thought into Cambodian food. We... read more →
If you’re planning... read more →
One of the most famous dishes of Vietnam is Pho, a noodle soup, popular with locals, especially at breakfast. Going to Vietnam without eating Pho would make your visit... read more →
If you ask any Filipino for the most popular dishes in the Philippines, you will certainly get “Lechon” as an answer. Naturally, the following question is, "where can we... read more →
Paris, the City of Lights never disappoints. Whether it is your first visit or you have been there several times before, there is always something new to discover. In... read more →
We spent the Summer in South Florida, near Miami, house sitting and writing our first book Authentic Food Quest Argentina. To be more specific, we were in Wellington, near West... read more →
Getting to San Pedro de Atacama is a journey in itself. Tucked in the middle of the Atacama desert, this popular town in the north of Chile is an... read more →
So you are finally at your dream vacation destination, it might be Paris, Buenos Aires or Singapore. You're eager to taste the local cuisine and eat your way through... read more →
You might wonder what is Nikkei cuisine or Japanese Peruvian cuisine? And why we say it will make you salivate. To start, we need to first understand what Nikkei... read more →
Is there such a thing as Peruvian fast food? In the US, fast food usually equates to McDonald’s, Burger King or generally junk food. In a country with so... read more →
While in Lima, we heard this joke a couple of... read more →
The cuisine in Lima has continued to fascinate and delight us. As we continue on our quest to discover Authentic Peruvian food, we were told not to miss some... read more →
Did you know that Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest? And that the Amazon makes up 60% of the country? Have you ever wondered what Amazonian... read more →
We are currently in Lima, the capital of Peru, our last stop in South America, on our quest for authentic food. We decided to end our trip in the... read more →
Cusco is one of the most colorful cities with a strong Andean culture that we have visited on our quest for authentic food. Walking down the cobblestone streets, it... read more →
Understanding authentic Chilean cuisine is more challenging than we expected. Chile is located in the southeast corner of South America and squeezed between the Andes and Pacific Ocean. It... read more →
Patagonia is home to Argentina’s best meat such as lamb, wild game, deer, and wild rabbits. European immigrants who moved to Bariloche in the early 20th century brought their... read more →
We are currently in Bariloche enjoying the beautiful outdoors as well as on our quest for the local specialties. We covered chocolates in our previous post, and the next... read more →
When we decided to venture to Argentina as our first country in South America, Patagonia was high on my list. I have always been drawn to desertic and isolated... read more →
What is there to eat at the end of world? What kind of food grows there? What does an Ushuaia restaurant serve for specialties? These are some of the... read more →
Enjoying Uruguay beef and an asado or parilla (barbeque), from a top beef producing country, was high on our list and a priority when we got to Montevideo. We... read more →
On our quest to understand the local specialties and typical dishes from Mendoza, we had the opportunity to meet and interview Vanina Chimeno. Vanina is Chef and owner of Mariá... read more →
A focus away from the pretentiousness of gourmet restaurants and a return to simplicity, heritage and traditional roots has taken a hold of Argentina, as it has in other... read more →
As we are transitioning and re-connecting with friends from Chicago, we are also traveling with our mouths and stomachs as we experience delicious ethnic foods in Chicago. Chicago is... read more →
June 21st or the Summer Solstice usually marks the start of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere. With this comes longer days and warmer temperatures. And for many, it is... read more →
Hi! Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are Claire and Rosemary. Our goal is to invite you to explore the local flavors on your travels. Follow our quest for authentic foods from around the world. 
