Scandinavian countries top the charts as the best places to live. JUDY BRYANT found the Finnish food as genuine as its people Since the Finnish capital of Helsinki was named World Design Capital for 2012, thousands of visitors from all over the world have been exposed to its unpretentious yet delicious food. The country’s cuisine is based on the freshest natural ingredients, seasonality, simplicity and purity of taste. With a pantry that includes the Baltic Sea, 188 000 lakes, wide swathes of birch forests and montane grazing, key ingredients are fish, game (reindeer and moose, wild duck and wood pigeon), mushrooms and a huge…

Sue de Groot embraces global gastronomy at a British food festivalSue de GrootYou can tell a lot about a country from its food. If you got into a time machine and were dropped in post-war London, you’d know it immediately from the ration books, the eggless cakes and the way people reacted to the sight of a lemon. With England in the grip of a punishing recession you might expect to find similar privations and belt-tightening measures today. But no. Far from cutting back on luxuries, the capital’s restaurants and purveyors of fine foods seem to have embarked on an…

One of Italy’s best-kept secrets is Bologna, situated in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. Bologna boasts Europes second largest historic centre (after Venice) and the city has long been known as La Grassa (The Fat One) for its reputation as one of Italy’s food capitals PAUL MACIELBologna is often overlooked by tourists because it doesn’t hold the same level of appeal as its neighbours Florence and Venice, or other major Italian destinations. While the city may not boast the extensive collections of Renaissance art of Florence, or Venice’s waterways, it offers a great deal for lovers of food, art and shopping.…

After a week in Spain’s gastronomic capital, Andalusia, F&HE food editor ANNA MONTALI has well and truly embraced the tapas culture ANNA MONTALISpanish culture is synonymous with passion and tradition, and it’s particularly evident in its cuisine, and in its gastronomic heartland, Andalusia. Located in the south of Spain, Andalusia is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Jaén, Granada, Almeria and the capital Seville. Famous sons include Pablo Picasso, who etched his first drawing in his hometown of Malaga, and A-list actor Antonio Banderas. Ernest Hemingway wrote passionately about the area and spent his last birthday there. Andalusian…

Paris – it’s the city of romance, fashion and style. It’s also a dream destination for foodies, as F&HE rediscovered. Share our must-keep guide to the best gourmet spots VANESSA GROBLEROne of the best things about exploring an enormous city like Paris is that there is so much to do, see and taste that anyone who has visited it probably has their own list of favourite spots, especially when it comes to the city’s culinary culture. Arriving in the French capital can also be quite daunting if you have no idea where to start, especially as some of the best…