What is a culinary xenophile?
The American Heritage Dictionary definition of xenophile is "A person attracted to that which is foreign, especially to foreign peoples, manners, or cultures." Combine that with someone obsessed with all things food-related, and you have, well, me: a culinary xenophile.
The phrase, for me, embodies a love for adventure, different cultures, foods and eating customs around the world; openness, curiosity and creativity that will both enrich and be enriched by world travel and international food experiences.
About this Culinary Xenophile and Her Recipe for Travel
So, the short, simple answer to the question: a culinary xenophile is a food and travel lover. My perfect life would have equal amounts of travel and food at all times (whose wouldn't?!), and I have been privileged enough at various stages in my life to travel extensively, taking advantage of both good and bad circumstances to dip into 'temporary retirement'.
At this particular stage, I am once again indulging in a temporary retirement, this time 'travelling' only in my memories and my own kitchen: cooking, writing recipes and developing this Recipe for Travel website, which is meant to be both a food companion for the travel lover and a travel companion for the food lover.
The Recipe for Travel is my way of sharing the stories and lessons learned during a two-year round-the-world 'temporary retirement' and a few shorter world adventures, infused throughout with my passion for food, wherever in the world I find myself.
The traveller will find more than just another travelogue or blog in these pages, with practical how-to tips for planning an around the world trip and then getting the most out of your adventure, safely and responsibly.
The cook and the food lover will get more than just another recipes site or 'where-to-eat' guide, with first hand accounts from markets, kitchens and restaurants dotting the globe -- from someone who rates cuisine and culinary arts at least equal to a destination's other cultural and tourist attractions, and who views cooking and sharing a meal as the most engaging and social of all interactions with friends and strangers alike.
Find out about the culinary xenophile's "other hats".
