Romantic charcuterie dinner on a panoramic terrace overlooking the ocean in Italy

Food and Wine

Food is something that allows you to get under the skin of a country – visit a market in Laos, eat at an Asado in Argentina or tuck in to neopolitan pizza in Naples to see what we mean.

This is a topic close to our hearts – or should that be stomachs? The office larder usually consists of delicious local foods bought back from faraway places – delicacies like baklava dripping in honey and bottles of Chilean Carmenere; whatever it is, it never lasts long.

Food is inextricably linked with culture and identity and so spending time to find the best and most authentic places to eat, is crucial to understanding a country. While Steppes can put together holidays that exclusively focus on food, you can be sure that we can give advice about the best places to eat on any of the holidays that we create for you.

Children doing traditional fireside cooking in the countryside, Thailand
Traditional cooking, Thailand

A Cook's Tour

Have a private cooking lesson in the paddy fields of South East Asia, sample some of the world’s finest olives oil in Andalucia or visit the high-altitude vineyards of Cafayate in Argentina. Smells and tastes create enduring memories, especially when experienced in the context of a holiday.

Wine Safari, Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza, Argentina
Wine Safari, Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza, Argentina

Argentine Winelands

The province of Mendoza, situated at the foot of the glorious Andean Mountains, is the most prominent wine region in Argentina and the fifth most bountiful in the world. Once a dry and arid expanse of land, the vineyards that are located in this semi-arid desert rely on mountain rivers fed by melted Andean glaciers. The wines produced here are world-renowned, favoured for their unique flavour that is owed to high altitude and intense sunlight. We recommend the wine safari at Cavas Wine Lodge and the dining experiences at Casa de Uco.

View Mendoza holiday ideas. 

Holiday Inspiration

Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.

Experiences

Tell us what you love doing and we’ll curate a journey that’s perfect for you.

Bangkok street food
Food and Wine

Sample Street Food

Spend an evening in Bangkok with a private guide for the chance to sample some of the countries tastiest street food.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Montevideo Central Market, Uruguay
Food and Wine

Food and Wine Festival

Take part in Uruguay’s summer food and wine festival, attended by celebrity chefs from across South America.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Spices, Israel
Food and Wine

Tel Aviv Food Markets

Visit Tel Aviv’s most famous foodie markets; Carmel, a classic Israeli market; the Levinsky, famous for its spices and teas; and Sarona, a modern take on the traditional market.

Cacao pod in Belize
Food and Wine

Chocolate Tasting

Toledo is a chocolate lovers haven. Sitting at the heart of Belize’s chocolate industry, a tour allows you to sample the finest cacao in its purest form.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Rogue River, Applegate Valley, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, USA
Food and Wine

Relax in Wine Country

Taste the fine wines and gourmet cuisine of Napa and Sacramento.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Horse riding, Winelands, Chile
Food and Wine

Horse Riding in the Wine Valleys

Travel through undulating landscapes and past bountiful vineyards on horseback, perhaps with a gourmet packed lunch and bottle of red in the saddlebag.

Suggested hotel

Anse Ray in Saint Lucia
Food and Wine

‘Fish Friday’

Don’t forget ‘Fish Friday’ at Anse la Raye, a party that rolls into Saturday.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Iceberg, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Eastern Canada
Food and Wine

Private Dinner at Sea

Head out on a culinary adventure atop the waters off Newfoundland in a privately chartered boat, feasting on local and seasonal produce en route to scenic Bell Island.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Indian sweets, Old Delhi Market
Food and Wine

Old Delhi Street Food Walk

Walk the streets of Chandni Chowk, visit the famous Paranthe Wali Galli. Try India’s favourite sweets, Gulab Jamun and Jalebi.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Sushi, Japan
Food and Wine

Japanese Cuisine

Dine out on some of the world’s freshest sushi.

Tea Ceremony, Japan
Food and Wine

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Sit on tatami mats and enjoy a slow paced hospitality steeped in history and tradition.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Wine Tasting, Newfoundland, Eastern Canada
Food and Wine

Finer Things Food Tour

Hop between Gros Morne’s top rated restaurants, sampling their selections of fresh seafood, garden herbs and handpicked berries while sipping carefully paired wines.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Cheese board, farm to table, Senda Monteverde Hotel, Costa Rica
Food and Wine

Cookery Class

Join a local family for a cooking class, extract juice from sugarcane, milk a cow and make cheese.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Spring Rolls, Vietnam
Food and Wine

Vietnamese Cooking Class

Learn how to cook in true Vietnamese style on a cookery class in any one of the countries main cities.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Preparing vegetable dim sums, Chinese dumplings
Food and Wine

Dumpling Cookery Lesson

Learn how to make Chinese dumplings, one of China’s most recognised delicacies, with the on board chef of the Yangtze Explorer.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Truffle Hunting, Tuscany, Italy
Food and Wine

Truffle Hunting

Go truffle hunting in Umbria, an ancient tradition where locals collect black truffles to then eat or sell.

Vineyard Path, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Food and Wine

Biking the Wine Country

Hop on a mountain bike and join a lightly-trodden trail through the foothills and endless grape fields.

Suggested hotel

View of Hunter Valley vineyards, NSW, Australia
Food and Wine

Hunter Valley Vineyards

Explore the vineyards of the Hunter Valley by bicycle, followed by a well-earned rest, sampling the local produce.

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Paul Bird

It wasn’t part of the script, career plans were quite different but after four global trips visiting such exciting destinations, travel became a passion that eventually led to me entering the industry. The more I have travelled the greater the desire has been to see and do more.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Clare Higginson

It was my passion for languages that first encouraged me to leave the UK behind and grab my rucksack. Since then, it’s been a mixture of intriguing cultures, jaw-dropping landscapes and the wonder of seeing animals in their natural habitat that sees me continuously extending my travel wish list.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Paul Craven

Paul is the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Central Asia and the Silk Route.

Being from a family with Army connections I can from an early age remember travelling. From camping in Europe and then later being sent to boarding school when we lived in Germany at the age of eight, complete with shorts, long socks, a cap and my suitcase. In appearance not too dissimilar to the children evacuated to the countryside during the blitz.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Sue Grimwood

I was inspired to travel south from an early age. My form teacher when I was nine made us listen to tapes from Shackleton’s expeditions, I didn’t know it at the time, but it obviously left a deep impression on my psyche.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Charlotte Lawton

Charlotte is the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Asia.

My strong sense of belonging in Asia stemmed from a childhood in Hong Kong and Nepal. My Grandmother was born in a tent in India. Some of my clearest memories are of walking through a dense, tropical jungle while hailstones the size of cricket balls rained down on us; of being carried on my father’s shoulders as we trekked through the Himalayas; my mother wearing flipflops on a snowy mountainside; and me falling into Dal Lake in Srinagar as we disembarked from our houseboat. 

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Kate Hitchen

My travels were first inspired by my love of the UK, which I take as much pleasure in exploring as countries far and wide. For me, travel is all about the adventure, the people I meet and the food I sample along the way.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Illona Cross

Born in a small South African town, I have always followed my passion for nature and discovery. After studying Nature Conservation in Pretoria, I was one of the first women to complete a very tough cadetship in the Natal Parks Board. It was here where I cut my teeth in African wildlife management.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Chris Johnston

Chris is the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Africa.

25 years ago, my first trip to Africa took on a life of its own. I planned for three months, I stayed for two years. Whilst there, I was mistaken for a priest, attacked by sharks and arrested. Yet the countless, clattering journeys opened my eyes to the beauty of the landscapes and the grace of the people. My recent trips are undoubtedly more comfortable, but the welcome is as warm as ever and the best experiences are still those I never see coming.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Start planning your trip


Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

Review Contact Form

Name(Required)
Hidden

Thoughts. Opinions. Experiences

Beautiful springtime at vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina
Stories
A Gastronomic Mendoza Holiday
Steppes Travel
The Argentinians take their meat seriously; so too their wine. Given that Mendoza is the gastronomic and wine capital of the…

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.

Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?


More about Steppes

F L E X I B I L I T Y P R O M I S E B O O K W I T H C O N F I D E N C E