SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Food and drink are a big part of what travel is all about and we’ve picked out some mouth-watering destinations to visit by car this spring!

As warmer weather approaches, why not discover the very best in sights, smells and taste when you travel with P&O Ferries by visiting these incredible destinations all WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE of Calais.

And by using the Free Flexi Ticket Upgrade offer on the Dover-Calais route for travel between Monday, April 20 and Wednesday, September 30, you have the flexibility to set sail at a time that suits you for long breaks.

Sightseeing and relaxation tops the list for most holidaymakers but for many, the real experience of travel is in the taste. Savouring the gastronomic journey over a few glasses of wine, in local restaurants and cafes, can make any journey worthwhile. Local cuisine can also tell you so much about the area you’re visiting and its fascinating history.

For example, did you know that the famous French dish Coq Au Vin was, according to legend, one of Julius Caesar’s personal favourites during the Gallic Wars? Or that the Dutch began salting herring at the around the turn of the fourteenth century to help ease post-harvest losses.

Did you also know that Belgium’s chocolate industry goes back some 400 years or that Germany came up with a recipe for leftover roast at around 800AD called Sauerbraten?

Check out our top five destinations for food and drink within driving distance of Calais:

Meert

Where: Lille, France (27 rue Esquermoise, 59800)

Driving time from the Port of Calais: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Chocolates and waffles are mostly associated with Belgium so you’d be forgiven for wondering why this historic eatery in Lille has been picked for those with guilty (and sugary) pleasures! Being a mere 40 minutes away from the Belgian border, Meert is famed for its sumptuous chocolate and waffles as well as its French gourmet restaurant. Serving kings, viceroys and generals since 1761, Meert is a must visit whether its a morning, afternoon or evening.

La Jacobine

Where: Paris, France (59 rue Saint Andre des Arts, Passage du commerce saint andré des arts, 75006)

Driving time from the Port of Calais: 3 hours and 20 minutes

When you close your eyes and imagine fabulous French cooking in a picturesque eatery in Paris - then La Jacobine is that perfect vision. Hugely popular during both lunch and dinner services, this restaurant within the historic cobblestone Cour du Commerce Saint Andre passageway is famed for its famous food as well as its location. Those seeking quality Coq Au Vin or French Onion Soup are in for a treat!

Moeders

Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands (Rozengracht 251, 1016 SX)

Driving time from the Port of Calais: 3 hours and 45 minutes

Looking to give mum a really special Mother’s Day treat? This fancy mother-themed restaurant in Amsterdam will be a surprise she won’t forget. Serving Dutch favourites and classics including traditional herring and pea soup, this quirky eatery is lined with hundreds of pictures of mothers as well as antiques. It may surprise you to learn that Moeders is Mothers in Dutch!

Lutter & Wegner

Where: Berlin, Germany (Charlottenstrasse 56, 10117)

Driving time from the Port of Calais: 9 hours and 10 minutes

Those looking for the very best in German cuisine cannot go wrong at this hugely impressive restaurant in Berlin with spectacular decor dating back to 1811. Offering customers both traditional dishes (with an Austrian twist) as well new and exciting flavours, this eatery is famed for its Sauerbraten while its Wiener Schnitzel - a popular dish made of veal and breadcrumbs - is also very popular among locals.

Le Zinneke

Where: Brussels, Belgium (Place de la Patrie 26, 1030 Schaerbeek)

Driving time from the Port of Calais: 2 hours and 20 minutes

Offering both traditional dishes and modern twists on classics, this quaint eatery in the north of Brussels has one of the best reputations when it comes to quality Moules Frites (mussels and chips). With its wooden panels and pretty courtyard, Le Zinneke has been around since the mid-fifties and is the go-to place for great traditional Belgium food.

Your holiday dining experience can get underway before you’ve even hopped off the ferry or it can even be capped off on the journey back across the channel! P&O Ferries offer a wide selection of family favourites including a Brasserie restaurant with waiter service where you can enjoy Mediterranean sharing platters and freshly grilled steaks.

You now have the chance TO WIN a return crossing from Dover to Calais for a car and up to two passengers - including complementary priority boarding on the outbound journey - by entering P&O Ferries competition. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

*Terms and Conditions apply. Bookings for the Free Flexi Ticket Upgrade offer must be made before Friday, April 10. For further information and to book your trip visit poferries.com