Balcarce, Argentina

This sleepy town of 38,823 is hardly the culinary capital it claims to be. The Postre Balcarce, a local cake specialty, may be the area's "flagship product," but that's about the only thing going for it. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the cake's branding divided between two competing confectioners - one in Balcarce itself, and another in the nearby city of Mar del Plata. If you're seeking a quiet, provincial life centered around a single dessert, Balcarce may be your cup of tea. Otherwise, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.