Your 2022 Foodie Bucket List

Veganuary is a great way to kickstart your new year in a healthy way. After a festive season of binge eating, why not balance things out by trying a vegan dish? The Gate in London is an award-winning spot from brothers Michael and Adrian Daniel, who bring their Indo-Iraqi heritage to their carefully curated menu. A great place to tick off your first challenge in your 2022 bucket list, if you find yourself in the Big Smoke.

February is all about Valentine’s Day and Random Acts of Kindness, so why not plan a surprise meal out for a loved one in your life? Whether you choose to spoil mum, catch-up with your bestie or treat your other half, make their day and take them out. Somewhere like Glasgow’s The Butterfly and The Pig perhaps? Somewhere that wows them the minute they step through the door and makes them feel extra special.

Always know what you want for your meal before you even arrive at the restaurant? How about letting someone else do the ordering for you? Whether it’s your plus one for the evening or the group you’re out with, it could be a good way to break from the norm and try something new and exciting. Take Fhior in Edinburgh for example. This fancy venue keeps diners on their toes by changing up their menu every season. Previous dishes have included aged duck with turnip and scurvy grass. Imaginative, bold – we’re certain you’ll love these guys and this challenge.

Get out and about in April and challenge yourself to find the most Instagrammable venue you can. One of our favourites is Stock Kitchen and Bar in Belfast. Located above the city’s historic indoor market, this place is Instagrammable both in terms of the venue itself and its photogenic food.

From Nepalese to Cantonese, from Cuban to Malaysian, May is the time to try a new cuisine. Who knows, it might become your new favourite? We particularly like Keshk. Not only is it nestled in a beautiful village in Dublin’s suburbs, their Turkish-Mediterranean menu offers some mouthwatering dishes, including the must-try Charcoaled Kafta – made with minced lamb and onions, fresh parsley, and a mix of seven Mediterranean spices. Yum.

Explore somewhere altogether different in June by trying somewhere quirky. They could have the coolest interiors you’ve ever seen or a surprising menu that’s themed on something you’d never expect. One of our favourites is Dog Bowl in Manchester. Inspired by New York, this place boasts retro arcade games and a bowling alley for a guaranteed fun night. We’re sure you won’t have seen anything like this place!

Lap up the sunshine in July by dining al fresco style. There are some great beer gardens and outdoor dining options around the UK and Ireland. We particularly like Fletcher’s in Liverpool. Residing in the former home of the Fletcher family that built the Allerton Manor House in the 1800s, this is one of the most unique places in the city – actually, make that the country – for al fresco dining!

Never heard of a food safari? It’s about to become your favourite thing; think pub crawl, but with food! August is the month to let our your wild side on a safari unlike any you may have been on before. Bristol’s superb for any foodie and one of the places to stop by on your food safari is Root. A small independent restaurant, with a terrace overlooking Bristol’s harbouside, this restaurant offers veggie-led, tapas-style dishes you’re bound to love.

Give yourself a trip to look forward to in September to a new destination or an old favourite. You can choose wherever you want to go, but your itinerary has to be foodie led. For this reason we love Cardiff. The Welsh city is a smorgasbord of indulging restaurants for all tastes. One of the most unique is Vivo Amigo, where “East Meets West”. A menu bursting with an international flair that incorporates both Indian and Mexican cuisines to create a totally unique and rule-breaking taste sensation, this place is a no-brainer.

We all have our favourite restaurant(s) that are consistently great for us. A menu that ticks our boxes. A dish that gets us doing our happy food dance. Well October is all about treating yourself by going back to your favourite place. A favourite of ours in Newcastle is Coop. Juicy flame roasted chicken cooked to perfection over a fire pit… what’s not to love?

You revisited your favourite restaurant in October, now November is all about supporting the smaller, independent venues. Wherever you are, support your local business, whether it’s a family-run place or a new venture. We’re fans of Aye in Cork. This place is full of positivity, great food and good drinks.

Can you believe your 2022 foodie bucket list is nearly over? What an adventure it’s been! Celebrate the success with your family and friends by rounding them up for one unforgettable evening of food, drink and company. The Noose and Monkey in Aberdeen is spot on for any group with locally sourced food and over 80 gins to choose from!

All you have to do to start planning your 2022 food adventure is sign in or sign up to Dish Cult and then browse through our amazing restaurants to begin discovering your new favourites. You can add them to your own personal list simply by hitting the “+ My List” button.