I loved the bulgogi—marinated beef on a stick—that we bought on the street in South Korea, but I could definitely pass on another serving of ugali in Kenya. I ate both of these, however, and will continue to sample new foods as I travel the world.
Food is an essential part of international travel, and anyone who passes from one country to another but only eats at the recognizable worldwide joints is definitely missing out on an important cultural experience (though this is not to say that a meal at the local McDonald’s isn’t worth a stop).
It is over a meal that we can truly get to know the people who live in a country. Only by eating at a local hole-in-the-wall a couple blocks off of the main drag do we experience authentic flavors that are masked in the touristy areas of a city. Friendships and business relationships are created over communal meals. Recipes—passed down through generations—ensure the continuation of a culture in the face of all things mainstream.
My husband once knew a girl who traveled abroad with six weeks worth of Ramen noodles, juice boxes and potato chips. She didn’t want to “spend any money” on food. Not only did she not spend any money, but she missed out completely on the rich cultural experience she could have found over kimchi and soju.
I recently wrote an article for Copia Magazine about the importance of eating while traveling. When I asked fellow travel folks on Twitter why food was an important part of their travel experiences, I was overwhelmed with responses:
Uncornered Market suggested that food is an easy way to connect with locals, and that, once you start chatting with people over a meal, the conversation can lead in a million different directions. Independent Traveler noted that the rituals surrounding food are vital to a particular country’s culture … and that the food is often delicious. Both Andy Hayes and Leslie G mentioned that food is an essential element to a cultural experiences, and that many times it IS the experience.
So now I ask you: Why is trying local food important to you when you travel?
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Abbie
Being a vegetarian that also wants to try local foods helps me to expand even my vegetarian horizons by trying something I might not usually due to limited choices
November 9, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Candice
Totally agree with everything you just said. Food is the one big thing I don’t mind indulging in when I travel, it’s one of the best things about in a new place. That potato chip girl is nuts! Not to mention properly suffering from clogged arteries by now.
November 9, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Cory
I love having a chance to eat new foods when I travel. My biggest issue is the difficulty in finding the right ingredients to remake a favorite dish when we get back to the states.
November 10, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Selene
I guess my answer is the same as many others – I love good food! And authentic ingredients and means of preparation are KEY. The sites, tastes, smells and ambiance of meals in cultures other than my own grounds me in actually being there – a different place, a different time, a different way of living and being. All this is definitely worth the “risk” of trying something I “don’t like” and never having to eat it again if I don’t want to, because there are a zillion other tasty delights out there to try or enjoy again. And, I agree with Cory. The hardest part is having to “go without” that certain mmmmm…. something! that made a given dish soooo fantastic in it’s native land because just isn’t reproducible in my own home town or personal kitchen. But really, small price to pay.
November 12, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Gray
Trying new and different foods is definitely part of the joy of traveling–to me, at least. That is an important part of my travel budget. I’m certainly never going to eat sheep testicles or bugs of any kind. Just…no. And I could see not being too adventurous if you had certain dietary restrictions. Like if you have gluten allergies or you’re lactose intolerant, how the heck do you deal with that when in a foreign culture? But I can’t imagine traveling to another country and not taking the opportunity to try authentic cuisine of that country. I would feel as though I were missing something.
November 12, 2009 at 4:34 pm
AdventureRob
The potato chips girl is loopy.
I believe variety is the spice of life, if you don’t at least try local food why are you there? It quite literally is getting the culture inside you. May as well be at home and look at pictures of your desired destination on the internet if you’re not going to try the local cuisine.
November 12, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Shelley G
I’m that picky eater that everyone hates. At home, I’m the annoying friend who always orders the same thing (although I’m still open to trying new places!).
But when I’m abroad, I completely agree that trying the local cuisine is a MUST! It’s a great way to connect with locals and gain insight into the culture though another sense. Food and regional history and culture are so intertwined. Even though I know there’s a good chance that I won’t love what I’m trying, I’d feel like I was missing out on an important piece of the experience if I didn’t at least try.
November 12, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Nancy
Local cuisine is one of the best ways to create a relationship with a new country. Eating local food abroad facilitates understanding of the people and surroundings. Plus, the food in international travel is usually insanely delicious!
November 16, 2009 at 8:35 am
Melissa
I agree whole heartedly that you aren’t getting the entire experience abroad without sampling the local cuisine and would like to suggest an addition to all of the great ideas above.
I am a true believer that one of the best ways to get a peek into the local culture is to visit a local grocery store or market. I’m not talking about the grocery store in the tourist center of the location you’re visiting, I mean go to the outskirts of a city where families are buying weekly groceries and observe
the local people. Not only will you get to see the different foods, packaging, branding and marketing tactics of producers overseas (you may also be surprised at how many of your favorites you’ll find from home in some locations), you’ll get to really see how a local person functions on a day to day basis. I’m fascinated by local markets – the cultural norms that may be widely accepted aren’t the same as at home – and watching the way local people interact in what some may consider a “mundane” daily activity can be a window into a side of life you might not otherwise get to experience when abroad.
Thanks for the lovely article!
November 16, 2009 at 9:42 am
Lisa Bergren
Two of our most memorable meals in Tuscany were when we were eating family-style at long tables–one in an inn and one in an osteria. Both times, we met fellow travelers and locals who advised on places to go that we might have missed. Shared food brings people together like insta-family. And, well, if you’re a foodie, that’s just the bonus!
November 16, 2009 at 10:01 am
brian from nodebtworldtravel.com
I take pics of new food whenever I can. I love the new tastes and textures, trying to pronounce the words.
Ramen noodle girl missed out on so much.
And how much do you have to pack for 6 weeks? Did she have a whole suitcase dedicated to Ramen noodles and potato chips?
I’d like to see a blog post about that!
November 16, 2009 at 11:20 am
Nellie
hey Joanne, I strongly believe that food holds the key to a country’s culture and personality. Without trying its characteristic dishes, it’s almost like you’d never visited the country. You know it inside out through its flavors and smells.
I am a travel-food snob in a way: no McDonalds when traveling. The first place I go for food is always the local’s market – like Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh, or Cairo’s biggest souk for the spices, and Dar Es Salaam’s seafood market.
I also write a blog on gustatory travel – think you’ll enjoy it! Thanks for the great article.
November 16, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Louise
Eating how the locals eat is key, and you don’t have to go far and wide to do it. On a recent trip to New York City I had an egg cream at Lexington Candy Shop and a “famous” corned-beef sandwich at Carnegie deli. I’ll admit the egg cream wasn’t my favorite, but now I can say I’ve had one!
November 19, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Akila
Well, obviously, we think food is a critical part of travel – that’s what our site is all about! Food is the common denominator for all cultures, all people, all across the world. When we eat what the locals eat, we experience their way of understanding the world.
I met a guy in New Zealand who told me that he spent his entire time subsisting on food from 7-11 while in Japan because he didn’t think he would be able to get vegetarian food. I struggle because of my vegetarianism but I still eat locally.
December 4, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Lauren Quinn
Totally agree! I traveled as a vegan for four years, and not only was finding something to eat a total pain in the ass (had to pack lots of protein bars), I really didn’t get to experience much in the way of regional cuisines. My last two trips as an omnivore have been awesome—a whole new world has opened up!
I completely respect the decision to be vegetarian and vegan, but coming from someone who’s been on both sides of the fence, I can attest to the fact that you experience a lot more of a culture when you eat its food. And for what it’s worth, meats in countries like Morocco are almost exclusively free-range and hormone-free, despite not having fancy certifications….
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