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"Away From The Tourist Traps, The Food Was Just Off The Charts": Gordon Ramsay Shared His Favorite 3 Countries To Visit For The Best Food

"I get to challenge my palate by traveling all over the world and finding the best locations."

Recently, while on a trip to Seoul to visit his new pizza restaurant, Street Pizza, Gordon Ramsay stopped to chat with YouTuber Cho Seung-yeon.

screencap of interview with Cho Seung-yeon and Gordon Ramsay

In an interview titled "Gordon Ramsay on UK food's terrible reputation" (lol), the two talked about everything from the obsession around celebrity chefs to his tips for finding good food in London.

Gordon Ramsay on the red carpet

At one point, Cho asked Ramsay, "Where would you say is the No. 1 food destination?" And Ramsay, who has won a total of 18 Michelin Stars throughout his career, named three countries (well, two countries and one city):

Destination No. 1: Laos. "I recently came out of Laos," he said. "Going back to the provinces and spending time in the countryside, away from the tourist traps, the food was just off the charts."

Aerial photograph of UNESCO heritage town of Luang Prabang in Laos, southeast Asia

Destination No. 2: Vietnam. "Extraordinary melting pot of great food. I fell in love. Such a humble approach to eating incredible food," he said.

Beautiful sunset of Saigon skyline, aerial view of Business and Administrative District

Destination No. 3: Spain. Or, more specifically, Madrid. "There's so many exciting things going on in Madrid as well," he said.

Social gathering in Madrid center with the views of the business district of Madrid, Spain

"I get to challenge my palate by traveling all over the world and finding the best locations," Ramsay added to Cho. "But, yeah, Laos. Beautiful."

screencap of interview with Cho Seung-yeon and Gordon Ramsay

Laos — a country in Southeast Asia that borders Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and China — is maybe best known for larb (alternatively spelled "laap," a meat salad), tam muk muang (a green papaya salad), and sticky rice.

plate of larb salad on table in Laos

So, the next time you plan a trip, make sure to add Laos to your list of destinations! And if you have a No. 1 food destination of your own to share, let us know in the comments below!

And be sure to catch the full interview here:

View this video on YouTube

조승연의 탐구생활 / Via youtube.com