Food & Wine

I’m responding to the reader’s comment, “Anyone considering traveling in Australia should get a good road map in the U.S.” (Oct. ’06, pg. 4).

FIRST, FAST & FURIOUS — The following is a sampling of reports received from ITN readers around the globe. ITN invites you to join our corps of reporters — just drop a card in the mail while the travel impressions are fresh in your mind. To obtain your ITN Report Cards, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to ITN Report Cards, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. You will receive eight cards.

Readers who are computer savvy can click here to access access the online form. Pass along your hot travel tips!

For many, traveling and eating are synonymous. I just had an exquisite experience at an Indian restaurant in London’s Berkeley Square: Benares (12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BS; phone 020 7629 8886 or visit www.benaresrestaurant.com).

Owner and acclaimed chef Atul Kochar adapts homemade recipes he acquires while traveling in India, then adds his own twists to craft an eclectic and savory menu with contemporary panache.

From a trip my wife, Barbara, and I took to Hungary in May ’06, I strongly recommend these three restaurants in Budapest.

In the January ’06 issue, page 50, Cecilia Morrissey shared extensive advice on arranging flights around the world. Last month (Sept. ’06, pg. 37), she offered advice on other extended-travel considerations. Here, she continues.

FOOD — In Europe, eating is easy. Your tour books will alert you if the water isn’t safe in a particular country and give you some menu basics. The water is just fine in most countries in Western Europe. The dilemma is this:  do you want to 1) eat out all of the time, 2) self-cater exclusively or 3) do a combination of the two?

Croatia is a wonderful destination, with six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, great food and wine and, during our June ’06 trip, perfect weather.

My husband, Ray, and I took a 24-day, 2-segment cruise in Europe on the Insignia of Oceania Cruises (Miami, FL; 800/531-5658, www.oceaniacruises.com), May 21-June 14, ’06.

For the first segmnent we embarked in Barcelona, and when we arrived in Lisbon we had visited six countries plus Gibraltar. Originally, we were booked to go to Libya, but because of problems with the government the itinerary was changed. The second segment, June 2-14, from Bilbao, Spain, to Dover, England, hit five countries.

Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. There are no restrictions on length. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.

This month’s winner is ROBERT CLINE of Kokomo, Indiana:

My husband, Joe, and I visited Buenos Aires (B.A.), Argentina, in March-April ’06 (Sept. ’06, pg. 84). The restaurants were plentiful and excellent and our dollar went far in ensuring that we could eat well without spending a lot of money, so let’s talk food!

No other place in the world celebrates the Christmas holiday season quite like Germany. In a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, Germany’s colorful Christmas markets turn its towns and cities into festive centers of holiday tradition.

During the annual 4-week Advent season leading up to Christmas, numerous towns and cities throughout Germany hold festive and colorful Christmas markets, often referred to as Christkindlesmarkt locally.