Top 15 Food Festivals Around The World...

Every year, hundreds of gourmet festivals are organized around the world. With festivals celebrating the most popular food (such as pizza and chocolate) for those who celebrate the types of lesser-known foods, it is something to satisfy even the most discerning. But for which culinary festivals is it worth it to travel or to distribute money? Read on to find out what festivals go beyond providing a sensory explosion for your taste buds and your other senses.

1. The Good Food and Wine Show, South Africa.

The Good Food and Wine Show, held annually in South Africa, has about 200 exhibitors, each with the latest trends in food and beverage and innovative household appliances. There are also lectures of two hours with renowned chefs, as many of the major festivals seem to be. But really great and unique about this festival is that there are discussions and demonstrations about how you can live a healthy life. Topics this year include 'Stress and how it affects your digestive system' and 'Fermented foods and their health benefits'. If you like cooking, the festival's Baking Theatre offers demonstrations such as making sugar flowers and croissants. There is even a children's theatre, where children can make healthy and simple recipes and bring them home.

2. Epcot International Wine and Food Festival, USA.

If you travel to all the incredible countries of the world to taste that your food is too expensive for you, there is a unique solution: the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. The bimonthly event is held annually at Walt Disney World, Epcot. If you are not familiar with the park, it has a zone of "World Showcase", where 11 countries are represented, including Italy, Japan and Morocco.

In each pavilion you will find sweets, clothing and unique souvenirs for each country. During the International Festival of Food and Wine, which is kept correctly in World Showcase, you can enjoy food and drinks from all over the world. Besides good food, there is also a series of "Eat to the Beat" concerts, workshops and famous chefs.

3. Vegetarian festival, Bangkok

Culinary festivals do not always have to do with meat. In Bangkok every year in October the vegetarian festival is celebrated in honour of the nine emperor gods. Here you will find stalls selling a wide range of vegetarian dishes such as noodles, cakes and more. One of the strangest parts of the festival is fake meat. Some seem real and some cannot be clearer. There are tofu sausages and a lot of simple food, because very fragrant foods are not allowed during the festival. Every night during the festival, you will see lanterns, candles and incense, as well as a performance of the Chinese Opera thanks to the gods. The performance of the opera is essential because the costumes are extensive and the painted faces are beautiful.

4. Great Cheese Festival of Wisconsin, USA

Most of us can agree that cheese is at the top of the list of delicious food, with chocolate and pizza. That's why the big three-day Wisconsin Cheese Festival is one of the best festivals to visit. There is not only a delicious variety of cheeses that you can taste (cheddar, brie, feta and almost any other type that you can imagine), but there are also almost all types of food you can put into cheese. In addition, the festival also has lots of activities and entertainment! There is a parade of floaters, a Cheese Cut Contest, a Chase Cheddar (a run / walk of a mile), musical guests and the possibility to combine your favourite cheese with wines. There is also entertainment for children, including magicians, jugglers, attractions and an interactive zoo.

5. Spanish seafood festival, Spain

The Spanish Seafood Festival is the perfect place if you like seafood (and what you do not like and healthy food). The festival, which has been held since October 1963, claims to have the best seafood in Europe. No wonder it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year! In 2013, an official celebration of the importance of national tourism was proclaimed. This paradise for seafood lovers takes place in O Grove, a beautiful but small fishing community that is almost completely surrounded by water. During the festival guests can enjoy rice dishes with fried seafood, mussels, oysters and scallops, as well as bagpipe music and folk dances. The festival also has the best crab competitions and best plates from Mejillones and offers a parade of seafood.

6. Festival of Gastronomes, England

Call to all food lovers! There is a festival with your name and it is the biggest food festival in the UK. The gastronomic festival, held annually in April or May in Brighton, has a good day with your friends, with things to do and dishes to try. You have the opportunity to meet famous chefs, learn to cook, learn how to cook with experts, buy local produce, participate in a contest to eat chili and enjoy live music. And of course, nothing speaks English as a good cup of tea, so it makes sense that this festival has a vintage tea room where you can sit and enjoy a cup of tea. Besides all this, you can prepare your own beer or try your senses with a tasting contest with headbands.

7. Taste of Chicago, USA.

Taste of Chicago is the largest gastronomic festival in the world, so it automatically becomes a must. The event attracts more than a million people every year, and rightly so. The festival offers a varied selection of restaurants, with hamburgers, noodles, ice cream, churros, hot dogs, pancakes, pizzas, roasted chicken and more. There are also pop-up restaurants, food trucks and entertainment concerts, including tours and concerts (The Roots and Billy Idol were the headliners of the 2016 event and Carlos Santana and Moby have classified). Although access to the festival is free, there are events with a ticket, such as the Celebrity Chef of the Day, where you can sit in a decorated shop and enjoy a delicious three-course menu from one of the famous chefs. from the city.

8. Ribfest Toronto, Canada

Toronto Ribfest is the way to start the summer in Canada. Every year the event takes place during the long weekend of Canada Day in Centennial Park and attracts a crowd of more than 150,000 people. There are many "ribbers" coming from all over North America to show their ribs, hoping to be crowned as people's favorites. Even if you do not like ribs, there are plenty of other foods to choose from: corn breads, shredded pork, flowering onions and more. There is also a lot of beer and live entertainment! But Ribfest is not just for adults; There are also activities for children such as carnival games, magic shows, make-up and half-way walks. It is a big party for all ages that ends with a beautiful fireworks show from Canada Day.

9. Feast of Ottawa Putin, Canada

Poutine is rooted in Canadian culture. The dish comes from Quebec and is made from fries filled with sauce and cheese curds. Almost all fast food restaurants in Canada sell poutine and Canadians turn to comfort food. There are so many different types of poutine! There are exotic poutines such as chicken with butter, shawarma, lobster, Greek, nachos and more. There are even gluten-free and vegetarian options. If you want to try one of these traditional poutines, go to the Ottawa Poutine Festival, which takes place every year in May. There is so much to do, including potato-themed games, a potato bag race, a poutine competition, as well as live shows and an outdoor tavern. There is nothing better than that for poutine lovers!

10. Bacon Fest, Sacramento.

There seems to be a whole subculture dedicated to bacon. Thanks to the internet, innovative bacon dishes (such as chocolate bacon and bacon muffins) quickly became popular. Now you can participate in a big party of your favourite food at Bacon Fest Sacramento. The event lasts a week and contains bacon from more than 100 restaurants. Some of the interesting dishes presented at Bacon Fest in the past include: bacon salad, bacon jelly and bacon windows. There was even a Kevin Bacon tribute band during the 2016 festival! If it's not enough bacon to make you happy, I'm sorry, we cannot help you. There is also a competition of Bacon Chefs Fest, beer and live music (since apparently there is no complete food festival without these three things).

11. Savour, Singapore

Do not let the small size of Singapore fool you; It is home to one of the largest gastronomic festivals in the world. Savour is a four-day event with more than 30 gourmet dishes from first-class restaurants. Some noteworthy dishes are: angel-hair lobster pasta, Iberian pork cheek and baby-iced octopus with citrus fruit. The best part is that these main courses have lowered prices at the festival, so you do not have to worry about going bankrupt. You can also meet your famous chefs in Savour. In the past, the festival enjoyed the presence of Alvin Leung, Daniel Chavez and Michael Caines. There are even famous master classes and gourmet tastings. As if that was not enough, there are hundreds of wines from around the world, a cheese room and live music.

12. Salon du Chocolate, France..

Salon du Chocolate is a small paradise for chocolate lovers. The first fair was held in Paris in 1922 and since then has been expanded with more events and the major cities of the world every year. In 2016 the Salon du Chocolate will take place in Paris at the end of October. The festival will present chocolates from around the world, a chocolate library, chocolate tasting, chocolate making workshops, a pastry show, chocolate prizes, performances and even a fashion show with chocolate clothes. It is also an instructive experience that teaches visitors the production of chocolate and rituals from cocoa-producing countries. Some of the exhibitors that you can see at the Salon du Chocolate in Paris from the festival are: Leonidas, Guylian, Nestle and many others.

13. Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia.

held annually in March the Food and Wine Festival Melbourne, which takes place every 10 days, is a taste of the best food and the best wine Victoria. There are many fun events that you can take part in, such as workshops led by renowned chefs and main course festival: the longest lunch in the world. The longest lunch invites people to eat a three-course meal on a table stretching 530 meters along the beautiful coast. There is also free entertainment, culinary themed tours, wine tasting rooms, dinners prepared by international chefs and much more.

In 2016 thematic courses were "journey through South America", "Little Italy" and "East Trail". If you plan to go there, plan ahead because you need to buy tickets.

14. Pizza fest, Italy

Everyone loves pizza, right? There are so many different types (Hawaiian, cheese, chicken, vegetarian) that there is something for everyone. If you want to celebrate the greatness of pizza, there is only one place to go: your birthplace. Pizza fest, the largest pizza festival in the world, takes place every year in Naples, Italy. The event usually takes place in September and lasts about a week. In this festival you can try different types of pizzas of different sizes and shapes. You can also see how the pizza shows his skills to throw the dough while enjoying the good music. There is even a competition to see who is the best pizza solo. What could be better than eating pizza in the beautiful surroundings of Naples with background music?

15. Mooncake Festival, China.

The Festival of the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is the second most important festival in China (after the Chinese New Year). It is an ancient tradition that began as a way to thank the moon and celebrate the harvest. The day of the party, which is the 15th day of the eighth month, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, people come together to offer sacrifices to offer the moon. The special food that the Chinese are sacrificed to the moon, a round pastry with a sweet filling. The five traditional fillings moon cakes are: jujube pasta, egg yolks, sweet bean paste, the paste of lotus seeds and five nuts. During the festival people present moon cards to their loved ones to express their best wishes. They also make beautiful lanterns and dance dragons.