God bless the points offered 19 culinary experiences you must have before you die. I agree with many – though not all – of his list and would add my own.

I’ve been known to travel just for a meal. For example, I flew to Barcelona just to have dinner at El Bulli, even though it was the hardest reservation in the world, and it also involved a two-hour train ride. Ferran Adria exceeded expectations!

But I’m not sure I’d fly to Singapore for the chilli crab – although I’d go for the food – and I’m not sure it makes sense to hop across the pond for an authentic British afternoon tea. Cornmeal tacos aren’t my first choice in Mexico.

So here is my suggestion, along with some comments on Gilbert’s excellent list.

• Barbecue from Central Texas Not just barbecue “in the South.” The barbecue you want for a meal will be in Central Texas. That means the emphasis will be on meat — mostly beef — with no gravy or sauce just for dipping. The meat should be delicious enough on its own, and you don’t want to hide that taste. After my first barbecue pilgrimage a decade ago, I finally got it.

  Every place on the Texas monthly A top 50 list would be good, but unfortunately this year’s list got out of hand with its rankings. Go to Franklin. Go to Leroy & Lewis. Go to Interstellar. Just go.

  
  Franklin Grill

• Tokyo Sushi. I would argue that a trip to Tokyo just for the sushi makes sense – and this is not just true for Japan, the concentration of excellent places in Tokyo itself is significant because (1) the competition is fierce, (2) the concentration of the top places results in a sophisticated supply chain that provides access to the best fish, and (3) there is a customer base that understands the nuances of quality and demands it from the best chefs.

  

• Street food in Bangkok GSTP says Thai curry but I would expand on it. Bangkok has some of the best street food in the world.

  

  

• Hawker Center in Singapore not just chilli crab. I’ve always enjoyed East Coast Lagoon Village, even if their stalls didn’t have the best selection of dishes. Alfresco, alfresco, by the water – it’s an incredible evening out to try numerous Southeast Asian dishes. You can check a website like Open Rice for reviews of the best places, or just turn up at a hawker centre and get in the longest line. Great food, cheap and conveniently located to try numerous other great things.

  

• Take a culinary tour of Malaysia, no matter where you are in the country. I like Gilbert’s article, but the word “Malaysia” only appears once and only in connection with nasi goreng in Indonesia. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good nasi goreng and it’s my go-to dish on my first night in Southeast Asia, sitting in a hotel in the middle of the night and jet-lagged.

  But any list like this has to take a closer look at Malaysia – both Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, but especially Penang.

  
  Prawn Mee Soup

• Should there be afternoon tea here? Gilbert lists a British afternoon tea. I have just never been a big fan of the foodalthough all this splendour might be of interest to some. And if you want to pass the time, maybe have tea at the Burj al Arab in Dubai? They put gold flakes in their cappuccinos.

  

• Coffee and breakfast in Australia Hmm. Melbourne is an incredible foodie city and parts of Australia have a great coffee culture – although you can find that in many parts of Asia too. I’ve eaten some of my favourite meals in Australia, but oddly not my favourite breakfast. My first meal at Tetsuya in Sydney 19 years ago was a revelation!

  
  Oriole Cafe & Bar at Pan Pacific on Orchard Road

• Cornmeal tacos in Mexico Personally, I prefer tamales to tacos and focus on the finer points of a great mole that has been aged for several years, but I’m still happy to see Mexico on this list.

  

• Pastries in France. Really, and baked goods in general, and chocolate too. There is an artistry and a drive for perfection, not just the production of a mass product, that you can find if you look for it. There’s really no reason to ever eat a baguette again after trying a competition-winning one in France.

  

  

• Dosa in India? I think so, but I have actually found that some of the best restaurants in India are in hotels (one of my favorites is Souk in the Taj Palace, Mumbai) and that some of the best Chinese Restaurants are in India.

  I certainly had great food in Chennai, but overall I prefer Sri Lankan food. Is it weird if I often prefer Indian food in Malaysia?

  
  Roti in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

• Jamon and Queso in Spain? Tapas in general, sure, and Barcelona in particular is a fantastic city for foodies. I personally wouldn’t make the trip for that reason alone, but if you do, spend your time as far away from Las Ramblas as possible.

  

Perhaps the most important thing is to discover local foods wherever you are and take a little of that knowledge home with you. I think my absolute favorite way to eat fruit and vegetables is covered in sugar and hot sauce (Sri Lanka). And my favorite dishes are Thai chicken with cashews and tom yam goong.

And the truth is: I enjoy a plate of kottu or a falooda as much as I enjoy visiting the best restaurants in the world – as long as they have a chef who is at the top of his game, who combines his unique knowledge, his cultural understanding and the right ingredients and prepares and serves them in the most meticulous way.

Pho Hoa in Saigon is as good as Amber in Hong Kong for me (although all things being equal, I’d prefer Bo Innovation). It’s about enjoying the effort and ritual, the precision and the pursuit of perfection, no matter what the dish.

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