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Ben Groundwater

Ben Groundwater

Travel writer

Ben Groundwater is a Sydney-based travel writer, columnist, broadcaster, author and occasional tour guide with more than 25 years’ experience in media, and a lifetime of experience traversing the globe. He specialises in food and wine – writing about it, as well as consuming it – and at any given moment in time Ben is probably thinking about either ramen in Tokyo, pintxos in San Sebastian, or carbonara in Rome. Follow him on Instagram @bengroundwaterConnect via email.

Hotels and cruise ships shouldn’t be forcing staff to compete with each other.

A hotel staffer begged me for a good review. Her job was on the line

The travel industry’s obsession with reviews is turning life into The Hunger Games for staff. It has to stop.

  • Ben Groundwater
The Orchard at Hamad International Airport.

Best of the best: This is the ultimate airport

We can only dream of airport experiences being joyful and carefree because for the most part they are the opposite.

  • Ben Groundwater
In Japan, the price on the menu is the price you pay.

The place where tourist scams and rip-offs don’t exist

To travel in the rest of the world is to be on your guard, wondering if you’re paying too much or being taken advantage of. That doesn’t happen here.

  • Ben Groundwater
Chapulines are a staple dish in parts of Mexico.

This ancient, tasty Mexican snack could be the future of food

What will we all be eating in 10 years’ time? For the answer, perhaps we should look to the past.

  • Ben Groundwater
VIK Vineyard in Millahue, Chile.

The 15 next big things in dining, around the world

From two new Tokyo food precincts to “temperance travel” and Aussie chefs winning awards overseas, there are plenty of things happening in the world of food and wine.

  • Ben Groundwater
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Katy Perry in space on board Blue Origin. 

The future of travel? Sorry Katy Perry, this ain’t it

You don’t know how ridiculous you seem to the rest of the world until Jeff Bezos shoots you into space in his phallic rocket.

  • Ben Groundwater
Simple ingredients create something amazing.

‘We cherish everything’: How the Japanese make perfect drinks

This is a country in which every art form and indeed every practice in life is taken seriously, with patience and skill applied to their perfection.

  • Ben Groundwater
In the past, only a select few travel photographers had an outlet where their images could be seen by a wide audience. Now, everyone does.

The big (new) problem with taking photos on holiday

I love the gorgeous and inspiring photos from a particular influencer. But there’s a problem – something I’ve noticed from him, and from plenty of other people on social media too.

  • Ben Groundwater
Turkey’s favourite egg recipe, menemen, is made with eggs, tomatoes and spices.

This egg-cellent dish is Turkey’s gift to the world

Is there any single ingredient greater, more versatile, more delicious, than a simple egg?

  • Ben Groundwater
Sorry, Auckland Airport, but I’m not really interested in receiving marketing updates from you.

No, I don’t want emails from the world’s most boring airport thanks

Everywhere travellers go these days, someone is demanding their email address – in return for free Wi-Fi or to be able to buy something. Here’s how I dodge it.

  • Ben Groundwater

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/traveller/by/ben-groundwater-hveu0