Calling all foodies: the 16th annual World Gourmet Summit runs 23 April to 3 May in Singapore, featuring the likes of nose-to-tail king Fergus Henderson and celeb chef Marco Pierre White.

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They put many tiny mom-and-pop health-food stores out of business, and seemed to have no competitor in applying the principles of mass distribution to the world of healthier, gourmet food.

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Along with the standard free bag of coffee beans, shareholders were treated to the kind of razzmatazz one expects from such a high-profile, global company - the largest retailer of gourmet coffee in the world.

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Emilia-Romagna has the unique distinction of being the breadbasket of Italy, and arguably the single most important gourmet food production region in the world.

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Over the past decade, however, Costa Rica's fastest-growing crop has been a collection of opulent hotels and resort communities, complemented by marinas, golf courses, gourmet restaurants, hot springs and other world-class facilities.

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As Krakow's tastes evolve to embrace world flavours, Kazimierz has seen a flurry of international gourmet snack shops pop up over the past couple of years.

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The two must-visit wineries of note nearby, also with their own excellent restaurants, guided tasting flights and gourmet shops, are Delaire Graff and Fairview, which also makes world class cheese.

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