Traveling the world for work is both a pleasure and a privilege — even with the 20-hour days that are often inevitable with a life on the road. The frequent travelers I meet on the road and in the sky — no matter how serious or how senior — have developed their habits and routines. When in conversation with someone, if I notice they take particular interest in a subject — be it food, wine, sports, etc. — I always ask if they have a favorite. I have found that food is always a safe and pleasurable topic to discuss with strangers. Favorite foods and food types very much vary from country to country. One common denominator — should people want to admit it or not — is chocolate! I have found that chocolate is always a uniting factor, crossing cultures in leaps and bounds! Every region of the world produces its own variation of chocolate, from France to Korea and beyond. Everyone has their favorite. Personally, while I hardly discriminate against any chocolate, I’d choose Marcolini’s from Brussels. My favorite shop is in the Petit Sablon. The shop’s small window filled with chocolate treasures has made many a passerby stop and gawk. Anyone who dares to enter immediately becomes a repeat customer. So, tell me, what food do you try in every country you visit? How are certain regional variations similar or different from your favorites? –Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher