Tokyo

Fishmongers in Kichijoji

On our Tokyo culinary walk, we rub elbows with locals in the Kichijoji neighborhood as they shop for daily needs along the shoten gai shopping street as well as local vendors, like these two fishmongers at a small neighborhood market.

Barcelona

Catalan Snails in Gràcia

Low in fat and calories and rich in minerals and proteins, the snail is an old staple with a newfound popularity – while perhaps not as obsessed as the Romans were, Catalans are rediscovering all the benefits of snails: they’re nutritious, tasty and easy to raise. We sample some on our Made in Catalonia walk in Barcelona.

Mexico City

Wild Mushrooms in Mexico City

Spurred on by rain and humidity, wild mushrooms hit the markets of Mexico City this time of year. An extraordinary variety of mushrooms are available, mostly culled from the wilds of the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos and Puebla, and chefs stop by the market every day to see what new goodies will appear.

Barcelona

Dreaming of Jamón

We’re counting down the days until September, which is when many of our favorite bodegas in Barcelona will open their doors once again and we can settle in for a vermut and some of this delicious jamón ibérico.

Mexico City

Pre-Columbian Dishes in Xochimilco

After a boat ride through the canals that connect the chinampas in Mexico City’s Xochimilco district, we head over to the colorful market, where we try different pre-Columbian dishes like the tlacoyos pictured above (oval-shaped corn-meal patties filled with fava beans, cheese, refried beans, spinach, potatoes and more).

Tokyo

Sightly Seafood at a Tokyo Fish Market

Wonderful spreads of the freshest catches are among the swirling array of visual delights witnessed on our Tokyo walk. Oh, did we mention there’s lots of eating involved as well?

Istanbul

Kalpazankaya Restaurant: Paradise Found

Editor’s note: It’s Beat the Heat Week at Culinary Backstreets, and in this week’s stories, we’re sharing some of our favorite spots to visit when the summer temperatures soar. One of the great joys of spring and summertime in Istanbul is the chance to get away for a day to one of the Princes’ Islands, the car-free and forested archipelago that is a short ferry ride away from the city. The only downside to an island hop is actually getting there: as soon as spring makes its first appearance in Istanbul, the hordes descend on the mainland’s ferry terminal, filling the boats to beyond capacity (at least on the weekends).