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Hungry? Cold? Well, relax. We have a cure for that. According to Food Republic, these two US cities are two of the best for "Fantasy Food Travel":
CHARLESTON
Call it a Southern revolution. Similar to both Nashville and Austin, Charleston has continued to evolve as a food destination at a breakneck pace, with a number of significant openings in the past calendar year. Chef Craig Deihl points out that this growth of “smaller, simpler, more rustic food-focused restaurants” has taken place in hot spots like King Street and Midtown, as well as beyond the peninsula to adjacent islands. Charleston is still, of course, Sean Brock’s town: His Husk and McCrady’s are go-to spots for rotating menus that utilize the best of local ingredients, a trend that Deihl says is the “same common denominator” in the city’s restaurants, regardless of the cuisine. The city is also home to an impressive selection of charcuterie, with Deihl’s artisan meats program at Cypress leading the charge. Hit up sandwich king Butcher & Bee for lunch and finish up with one more — you guessed it — ingredient-driven meal at city mainstay FIG.
My recommendation: try the Peninsula Grill
SAN DIEGO
The weather in this Southern California beach town is typically what steals the headlines. Also, the fish tacos, which are sold all over the city in many forms (grilled, fried, ceviche), at upscale dining establishments as well as gas stations. But if you have visited in the past few years, you know something else has taken the city by storm: craft beer. Starting with the influential Stone Brewing Co. nearly 20 years ago, the number of brewing operations has swelled to 110, with the likes of Ballast Point, Los Abbey and local favorite Pizza Port offering tours and tastings. And if you go and don’t want to just drink beer all day, make sure to check out the Convoy District, the heart of the city’s vibrant Asian community, with restaurants specializing in everything from soba to pho to soup dumplings.
My recommendations: try Nicks' Laguna Beach
