A Culinary Adventure in Sardinia

Food tourism, also known as culinary tourism, is a delectable journey that combines travel with the exploration of diverse culinary cultures.

This form of tourism invites enthusiasts to experience local flavours, ingredients, and cooking techniques that define a region’s identity.

From savouring street food in bustling markets to dining in world-renowned restaurants, food tourism offers an immersive cultural experience that goes beyond mere sustenance.

Travellers engage in activities such as visiting vineyards and breweries, taking cooking classes with local chefs, and participating in food festivals. These experiences provide invaluable insights into the history, traditions, and innovations of regional cuisines. Food tourism not only satisfies the palate but also supports local economies by promoting small-scale producers and artisans.

As global interest in authentic culinary experiences grows, food tourism continues to gain momentum. It encourages a deeper connection between travellers and destinations through the universal language of food.

In 2023, the global culinary tourism market was estimated at $11.5 billion, and this is estimated to reach $13.58 billion by the end of 2024. Travellers’ desire to try local food made with local ingredients (having “authentic food experiences”) is growing, and Europe is by far the market that’s dominated by this wave of ‘culinary travellers’.

In the south of Sardinia, Chia Laguna Resort offers a variety of culinary experiences, perfect for those who are looking for authentic food experiences.

• Visit Cagliari’s charming San Benedetto Market, guided by a local expert to select fresh ingredients like bottarga, fennel sausage, and local cheeses. Later, you’ll have the opportunity to prepare fresh pasta using the ingredients you’ve sourced.
  
• Discover the art cheese-making and explore Sardinia’s scenic southern coast on a Jeep adventure. Scale Mount Filau for stunning views before meeting a Sardinian shepherd in Cala Antoni Areddu to witness the traditional process and sample local cheeses.
  
• Immerse yourself in Sardinian culture at a traditional Campidanese house, where you’ll learn to make local specialities like culurgiones, a type of stuffed pasta with potato, cheese, and mint, and sebadas, savoury fried pastries filled with cheese, lemon, and drizzled in honey.
  
• Discover the art of winemaking and savour some of the region’s finest wines at Cantina Mesa, where the spotlight is on Carignano del Sulcis, a grape variety best known for its remarkable resilience to harsh weather conditions.

• Enjoy dinner at Sa Mesa, a smart casual restaurant inspired by traditional Italian trattorias. Guests can savour traditional Sardinian dishes such as fregula (a type of pasta unique to Sardinia made from durum wheat, giving it an almost nutty flavour), culurgiones and sebadas, all complemented by a wide selection of Sardinian wines and spirits.

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