“I spent a few weeks sailing around the Greek islands on a trip I’ll never forget: that vast expanse of sea, beautifully desolate islands, the sound of the waves echoing off our anchorage in Santorini.”

We are all armchair travellers now, whether we like it or not. Like many of you, I was about to travel on holiday, taking my first trip outside Australasia in over a decade. And gee, was I desperate for some new experiences. So, while I won’t be eating pho on the streets of Hanoi anytime soon, I’ll resort to what I’ve always done instead, namely reading up on areas of interest, cooking dishes from cuisines I’m interested in and thinking of what else needs to go on the bucket list.

NABEMONO UDON WITH BEEF

SILVERBEET DOLMADES WITH LAMB, FENNEL & PINENUTS

RICE CRACKERS

SICILIAN SPAGHETTI WITH ANCHOVIES, LEMON & BREADCRUMBS

MOROCCAN-STYLE FISH BASTILLA

SICHUAN CHILLI-CHICKEN SALAD