Ben Groundwater
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 @bengroundwater
- Opinion
- Air travel
$11k for an economy flight to London? Why airlines are not your friends
Airlines always like to pretend to be your friend. Until they sniff a little desperation and then they absolutely fleece you for all you’re worth.
- Ben Groundwater
Latest
This harmonious dish is one of Asia’s greatest gifts to the world
The phrase “meat salad” isn’t all that appetising. And yet, laab is a spectacular cornucopia of flavours, all in perfect harmony.
- Ben Groundwater
The places that will surprise, confuse or scare you (and five that do all three)
Everything is outsized when you’re away from home in an unfamiliar environment, seeing new things, meeting new people, challenging yourself to survive and thrive.
- Ben Groundwater
How to enjoy the simple life on a Japanese farm stay
This tourist experience offers a delicious taste of the simple life in Kyushu and insight into the Japanese concept of “ikigai”.
- Ben Groundwater
- Opinion
- Train journeys
I took high-speed trains in four countries. We are an embarrassment
Want to know the height of sophistication? It’s standing up while travelling at 300km/h, eating a tostada with jamon iberico, and sipping an icy beer.
- Ben Groundwater
This comfort-food dish is one of Chile’s favourites
What do you get when you cross cottage pie with empanadas, and multiply that by tamales with a touch of moussaka?
- Ben Groundwater
- Opinion
- My happy place
I lived in this joyful European city for a year. In my heart, I never left
I’ve been visiting this wonderful European city for almost 25 years. I love it so much, in fact, that I decided to live there.
- Ben Groundwater
- Opinion
- Foodie travel
I’ve tried all the world’s hangover cures. Here are the 11 best
Almost every nation with an established drinking culture will also have an established ritual to mitigate the after-effects of that boozing.
- Ben Groundwater
The secret I’m not supposed to tell you about Japan’s famous onsen town
My guide reveals the risque reason many people flock to this hot-spring hotspot. Then we get naked together.
- Ben Groundwater
The two indulgent parts of this dish have no right to go together
It’s a true luxury to pile one expensive ingredient on top of another. It first became popular among the nouveau riche in the 19th century. Now you can find it at the pub.
- Ben Groundwater