Food travel allows you to understand an area through the food and drinks that are prepared, consumed, and shared within it. It transforms your trip into a learning experience because each dish has its own history, its own climate, its own trade relationships and its own daily routines. To go beyond popular restaurants and create a plan around the markets, regional specialties, and daily meals will allow you to explore your destinations using food and flavor.
This book will explain how to develop a plan to use food-based exploration, identify and select authentic and valuable experiences, and confidently and respectfully consume local cuisine.
1. Begin With Food-Based Regional Geography Rather Than Simply With Popular Spots
Understanding what a region can grow and produce provides the foundation for good food exploration. Ingredients locally grown influence local flavor.
Useful places to begin:
- Climate and staple products: grains, seafood, spices, oils, and seasonal products
- Regional dishes: What do people typically eat at their homes versus in the areas most tourists visit?
- Meal culture: How are meals typically prepared and eaten? When are they eaten? And what are commonly used shared plates.
There is a general rule that applies here; if you see a long line of people waiting to buy something, then learn why they want it so badly.
2. Utilize Markets As The Best Method Of Learning A Cuisine
The same types of food that people eat on a day-to-day basis, and the methods in which they prepare these foods, are represented in markets. Markets also represent some of the least expensive methods to try numerous foods.
Ways to effectively utilize markets:
- Arrive early to have access to the greatest variety of products, and the fewest amount of people.
- Sample small amounts of products to experience multiple items without throwing away anything.
- Ask the vendors what is available during this time of year and how they would normally prepare it.
- Some common market stops that are likely to generate significant value:
- Stalls selling fresh produce and spices
- Areas where street food is sold and the vendors tend to sell out of their product quickly
- Simple local bakeries, and casual lunch counters
Using markets allows you to gain knowledge of flavor patterns much quicker than any guidebook listing.
3. Select Food Experiences That Include Context
When you include the stories and skills behind a meal, it increases the value of the meal. Your goal is to leave with knowledge, not simply photographs.
- Experiences that typically will increase value:
- Cooking classes that begin with selecting the ingredients
- Walking tours of neighborhoods led by experts who are familiar with the area and the culture
- Visiting farms, vineyards, or fisheries, and gaining an honest view of how they are produced
- Indicators of quality to look for:
- Groups that are relatively small, and clearly defined schedules
- The practical application of learning, rather than simply sampling food
- Clearly defined prices and inclusions
Adding context to a meal, allows you to transform eating into cultural awareness.
4. Be Adventurous In Your Eating Habits But Remain Safe and Respectful
You should enjoy trying new foods, but you should not have to take risks while doing so. There are several habits that can help prevent stomach problems, and give you more confidence when eating new foods.
Safe practices:
- Select busy vendors who tend to sell out of their products quickly.
- Opt for products that are made fresh, and served immediately after cooking.
- Keep bottled water, and some snack foods with you, so you do not have to rush into making a decision when you are hungry.
You need to be respectful as well:
- Find out about the customs of the country you are visiting (i.e. sharing, tips, quiet hours, etc.)
- Do not take pictures of food stalls, or home-cooked meals without permission.
- Be willing to accept different flavors, without judging them.
Travelers who treat food as a cultural language – not as mere entertainment, will return from their trips with memories that are deeper, with a greater understanding of what makes each destination unique and with a more knowledgeable sense of what makes each destination unique.
Conclusion
To use food and flavor as a tool to deepen your travels, you first must understand that the local cuisine of an area represents the identity of the place. The most effective method to accomplish this is to start with local ingredients, utilize markets to educate yourself quickly, and to choose experiences that provide you with context through people and stories. By utilizing safe practices and being culturally sensitive, you will be able to enjoy the adventure of eating new foods sustainably, and with confidence.