The Middle East is an unsettled region of the world politically, but one thing that's not in dispute: the food is fantastic. From healthy salads to fresh seafood to desserts to satisfy any exotic sweet tooth, here are some ideas to help you plan your Middle East culinary adventure.
Get your bearings with this informative article, and learn what you'll definitely find on your plate when you visit the Middle East. This
guide to Arabic words relating to food will help you decode your menu.
Dubai is more like Las Vegas than any of its neighboring countries -- but, like Vegas, you'll find that you'll have an international experience in this glittering city of the United Arab Emirates. For instance, you can learn to prepare traditional Japanese teppanyaki at the Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai.
But it's not all glitz and glamour in Dubai. There are great, and inexpensive ethnic eateries in Dubai for travelers who know how to find them.
The Gulf of Oman has some of the finest seafood in the world. Experience it at an unlikely venue: a steakhouse.
Not many Western tourists make it to Nizwa's souk and cattle market, a Friday tradition that goes back centuries. Which means you'll get to see it before the throngs ruin it.
Even though it's often very hot in the Middle East, coffee is an important part of life and an essential hospitality ritual. Learn about the
qahwa experience in an Omani Bedouin tent.
SWISS may not be the first airline you think of when you're flying from the U.S. to the Middle East, but connecting through Zurich makes for an easy trip.
Alcohol can be difficult to come by in the Middle East outside of a western hotel, as it's not permitted under Islamic law. The obvious exception: Israel. Learn about the best Israeli wine and beer festivals in this article.
Food tour operator "CookinIsrael" operates throughout Israel, from Tel Aviv, through the Galilee and Jerusalem. Visit markets, take cooking classes and dine in traditional restuarants.
