A Bite of the World

Published in the Sunday Anandabazar Patrika(ABP) on 06 July 2025

It all started with a casual dinner plan. We were in New York, and after trying Kathi rolls at midnight, we dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant the next day.

My school friends and I have since created a ritual—visiting one new destination together every year. They live in the US, and the best way to stay in touch was to plan an annual girlfriends’ break. It wasn’t easy to start this tradition, given that we’re all workaholics committed to family time. But friends are family too, and that’s how our yearly travel tradition began—one exotic destination after another.

Thanks to Veena World’s Customised Holidays, our plans always transform into immersive experiences—from a sunset yacht in Santorini to an architectural walking tour of Prague and a magical theatre evening in London.

Since we’re all foodies, the highlight of every trip is what to eat and where to eat. It started in New York with a visit to Hakkasan, and from there, we were hooked. We dined at Hakkasan in London, then Mumbai, and now make it a point to visit one in every city. When one friend visited Las Vegas, she dined at Hakkasan there too.

It has officially become our thing—a tradition showing how food can be more than just a meal. For us, it’s a reason to travel.

Over time, we’ve often booked exclusive restaurants for guests travelling worldwide. Some corporate travellers insist on Michelin-starred restaurants for their top management. It’s not just the food but the way it’s presented that makes dining memorable. So, what really are Michelin-starred restaurants? I had to know more.

The Michelin Guide was originally created by the Michelin tyre company in 1900 to help motorists find places to eat and stay. By 1926, they began awarding stars to exceptional restaurants, and over time, it evolved into the gold standard for fine dining.

Michelin Star Ratings:

• One Star: A very good restaurant in its category.
• Two Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
• Three Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

Contrary to popular belief, Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants, not chefs—though a chef’s reputation influences recognition. When a Michelin-starred chef moves to a new restaurant, the establishment often earns stars thanks to their expertise. Securing even one star is a huge achievement, while three stars place a restaurant in the world’s elite category.

We’ve noticed more Indian travellers exploring global cuisine. Japanese food, in particular, has become a favourite for its freshness and simplicity. Shows like MasterChef Australia have brought fine dining into our homes, sparking a desire to experience authentic dishes.

While Michelin leads globally, many countries have their own prestigious rating systems:

• Australia: Chef Hat system – 1 to 3 Chef Hats.
• USA: AAA Diamond Ratings – 1 (casual) to 5 (luxury).
• UK: AA Rosette Awards – 1 to 5 Rosettes.
• Japan, Hong Kong, China: Tabelog and the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide.
• Global: World’s 50 Best Restaurants – a respected ranking.

The key to exclusive dining is booking in advance. Some top restaurants have waiting lists of months or even a year. A pro tip: many Michelin-starred restaurants offer lunch menus at a lower price compared to dinner, making it a great way to sample fine dining without overspending.

Here’s inspiration for your next holiday. San Sebastián, Paris, and Tokyo are iconic culinary destinations. Nestled in Spain’s Basque Country, San Sebastián has the highest concentration of Michelin stars per capita. Restaurants like Arzak, Akelarre, and Mugaritz offer unforgettable experiences rooted in creativity and local tradition. Beyond Michelin stars, the city’s pintxos bars make it a paradise for both casual and refined food lovers.

On the other side of the globe, Tokyo holds the record for the most Michelin-starred restaurants in one city. From intimate sushi counters like Sukiyabashi Jiro to refined kaiseki dining at Kanda, Tokyo offers a perfect blend of artistry and tradition. Whether you crave inventive tasting menus, grilled seafood, or an exquisite bowl of ramen, these cities prove food alone can be a reason to travel.

Paris, the birthplace of haute cuisine, continues to dazzle with timeless flavours and an impressive number of Michelin-starred establishments such as Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Le Cinq, and L’Arpège. The city blends classical techniques with modern innovation, making it a must-visit for food lovers.

If you’re looking for something even more intimate, France’s Relais & Châteaux properties are in a league of their own. Founded in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is a global association of luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants set in historic castles, countryside estates, and vineyards. Each property offers a unique culinary experience, often helmed by celebrated chefs focused on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

From Provence to the Loire Valley, these boutique stays combine Michelin-quality dining with authentic hospitality, ideal for travellers who want to slow down, savour, and soak in the terroir. Whether you’re enjoying a wine-paired dinner or a cheese tasting in a 17th-century manor, Relais & Châteaux offers soulful experiences wrapped in French elegance. It’s the kind of place where every meal feels like a celebration and every stay becomes part of your travel memories.

Of course, these aren’t the only places making waves in culinary travel. Bologna, the heart of Italian comfort food, tempts with ragù alla Bolognese and handmade pasta. Lyon, often called France’s gastronomic capital, thrives in its cozy bouchons and brasseries. Oaxaca, Mexico’s food capital, impresses with smoky mole and mezcal.

Bangkok is the street food capital of Southeast Asia, with vibrant night markets offering everything from green curry to sticky rice with mango. In the southern US, New Orleans blends Creole, Cajun, and French influences in gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets, all set to live jazz.

And then there’s India—a foodie's paradise. With its diversity, every state feels like a new country. Over the years, I’ve experienced authentic food trails across India. Lucknow introduced me to galouti kebabs and Awadhi curries. In Amritsar, we shared langar at the Golden Temple and devoured fluffy kulchas. Delhi was pure energy—chaat that was chaos, spice, and magic. Kerala offered banana leaf sadya and coconut curries. Kolkata was all about rolls, mishti doi, and Bengali thalis.

In Mumbai, my hometown, I still snack on pav bhaji and vada pav and explore the coastal seafood scene. India proves that culinary travel doesn’t need a Michelin star to be memorable. Whether it’s a street-side kathi roll or a three-course dinner in Paris, every meal tells a story. Food is connection, celebration, and memory-making—all on a plate.

Odisha: A Blend of History and Culture

When we think of Odisha, the Konark Sun Temple and Jagannath Puri instantly come to mind. Known as Utkala in ancient scriptures, this land has a rich legacy shaped by numerous dynasties. With a 485-kilometre-long coastline and a capital like Bhubaneswar—often called the City of Temples—Odisha offers a deep cultural and historical experience. Key attractions include the Lingaraj Temple, the UNESCO-listed Konark Sun Temple dedicated to Lord Surya, and the sacred Jagannath Temple in Puri. The Konark Sun Festival and annual dance festival held here are widely celebrated. Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, draws over a million migratory birds between November and January. Other notable sites include the ancient city of Cuttack, the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, and the massive Hirakud Dam. Odisha is also popular for medical, eco, and adventure tourism. Its seafood dishes like Chingudi Jhola and Machha Jhola are local favourites, while vegetarian dishes like Dalma and Chhena Poda are equally loved. Festivals such as Chandan Yatra, the world-famous Rath Yatra, Sital Sasthi, Konark Fair, Durga Puja, and Bali Yatra add vibrant colour to the state’s cultural calendar. The Mahaprasad at Jagannath Temple is a must-try. Odisha is also known for Pattachitra paintings, the graceful Odissi dance, and beautiful handwoven sarees from Sambalpur and Ikat. The annual Konark Dance Festival, held from February 19 to 23, is a stunning showcase of classical dance, music, and traditional attire. With Veena World, you can choose from Odisha tours ranging from 6 to 15 days. So, which one will you choose?

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Oh! I didn’t know this…

New Zealand, nestled in the Pacific Ocean, is a country made up of a group of islands. It lies next to Australia and is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Among its most stunning natural attractions are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, which are considered one of the best in the country. In the Māori language, Waitomo means "water dripping through a hole"—wai meaning water, and tomo meaning sinkhole. These caves have been formed over millions of years by the erosion of limestone through underground rivers. The magical glow seen in the caves is caused by bioluminescence, a natural chemical reaction produced by glowworms. The caves are also characterized by fascinating formations called stalactites and stalagmites—ice-like deposits formed when water dissolves minerals from the limestone surfaces. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, forming when water drips down and leaves behind mineral traces. The droplets that fall on the ground below create mound-shaped stalagmites as they accumulate layer by layer. Over time, when stalactites and stalagmites continue to grow, they eventually meet and form a solid pillar. More than 300 caves have been discovered so far in the Waitomo region, yet many still remain hidden and unexplored. Beneath thousands of these glowing creatures, you can enjoy a peaceful boat ride, or if you’re more adventurous, you can go for black water rafting. Blessed with incredible natural wonders, snow-capped mountains, and stunning coastlines, isn’t New Zealand already on your bucket list? Come, let’s explore this magical land together!

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Travel is about embracing nature with an open heart

I began touring with Veena World in 2017, and since then, I’ve completed 15 tours with them. I live in Goregaon East, and my niece, who is a preferred partner of Veena World in Alibag, helps me book all my tours. I’ve always had a love for travel, but it was only after turning seventy-five that I truly started exploring. Today, I am eighty-four years old. I decided to first discover my own country and began with Kerala. After that, I visited Rajasthan, Andaman, Meghalaya and Assam in the Northeast, Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim-Darjeeling, Dalhousie-Dharamshala-Amritsar, Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Bikaner, Shimla-Manali, Nainital-Mussoorie-Haridwar-Corbett Park, and Varanasi-Ayodhya-Lucknow. Internationally, I have visited Bhutan, Singapore, and Nepal. During my Andaman tour, I visited the beautiful Havelock Island. In Sikkim, I went to Zero Point and Nathula Pass. I fondly remember climbing to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan and exploring the remote beauty of Ladakh. One of the most moving experiences was during our visit to the Cellular Jail in the Andamans—the light and sound show there was deeply emotional and unforgettable.

I plan my own tours and usually prefer to stay alone in a single room. I try to participate in everything included in the tour, even trekking, whenever possible. I don’t shop much during tours, but if I find something nice for my daughters or grandchildren, I make sure to get it for them. Now, I wish to explore Europe. Within India, I still want to visit the unexplored states of Manipur and Nagaland from the Seven Sisters. On 21st July, I’ll be going on the Bangkok–Pattaya–Phuket–Krabi tour. For me, travelling is all about soaking in the beauty of nature with wide-open eyes and an open heart—and I absolutely love it.

• Chandrakant Babrekar , Goregaon, Mumbai.

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Hemis Festival

The Hemis Festival is one of the most renowned cultural celebrations in Ladakh, held at the Hemis Monastery. This monastery is located in the village of Hemis, about 45 kilometres from the capital city of Leh. The festival takes place around June–July, and this year, it will be celebrated on 5th and 6th July. It marks the birth anniversary of the great Buddhist saint Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who is believed to have introduced Buddhism to Tibet. The main highlight of the festival is the ‘Cham Dance’ or ‘Mask Dance’, where Buddhist monks dressed in vibrant robes and masks perform sacred dances in the monastery courtyard. These dances symbolize the triumph of good over evil. During this time, locals dress in traditional Ladakhi attire—chubas, which are long robes, and foks, the region’s distinctive headgear. The festival also features traditional music and folk performances. One of the major attractions is the grand Thangka of Padmasambhava, a Tibetan Buddhist painting embroidered on cotton or silk, which is unfurled during the celebrations. Wouldn’t you love to be part of such a vibrant and spiritually uplifting festival? Then come, let’s go!