Food Miles: Authenticity is the name, and quality is the game

Chow down: ham chowder at Nashville’s Capitol Grille

There's never been a better time than now to be a gourmet traveller. The globalisation of food trends and culture may have led to a certain homogenisation at the very top end of the market, but it also means that chefs and restaurateurs are keener than ever to rediscover what's local and authentic. Foodie destinations are more accessible and Michelin-starred chefs continue to expand their empires into new and sometimes unexpected locations, helping to increase the quality of dining out around the world.

Southern American cooking has taken London by storm over the past year or so. For the real deal, head to Nashville, which is set to become as well known for its restaurants as it is for its music scene. Chef Tyler Brown of Capitol Grille at century-old Hermitage Hotel (001 615 345 7116; capitolgrillenashville.com) has reconnected with the land and his heritage with dishes such as cobia fish served with cornbread, bacon and celery root purée, and indulgent breakfasts including Tennessee "Jack" egg sandwich made with Jack Daniel's-infused toast, fried egg, jowl bacon and tomato gravy.

If you associate Tenerife in the Canary Islands with rowdy nightlife, timeshares and bad food, then it might be time to reassess, especially as BA is launching a new direct service from Gatwick from 31 March. As well as producing its own wines, the island now has more than 30 restaurants listed in the Michelin guide. The island's two Michelin-starred restaurants are both housed at the opulent Abama Golf and Spa resort (00 34 922 126 000; ). MB is overseen by one of Spain's leading modernist chefs, Martín Berasategui, and offers a seasonal tasting menu with dishes such as crispy oyster salad with grapefruit and nuts. At Kabuki, Canarian chef Daniel Franco fuses Japanese cuisine, Mediterranean influences and local produce into dishes such as usuzukuri of local cherne fish, layered over the islands' black potatoes, and served with the region's spicy red pepper "mojo" sauce.

In all the recent hype about European gastronomy that has encompassed first Spain and then the Nordic region, Germany has been unfairly overlooked. But that's set to change as the country was awarded 37 new stars in the 2013 Michelin guide and is now second only to France in terms of three-starred restaurants in Europe. At La Belle Epoque in Hotel Travemünde, Lübeck (00 49 4502 3080; columbia-hotels.com), chef Kevin Fehling serves elegant, refined dishes – such as white chocolate foam with matcha green tea jelly, radish, peach sorbet and pomegranate – that are a world away from traditional Germanic fare.