France
The French love their food and know how to eat well. They find time to enjoy leisurely meals and keep alive the tradition of small, quality, high street shops, despite the presence of hypermarkets. It seems almost impossible to eat badly in France, even if your budget limits you to the cheapest "tourist menu" in restaurants and to picnic lunches.

Italy
Italy has long been held in high regard as a country for food lovers. Its Mediterranean climate produces wonderful sun-ripened herbs and vegetables, olive oil and wine grapes. Cuisine varies according to region - rich and creamy in the north, spicier and lighter in the south.

India
Indian food might top the charts in Britain, but your local takeaway curry house won't prepare you for the genuine article. Curry doesn't exist in India - it's a generic term used by the English to describe the spices and flavours found in Indian cooking. Dhal, or lentil stew, and rice, preferably basmati, are staples found all over India.

Japan
Food is undeniably an art form in Japan, with balance and harmony important in both nutritional content and presentation. This culminates in kaiseki, a largely vegetarian meal eaten in tranquil surroundings, served in small courses on carefully chosen dishes. Most restaurants specialise in one type of cuisine.

Thailand
The popularity of Thai cuisine shows no sign of waning. In Thailand, curries are less rich than in India, noodles less sweet than in China. Head for little curry-and-rice shops, noodle bars and night markets to experience the flavours of lemongrass and lime, leafy coriander and fish sauce, galangal root, Thai basil, tamarind juice and ginger.

Hong Kong
Said to have the most restaurants per head in the world, Hong Kong is a food lover's smorgasbord. Choose from different styles of Chinese cooking and an array of foreign cuisine. Noodle shops are the staple of the busy Hong Kong commuter dotted along every block. Dai pai dong, or street market cafes, offer tasty snacks.

United States
You can easily find terrible food in the US - badly-cooked diner meals with additives and sugar. Then there's "ethnic food" dumbed-down for the bland palate of suburban America, served up in restaurants that look like theme parks. But wander through this huge nation of immigrants and you'll discover culinary gems.

Austria
Renowned for wonderful cakes and pastries, Austrian cuisine is tasty, rich and usually pretty hearty. Vienna's most famous contribution to the culinary world is the wiener schnitzel, or breaded veal cutlet. No-nonsense meat is something Austrians do well: roast chicken, boiled beef and liver are popular.

Vietnam
Vietnamese food is slowly gaining on its Thai cousin in terms of popularity in the West. Both cuisines use similar ingredients, yet are quite distinctive. Eating plays an important role in Vietnam, with French and Chinese colonial influences, and amazing value meals are to be found around every corner. Prices are often not listed.

Mexico
Beans, chillies and stewed or fried meat are the staples in Mexico as they are elsewhere in Central and South America, but many travellers find that Mexican cuisine offers more variety. Seafood is excellent along the coasts and meat is often marinated and grilled so that it's light and non-fatty. Vegetarians are usually well catered-for.

Source: Teletext Holidays - September 2006