So what makes a honeymoon truly great? Besides the obvious romantic elements, besides the great and shopping and scuba diving and sailing, there's one big element that for many couples can make or break the trip of their lifetime ... the food! You've given a lot of thought to the menu for wedding, wanting those hors d’oeuvres to be just right and that cake to be gorgeous and delectable. Now it's time to think about what you'll be eating (and drinking) on your honeymoon getaway.

We asked hundreds of couples who'd just returned from their post wedding trips to tell me about the cuisine on their and the stories I heard made mouth water. From butter-soft filet mignon to oysters topped with caviar and chilled vodka granita to pan-seared tilapia, abalone, mako shark, and crème brulee, the list sounded like Emeril's corner of heaven. As for drinks, champagne flowed. creatively named frozen margaritas in rainbow colors lined the bartops, and my respondents cooed over an endless list of wine vintages, liqueurs, and especially those limit-of-three Hurricanes in New Orleans. It's not surprising, of course, that couples think ahead about the kinds of local and exotic cuisines on a destination's menu or that they actually plan ahead for the exciting new tastes they're about to experience. What surprising to me was the huge number of couples who planned their honeymoons around culinary and wine tours, making the adventures of food and drink a large focus of their trips! From vineyard jaunts in Napa and Sonoma Counties in California, complete with bike tours and private tastings in the darkened and romantic wine cellars of the vineyard elite, to culinary tours of Provence and Normandy with celebrity chefs providing a taste of that region's best, clearly many couples are letting their palates (and their stomachs!) lead the way in their planning. If food and drink is not the sole purpose of their visit, then at least a large, large factor in determining wherever they plan to go.

Just take a look at Travel and Leisure's latest World's Best awards in the categories of best food served at resorts, on cruises, at spas, and in cities all over the world (along with their scores in the competition). For this prestigious traveler's magazine to readers about the tops in cuisine, you know the top criteria for a fabulous vacation spot rests strongly in the chefs' and sommeliers’ hands.

Fine Foods

Your appetite for the indulgent, exotic, and authentic of the world's cuisine might take to the culinary epicenters of Tuscany, Florence, and Normandy in Europe, or you might prefer an Asian flavor on a tour of the Far East, with stops in Singapore, Vietnam, or Osaka. Perhaps you'd like a freshly baked baguette and a sampling of cheeses as you sit at an outdoor in Paris overlooking the Eiffel Tower. In Chicago, your first stop might be for a world-famous deep-dish pizza, while in New Orleans going to be shrimp etoufee and beignets. If great eats are on your dream honeymoon wish list, you can search out the best places to go for the kinds of food you desire. The best magazine and Web site sources to check first are the Food Network for its lineup of culinary destinations and recommendations, Eptcurious, Travel and Leisure. Conde Nast Traveler, Couimet, Williams Sonoma's Taste, and other resources that spotlight food-based travel. Even wine magazines and sites like Wine Spectator profile the best in culinary getaways that tie in with the top names in wineries and vineyards.

A Five-Star Meal is Closer Than You Think

Think the best eateries in the world are in Paris, Milan, and Florence? Think again! American resorts, hotels, and restaurants have beaten out the de la of years past to snag many of the top spots in this international survey. New York City has emerged as the leading culinary center of the universe, with more than 18,000 restaurants, in every size, style, and level of formality, ranking number one in the world as of the 2002 awards ceremony. For the most current awards and ideas for a few delicious destinations to add to your honeymoon hunting list, go to the World's Best awards link at www.travelandleisure.com.

The Top Cities for Food Overall

1. New York 91.3
2. Paris 90.3
3. New Orleans 89.9
4. San Francisco 88.7
5. Rome 83.6
6. Chicago 82.5
7. Florence 81.5
8. Boston 77.7
9. Venice 77.6
10. Montreal 77.4

Get more information from our Honeymoon Planning Kit which includes 12 Honeymoon Planning Checklists and our 31 Chapter Honeymoon Planning Guide. Click here to visit our download page.