Wet your tastebuds and the best tables in Europe

In the past I have touched upon the growing association between fine dining and luxury holidays and I suppose it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to be able to appreciate the connection.

Although some of my best and most memorable gastronomic experiences have be borne out of the bustling market stalls of South East Asia, the back street eateries of Catalonia and the hidden bistros of suburban France I think a grand and rather refined reservation can really set the tone of a luxury holiday and as I so often find, figures as one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Europe continues to lead the way when it comes to the most innovative and heartfelt cuisine and this consensus was further evidenced by the results of the most recent S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants pole. All of the top five and indeed seven of the top ten restaurants lauded by critics, diners and fellow chefs the world over where European based.

Wherever you travel in Europe you do so with the knowledge that you are never too far away from a from a mouth watering and award winning gastronomic bonanza and so without further ado lets take a closer look at some of the most renowned foodie havens that the continent has to offer.

The Fat Duck- Bray, London- If you’re planning to spend some time in or around England’s vibrant and iconic capital then why not book a table at this gastro-pub come Michelin star restaurant. Headed by the mad scientist-like Heston Blumenthal this is a dining experience like no other. Expect to have every sense well and truly excited; these novel dishes are designed to not only titillate the taste buds but elicit and sense of drama and occasion. Famous dishes to have featured on the Fat Duck’s menu include snail porridge and bacon and egg ice cream (not served together of course- that would just be ridiculous). For an unusual but certainly entertaining evening make sure to book well in advance of your holiday to guarantee a table.

Osteria Francescana- Modena, Italy- Modena is a beautiful city nestled in the northern territories of central Italy which has become famous as the birth place of numerous famous people and industries, particularly in motoring, not only the home of Enzo Ferrari and his super car empire but also Maserati, Pagani, Lamborghini and Maserati. Modena’s other love is food and it was thanks to this city and the surroungin region that today we have tortellini, Lambrusco wine and parmesan cheese. Osteria Francescana continues this rather momentous reputation and is widely regarded as the best restaurant in Italy. Challenging and imaginative menus are dreamt up by pioneering head chef Massimo Bottura, combining daring and robust flavor combinations with the most technical culinary flair- not to mention a cavernous and seemingly inexhaustible wine cellar. Expect to pay around £43 – £129 ($71-$212) for lunch or dinner.

Noma- Copenhagen, Denmark- How could I ignore Noma; the new kid on the block which with lightning speed has wrestled the crown of the world’s top restaurant away from more established and previously esteemed properties. An education in traditional Nordic cuisine elevated to heights of greatness by the skill and cunning of young chef Rene Redzepi awaits diners at Copenhagen’s foremost eatery. The kitchen manages with aplomb to create something entirely traditional and homely yet simultaneously refreshing and unexpected. The use of local and seasonal ingredients is second to none and the notion that what grows together goes together seems to be the overriding belief. Copenhagen too offers this paradox of familiarly and intimacy yet unanticipated vibrancy, colour and charm. Small enough to feel like a market town yet with a bustling nightlife and endless winding streets of shops, restaurants, bars and boutiques it is one of the friendliest and most picturesque cities in Europe.