Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience Mexico outside the all-inclusive resorts, away from sprawling Mexico City? Francine Prose did. She checked out Puebla, a two-and-a-half-hour drive southeast of Mexico´s capital.

Founded in 1531 by the Spanish, the city has a rich history deeply rooted in religion. Some even believe that the location of the city was suggested by angels, hence the name, Puebla de los Angeles (City of Angels). The religious foundations carry through to present-day. The surrounding areas of the zócalo, the city-center, is where churches and convents have remained intact for centuries. It helps that Unesco designated Puebla a World Heritage site in 1987, allowing for the 2,600 buildings to be preserved and protected.

However, as Prose pointed out, there is more to Puebla than ornate, grandiose buildings. She ’savored’ the food. Boasting a reputation as the ¨Lyon of Mexico,¨ Puebla has an abundance of gastronomic delicacies. From its famous sweet liquor to mole poblano (salty-chocolate salsa) to huaraches (sandal-shaped bread with seasoned meat), the food is supposed to be an unforgettable experience. Prose recommends that street-fare is a better experience than the fine dining. From my experience in Mexico City, she is right:

Traveling is about new experiences, right? No matter where you are, from Philly to Phuket, there is a local cuisine to try. Good, bad, repulsive, or even responsive, there are some things people put down which, itself, can easily be the experience you are looking for.

This BootsnAll article outlines ten wacky foods eaten around the world. Balut in the Philippines (an egg boiled and served just before it was due to hatch), a Sardinian bread now banned because of its larvae content, and fried Cambodian tarantulas top my list of “no thank yous.”

I can vouch for two on the list. Puffer fish is delicious, if you can get passed the idea of eating something 1,250 times more poisonous than cyanide (all removed, of course) and the live octopus in Korea, called Sannakji. It’s literally snatched from an aquarium, set on a plate, and served in all its suctioning glory. The charm of this food is more the battle than the taste, and it can truly be a battle. Chew well; it’ll suction itself to anything if you let it.

I’d also like to offer up another wretched delicacy I’ve indulged in, beondegi. This is steamed or roasted silkworm larvae, a hit with the Korean street vendors, and just as gross as it sounds.

Bon appetite!

Because who else’s advice on where you should stuff your face as you travel the world than that of someone who’s not only a chef, but a celebrity as well? Here’s some interesting and surprising suggestions from the likes of Morimoto, Keller, and Pépin on where to eat in New York, Paris, Italy, India, etc . . .

I have to admit, I’ve been reading/watching a lot of Anthony Bourdain lately (specifically his latest book, The Nasty Bits), and he’s completely opening my eyes to the whole celebrity chef thing, phenomena, whatever you want to call it. Something I apparently missed out on during the last few years. And while I find it interesting, I have to say, I think it’s about time that the celebrity travel blogger thing also takes off too. Don’t you agree?