For many travelers, the most memorable way to understand a destination is through its food. This fall, three very different experiences invite visitors to go beyond the dining room—from removing an invasive species in Belize to exploring Phuket’s sacred vegetarian traditions and dining high above Bangkok.
Catch and Cook Lionfish in Belize
At Cayo Espanto, a private island resort off the coast of Belize, a new Catch & Cook experience combines diving, conservation and a freshly prepared meal.
Guests accompany local guides into the waters surrounding the Belize Barrier Reef to search for lionfish. Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish have spread through the Caribbean and Atlantic, where they have few natural predators. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their appetite for native reef fish can disrupt marine food webs and place additional pressure on coral ecosystems. NOAA reports that a single lionfish can reduce the recruitment of native reef fish on a coral reef by 79 percent.
After the dive, the catch is handed over to the resort’s culinary team and transformed into a private meal, which can be served at the guest’s villa or another scenic location on the island. The experience is arranged for groups of up to four people through the resort’s concierge.
Cayo Espanto also organizes private diving, snorkeling and fishing excursions throughout the surrounding reef system. Because lionfish have venomous spines and the experience involves diving, travelers should confirm certification, experience and participation requirements before booking. More information is available through Cayo Espanto’s activities page.
Discover Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival
From October 10 to 18, 2026, Phuket will observe one of southern Thailand’s most significant annual cultural events. Although food is central to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, this is not simply a plant-based food celebration.
The festival is a sacred period associated with Phuket’s Chinese-Thai community and the worship of the Nine Emperor Gods. Its origins are commonly traced to the island’s 19th-century tin-mining era, when members of the Chinese community reportedly organized ceremonies during an epidemic.
During the nine-day observance, participants traditionally abstain from meat and follow practices intended to purify the body and mind. Phuket Town fills with vegetarian food stalls, incense, white-clad devotees and processions connecting the island’s Chinese shrines. The program also includes firewalking, loud firecrackers and acts of ritual piercing that some spectators may find graphic.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirms the 2026 festival dates, while its background guide explains why the event is fundamentally a religious tradition rather than an ordinary food festival.
Banyan Tree Phuket offers one possible beachside base for the festival. Located near Bang Tao Beach, the resort has private-pool villas, a spa, an adjoining golf course and several restaurants. Its dining options include contemporary Thai cuisine at Saffron and Rava Beach Club, a beachfront venue with three infinity pools. The resort’s current facilities and accommodations are detailed by Banyan Tree.
Most major festival ceremonies take place around Phuket Town and participating shrines elsewhere on the island, so travelers staying in Bang Tao should plan transportation in advance and allow extra time for crowds and procession-related road closures.
Experience Bangkok’s High-Rise Dining Scene
Bangkok’s contribution to this culinary trio is less about traditional Thai cooking and more about the city’s distinctive culture of ambitious restaurants and rooftop nightlife.
At The Dome at lebua, restaurants and bars occupy several of the upper floors of State Tower. Two of them—Mezzaluna and Chef’s Table—hold two stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide Thailand.
Located on the 65th floor, Mezzaluna serves French cuisine shaped by Japanese ingredients under executive chef Ryuki Kawasaki. Michelin continues to rate it as a two-star restaurant in its 2026 Thailand guide.
Chef’s Table, led by executive chef Vincent Thierry, focuses on contemporary French cooking presented around an open kitchen. It also retains two Michelin stars for 2026.
The restaurant’s fall calendar includes a three-night collaboration from October 1 to 3, 2026, bringing Thierry together with chef Stéphanie Le Quellec of Paris restaurant La Scène. The seven-course experience will be offered for three evenings only, according to Chef’s Table at lebua.
Elsewhere in the building, travelers can dine outdoors at Sirocco or visit Sky Bar, positioned 247 meters above Bangkok on the 64th floor. The restaurants require advance reservations, while the bars generally operate on a walk-in basis. Dress codes and age restrictions vary by venue and should be checked before visiting.
Three Different Ways to Taste a Destination
Together, these experiences illustrate how culinary travel can extend far beyond a restaurant meal. In Belize, dinner becomes part of a marine conservation effort. In Phuket, vegetarian cooking offers an entry point into a centuries-old spiritual tradition. In Bangkok, contemporary cuisine reflects the city’s theatrical, sky-high approach to dining.
Availability, schedules and participation requirements can change, so travelers should confirm the latest details directly with each resort, restaurant or festival organizer before finalizing a trip.
