Travel through the Mediterranean is almost synonymous with a certain kind of diet. From Spain to Italy to Greece to the Middle East and North Africa, the region offers an extremely diverse menu that’s united around a theme of quality produce. Cured meats, cheeses and a hundred different varieties of olive are all waiting to be discovered – along with a great deal more.
If you’re travelling via yacht, then you’ll be able to enjoy all of this surrounded by beautiful, soaring coastline, and tranquil blue waters. And that’s before we even contemplate the health benefits that have for so long been tied to the Mediterranean diet. Like all good food trips, a culinary odyssey through the med’s best regions should provide stimulation for your palate – as well as inspiration for when you return home and want to cook for yourself.
Fresh Local Ingredients
Like every gastronomic culture that’s stood the test of time, the food culture of the Mediterranean is based on what’s available locally. This means fewer food miles, but it also means plenty of variety. Wherever you’re travelling, you’ll get foods that are built around what’s available in the immediate vicinity.
If you really want to understand the food you’re eating, of course, you might take a break from fine dining to explore what the locals are eating – and how they’re cooking. Look to local markets and smaller fishing villages. Pay attention to word-of-mouth, which might provide insights that you can’t find on the internet.
The region’s most groundbreaking chefs are the ones who are in tune with the ingredients they have to work with. Fresh seafood, seasonal produce, and traditional methods all combine to make the region’s cuisine the way it is.
Coastline Dining
When most of us imagine a perfect foodie holiday in this part of the world, we tend to think of alfresco dining, ideally in view of the sea itself. There are plenty of great restaurants lurking just away from the coast – but there’s something about tucking into great seafood while you can see the waters from which it was taken.
The best resorts and restaurants in the region will provide a mixture of amazing food in an amazing setting. Some will even allow you to dock your yacht on the jetty outside, and walk straight into the restaurant. If you’re looking at yachts for sale with a view to touring the region, then this might provide you with the required incentive.
Cruising
Touring the Mediterranean via sea affords us a perspective on the region that we can’t attain from the land. A yacht, in this context, is more than just a way of getting from one place to another; it’s a vital part of the holiday experience. You’ll sail from one port to the next, sampling all of the aromas, flavours and textures that make food in this part of the world so unmistakable and so beloved by many.
Naturally, you don’t need to be super-wealthy to enjoy this kind of holiday. Yacht charter is more affordable than you might imagine, and there are plenty of cruise ships operating in this region, too. Plan this kind of tour in one section of the Med, moreover, and you might find that you’re tempted to make another trip to discover another.
