Am I the only one who thinks about planning out my meals on vacation? I'm always checking out restaurants and menus online and thinking about what I'll eat. Going on the assumption that I'm not the only one - here are a few tips around food!
Eat Where the Locals Do
Advance research is fun, but consider asking a local their favorite place to eat. For this one the concierge at your hotel doesn't count. I'm talking about the clerk at the convenience store who you chatted with when you stopped to buy a pack of gum, or the mom you sat next to on the park bench while you rested for a few minutes and let your kids run around like crazy people. Ask THOSE people where they go to get away from tourists. This will often lead you to a gem you may not have otherwise discovered. And once you're there - strike up a conversation with your waiter or waitress - they might give you a lead on a can’t miss experience.
Try the Local Cuisine
One of the best ways to feel like you’re understanding and connecting with a new culture is to actually eat the local cuisine. Try to stop yourself from being that person who only eats pasta with tomato sauce everywhere she goes. I was never quite like that, but I have been known to stick with what I know I like. I also understand that it can be scary to try new foods - especially if you have an allergy or if you’re vegetarian like me. The last thing I want to do is have an allergic reaction or accidentally eat some sort of animal that my body is not trained to process. But most chefs and waitstaff will be happy to help you make sure that you can try a new food safely. If you’re polite and friendly and explain whatever your circumstance is - they can help you find something that is authentic to the locale yet still within your safety zone. It’s worth the effort!
Try this during your travels - and let me know how it turns out!
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