The sights and sounds, smells and tastes of a place are the essence of travel. Our senses help us discover the unique features of a destination and truly experience the journey. Food is one aspect that is both universal (everyone eats!), yet distinctive. Food employs all of our senses: the aroma of fresh baked bread, the sight of colorful produce in market stalls, the sizzle of meat on a grill, the warm feel and sweet taste of Glühwein (hot mulled wine). When you travel with Viking Cruises, you celebrate food with all the senses, both onboard and on shore, with fresh and local Viking cuisine.

The Viking chefs create authentic regional dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. The Hungarian goulash is seasoned with Paprika from a local market in Budapest. Local papayas are used in a refreshing salad on cruises in Southeast Asia. Bite-sized blinis are topped with the finest Russian caviar when cruising the Baltics. Viking Longships also have an organic herb garden on the sundeck to supply the kitchens. Regional cuisine tells the story of a country’s history, the lay of its land and its people. Viking cuisine helps travelers experience their destination through food bursting with local flavor.

Dining on Viking is a casual, yet elegant affair. An elaborate breakfast buffet is served in the dining room, or you can take coffee and a croissant to the sundeck to breakfast al fresco. On Viking Longships, you can enjoy a casual lunch of daily specials on the Aquavit Terrace, as you float past quaint riverside villages and ever-changing landscapes. The intimate dining rooms on Viking ships are the perfect place to share the stories of the day with friends over a five-course masterpiece and good wine.

Viking’s signature “Taste of…” events are informal gatherings where guests can chat with Viking chefs and taste a smorgasbord of regional delicacies. For example, “A Taste of Germany” might include tasty treats such as pretzels and sweet mustard, leberwurst and Kölsch. Viking’s cooking classes and hands-on demonstrations are a delicious way to learn how to take regional cuisine home to your own kitchen with recipes for apple-strudel or fondant au chocolat.

Even before you vacation on a Viking River Cruise, you can prepare by making some Viking cuisine favorites at home using their own recipes. Click on any of the mouthwatering photos in this post for the recipe for that regional favorite!

When you’re ready to taste the world and experience Viking cuisine with all your senses, contact the cruise specialists at Covington Travel!

All images and recipes courtesy of Viking River Cruises. Covington Travel is pleased to recognize Viking River Cruises as a valued partner and sponsor of this blog post.