Foodie Travel: Local specialties to satisfy your taste buds

Local dishes are used as a guide for planning your next adventure

TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - Food not only sustains us, but it can also have a significant impact on how we enjoy, and remember our vacations. When you're away from your kitchen, you rely on the culinary expertise of the locals and many of us thrive on enjoying new dishes. But if those dishes are too bland, dry or downright dreadful, it can affect more than just our taste buds. The travel experts at Hotels.com™ want to help Canadian travellers get well-rounded local experiences that both their wallets and stomachs enjoy, so they've compiled a list of popular local dishes to please every palate.

"When you're travelling you want to have the desire to try new things, but a disappointing experience can leave a bad taste in your mouth!" said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert at Hotels.com. "By catering to travellers' tastes, we can minimize those chances by finding local food that suits their palates."

• Salty: Poutine in Montreal, Quebec
• For many of us French fries have been a staple in our diets since infancy and this dish is an impressive upgrade. Traditionally, it's covered in salty melted cheese curds and drizzled in gravy and although it may resemble slop, we wouldn't give it to the pigs.
• Average hotel price $168*
• Sweet: Gelato in Rome, Italy
• The Italian word for ice cream, this frozen treat isn't just for breakups - particularly as the Italian version is typically healthier than its North American counterpart!
• Average hotel price $198*
• Spicy: Tom Yum in Bangkok, Thailand
• This hot and sour soup uses local ingredients and fresh herbs to create a flavourful broth with a distinct flavour. Likely to get your nose running, travellers can enjoy a generous bowl without breaking the bank.
• Average hotel price $75*
• Fried: Fish and Chips in Liverpool, England
• Originally created as a dish for the working class, it's since graduated to be a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Often wrapped in newspaper and served with a wedge of lemon, malt vinegar and tartar sauce, it's a fried food favourite.
• Average hotel price $155*
• Vegetarian: Panipuri in Mumbai, India
• This popular street food consists of a round, hollow fried pastry that is filled with a mixture of flavoured water, sauces and fillings including, potato, onion and chickpeas. It's the perfect size to eat in one rather large mouthful, and typically how it is enjoyed, so open wide!
• Average  hotel price $147*
• Healthy: Gazpacho in Madrid, Spain
• Originating in southern Spain, this soup is served cold and vegetarian-friendly. Refreshing, light and packed with raw vegetables, it's the perfect dish to enjoy after a hot day outside.
• Average hotel price $144*
• Unique: Haggis in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Considered the national dish of the country, it is a mixture of sheep organs mixed with onion, oatmeal and spices. Although the description may make foreigners nervous, it is beloved by many and is both extremely popular and widely available.
• Average hotel price $204*
• Meatlover: Currywurst in Berlin, Germany
• This is Germany's version of fast food and consists of pork sausage, often chopped up, and covered with flavourful "curry ketchup" - yes it's exactly how it sounds. Often served with fries, it's a filling meal perfect for non-vegetarians.
• Average hotel price $137*

Now travellers can be adventurous not only in their destinations, but their culinary experiences, too. To find more tips on destinations best suited to your interests, check out the Wanderlust chapter in the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index.

*Average Canadian hotel prices according to the latest Hotels.com™ Hotel Price IndexTM (HPI™)

About the HPI™
The HPI is a biannual report that looks at hotel prices in cities all around the world. The data is based on bookings made through the Hotels.com website and the prices listed are the actual prices paid by Canadians - not advertised rates.

About Hotels.com (http://www.hotels.com)

Hotels.com, L.P. operates Hotels.com(also known in Canada as Hotels.ca), a leading online accommodation booking website with nearly 325,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals.

© 2014 Hotels.com, LP. Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, The Obvious Choice, and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CST # 2083949-50

Image with caption: "Tom Yum is a popular dish in Thailand, perfect for travellers looking to enjoy some local cuisine with kick (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141020_C7719_PHOTO_EN_43058.jpg

SOURCE: Hotels.com