Now my brood was keen to get a handle on the local specialties as well.

BBC: Skiing peaks with a papal blessing

On the hillside village of Tejeda, Dulceria Nublo Tejeda is a pastry shop selling delicious local specialties.

BBC: Mini guide to Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Or other local specialties like marzipan frutta martorana, or ossi dei morti (bones of the dead) or giuggiolena, a kind of sesame torrone.

BBC: Postcard from Southeast Sicily

All the delicacies of French cuisine have their origins in the countryside, and participants are just waiting to introduce you to the local specialties.

BBC: L'Accueil Paysan: Bed & breakfast on a French farm

The rustic and cosy onsite restaurant, La Monnaguette, serves local specialties that employ his star ingredient, such as goat-cheese salad with blackcurrant coulis or duck confit with cassis jam.

BBC: In Qu��bec, an island of local food

Eat lunch at Konoba Roki's ( rokis.hr), a rural retreat owned by a local winemaker, where specialties include smoked eel and octopus under peka.

WSJ: Island-Hopping in Sweden, the BVIs, Washington State and Croatia

But in recent years, more and more houses here have started displaying bright red and yellow flags, Catalan specialties take pride of place in local traiteurs (restaurants) - and the Sardana is being danced with a new enthusiasm.

BBC: Magazine