Food Of The Week

Andy Lynes has some tips if you want to sample very special flavours in exotic places

Wherever you go in search of late winter sun, make sure you search out the local cuisine too - there's a whole world of exotic dishes to be sampled.

There is no menu at 7 St Georges Tavern (00 357 269 63176; 7stgeorgestavern .com), Geroskipos, Paphos, Cyprus. Instead there's a mezze of dishes created from whatever is available in the market that day, including slow-cooked meat dishes such as lamb tavas flavoured with cumin.

For an authentic Moroccan feast, visit the opulent Al Fassia (00 212 35 634331; sofitel.com), Bab Guissa Fez el Bali, Fez. Tuck into pigeon pastilla with cinnamon, saffron-flavoured roasted peppers and classic tagines.

Head for the roof top patio at Don Sebastiao, Rua do 25 de Abril 20, Lagos, Portugal (00 351 28 276 27 95), and enjoy traditionalgrilled chorizo or shellfish stew.

There are not only stunning harbour and mountain views on offer at Harbour House (00 27 21 788 4133; harbourhouse.co.za), Kalk Bay Harbour, Kalk Bay, South Africa. All the seafood, including grilled Cape crayfish and tiger prawns, is locally sourced.

The menu at Labna (00 52 998 892 3056; labna.com), Margaritas 29, Cancun, Mexico, is split between Mexican classics such as the famous chocolate- enhanced chicken mole and less familiar dishes from the Yucatan, including pibil - pork seasoned with achiote spice mix and slow baked in banana leaves. Norma Shirley is the Caribbean's answer to Delia Smith. Try her version of jerk chicken or guava-glazed pork chops at the beachfront Norma's restaurant, Sea Splash Resort (001 876 957 4041; seasplash.com), Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril, Jamaica. Select a freshly-caught pearl spot backwater fish from the open kitchen at Rice Boat (00 91 484 2666811; tajho tels.com), Taj Malabar, Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala, and let the chef create a classic coconut-based Keralan-style fish curry while you admire the views.