No matter where you’re ringing in the holidays, gathering with family over a meal is a universal tradition rooted in connection and celebration.
Ah, the holidays.
A season of nostalgia, festive flavours and time spent with family (maybe too much time).
In many cultures, holiday meals are infused with dishes that reflect heritage and history. From tamales in Mexico to songpyeon in South Korea and banh chun in Vietnam, sharing food creates a space where stories are shared and traditions are passed down.
With Intrepid’s locally-led food tours in dozens of countries, you can dive into the heart of these culinary traditions and create memories that last longer than any recipe scribbled on the back of a napkin (but you can keep those, too).
What recipes will you bring back home? Let’s find out.
Savour the flavours: Traditional food in India
Trade your normal kitchen chaos for one of flavours, colours and stories. From bustling street markets to humble home kitchens, an Intrepid trip to India will take you far beyond ordering butter chicken at your local takeaway.
Wander Delhi’s streets, inhaling the scents of fried kachori (spicy pastry) and sweet jalebi, then dive into Agra’s Mughalai cooking scene. With a local host sharing their secrets, you’ll master malai ki sabzi (creamy vegetable curry) and onion paratha (flatbread) in no time.
Once you check the Taj Mahal off your list, enjoy a vegetarian lunch at a Sikh temple, where food becomes a story. Or connect the dots between religion and recipes over a meal at a Jain temple – because there’s no better way to learn about a culture than through its cuisine.
Collect ingredients at a local market then use them as you prepare a traditional north Indian thali meal filled with rice, dahl, vegetables, roti, papad (deep-fried flat bread), curd (yoghurt) and chutney, plus a sweet dish to top it off.
If a trip to Asia isn’t in the cards quite yet, why not bring the flavours of India to your holiday table? Share the joy of biryani (mixed rice dish) with your family while you’re together this season – and when you’re ready for the real deal, India’s culinary secrets will be waiting for you.
Ready to spice things up?
From Nonna’s kitchen: Traditional food in Italy
Italian traditions are synonymous with families gathering around food; it’s a way of life. If you’re going to take holiday food inspiration from anyone, take it from the Italians.
Sample dishes that burst with flavours we know and love, like sun-ripened tomatoes and garden-fresh basil, but nothing beats tasting them from the source. Sure, pasta and pizza are a must (you’ll definitely eat your fair share), but Italy has so much more to offer. From sipping local wine in Tuscany to seasonal favourites in Bologna, it’s time to discover the real heart of Italian cuisine.
Escape to a Tuscan farmhouse tucked away among vineyards and olive groves, sampling the region’s best wines and rich olive oils. In Modena, step into a local’s home where balsamic vinegar is lovingly aged in the attic for a true taste of tradition. And if you’re going to learn how to make ragu alla bolognese, you may as well do it from the origin of its namesake – and don’t forget to write down the recipe.
Take a breather away from the tourist spots of Rome and retreat to a cozy local home where you’ll join a chef for a plant-based dinner filled with seasonal dishes. Think cacio e pepe, saltimbocca and porchetta. Dining out is one thing, but a meal crafted by a local in their home? That’s where the magic happens. Buon appetite!
Pack your appetite
Street eats and sweet treats: Traditional food in Mexico
This holiday season, why settle for business as usual when you could take your taste buds – or your whole family – on an adventure?
You could take your own spin on the taco in your kitchen, or you could taco crawl your way through Mexico City, sampling smoky al pastor and crispy pescado with a horchata in hand. In San Pedro Tlahuac, step back in time as you visit one of Mexico’s last remaining chinampa farms – floating agricultural islands dating to the Aztec era.
If you really want to immerse yourself in a new culture, it’s all about hanging out with the locals. Spend time in a family kitchen where tortillas are freshly cooked and sold at a local market. Head out on a trajinera (flat-bottomed boat), to explore the chinampas where a Nahuatl farmer will guide you through the crops, share tips for their harvest and help you gather fresh vegetables to use for lunch.
You could dive even deeper into Mexico’s food traditions in Oaxaca, wandering through markets with a local chef and picking out ingredients to transform into traditional dishes in a hands-on cooking class. Whether you’re making mole, chapulines or tlayuda (loaded tortilla), make sure you take the recipes home to your table – this could be the beginning of a new family tradition.
Unlock local tastes
Bring the world home to your table
When you’re back in your kitchen, those recipes you scribbled down on the back of a napkin (yep, you kept them) could become the starting point for new family traditions. Your holiday spread becomes something more than a meal – it’s a story: tamales that transport your family to Mexico, a turkey you infuse with the spice blend you picked up in India or your go-to dish paired with your new favourite Italian wine.
Even if you took on the world solo, the flavours you bring home turn into shared moments, connecting the stories you’ve lived with the people you love. After all, food is a language everyone speaks – one that starts at the table and leaves its mark long after the plates are cleared.
