2. Italy
Scoring highly both in the number of Michelin-starred restaurants relative to its population, as well as food hygiene and cost, it is no surprise that Italy fares so well in our list. And so the runner-up is the country that has brought us pizza, pasta and spaghetti bolognaise, not to mention ciabatta and the humble toasted panini (or panino, as it is called in Italian). Italy is a similar size and shape to California, and within its long, thin ‘football boot’ shape, there is huge diversity in its cuisine. The north enjoys rich, cream-based sauces and stuffed meats, while in the south and Sicily, you can expect tangy tomato-based sauces and plenty of seafood. Try arancini (fried balls of risotto stuffed with anything from mozzarella to ragu), caponata if you’re in Sicily (eggplant with pine nuts and sometimes sweetened with raisins), or a polenta-based dish if you’re in the north. This country offers so many flavours and varieties, you will never get bored of sampling what it has to offer.
