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check-inwhere in the worldFood shopsFor gourmet travellers, visiting a city’s delicatessens, groceries and speciality stores is at leastas important as ticking off its must-see monuments and museums. So loosen the waistbandand treat your taste buds to a tour of foodie hot spotsRuss & Daughters, New YorkNow run by the fourth generation ofthe Russ family, this Lower East Sideinstitution (a favourite of AnthonyBourdain) stocks all sorts of EasternEuropean delicacies, but is particularlyfamed for its smoked salmon, thedifferent varieties all beautifullydisplayed and labelled behind theglass counters. For a quintessentialNew York snack, choose your fish andwatch the assistant expertly slice itpaper thin before piling it onto a freshbagel with a generous dollop ofwhipped cream cheese.www.russanddaughters.comPierre Hermé, ParisThere’s always a queue outside PierreHermé’s tiny shop on rue Bonaparte inthe 6th arrondissement – and once youmake it inside you can understand why.Dubbed the ‘Picasso of Pastry’ by FrenchVogue, Hermé creates the most exquisitecakes and chocolates, and is famousfor his macaroons, devising innovativeflavour combinations and creatingspecial collections that change withthe season. www.pierreherme.comJamonisimo, BarcelonaSo far from the main tourist sights thatyou’d never wander past it by accident,Jamonisimo is worth a major detour foranyone who wants to try the best ofSpain’s famous jamón ibérico. It stocks onlythe highest-quality ham from free-range,acorn-fed animals reared by small-scaleproducers in Salamanca, Extremaduraand Andalucia, and counts big-name chefs,such as Alain Ducasse, Charlie Trotter andJoël Robuchon, among its customers.www.jamonisimo.comTakashimaya Times Square, TokyoNot a place to go if you’re on a diet, thisvast subterranean food hall is filled withgastronomic goodies from around the globe.It’s a hugely popular spot with Tokyo locals,who come to pick up anything from Frenchpatisserie and German cold cuts to Chineseteas and Japanese noodles, and thanksto their love of new trends, there’s alwayssomething different, with an ever-changingroster of concessions.www.takashimaya.co.jp/shinjukuLa Fromagerie, LondonJamie Oliver is a fan of this specialitycheese shop, which has one branch inMarylebone and another in Highbury.Both source directly from artisanproducers, then mature the cheeses intheir own maturing rooms until they’re attheir peak. Sample the wares by orderingone of the cheeseboards (with drinkrecommendations to match) in the TastingCafé, or ask the knowledgeable staff foradvice on which are the best buys totake home. www.lafromagerie.co.ukPeck, MilanThis gourmet institution in the heart ofMilan is a must-visit on any foodie tourof Italy. Huge cuts of meat and wheels ofParmesan in the windows set the tone;step inside and you’ll find a treasuretrove of cured meats and Italian cheeses,trays of fresh pasta in every shape andsize, and shelves of olive oils, vinegarsand conserves. And whatever you buy,it will be handed to you beautifullypackaged with a gold ribbon flourish.www.peck.itLeft to right: Macaroons are a speciality at Pierre Hermé, Paris; La Fromagerie has two specialist cheese shops in London; the finest Italian cuisine is sold in Peck, Milanvolume tHIRTEEN q Summit 21