World Travelers' Food Companion
Want to know the difference between Indonesian mee goreng and nasi goreng? How about learning a few Thai food terms before your next Thai restaurant adventure? And what are those special, fragrant ingredients in Vietnamese springrolls and dipping sauces?
This World Food Companion section of The Recipe for Travel is expanding all the time with more information about the culinary attractions and history of destinations around the world, including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico, to name a few. (If you'd like to stay 'tuned in' as the site expands, please check your options here.)
So, what's it like to sample food around the world?
When I'm planning a trip, one of the first things I want to know is what and where to eat. Do they have lots of seafood? What's the regional or national dish? What are the unique ingredients and cooking methods of the cuisine? How much does food cost, and can my budget handle the restaurant prices? What are the recommendations about eating street food?
I want to try everything, at least once, and I am often paralyzed in a 'menu complex' over the choices, (a state that has unfortunately tried the patience of my travel and food companions on occasion). If I'm on a very tight budget and I know restaurants are going to test it, I will plan ahead for one splurge for the food or regional dish that is unique to the country and as different from home as I can get.
I spend as much time learning about, admiring and experiencing the food as I do with major tourist attractions, often spending hours strolling through streets and markets taking in the sights and smells and sounds, and sampling or settling into an irresistable and inexpensive meal. I'll study restaurant ads and menu boards outside a dozen restaurants before settling on the one that most appeals to my appetite and budget. Of course, if the restaurant has a great view of the ocean from an outdoor patio, that gets extra points!
"But, don't you ever get sick?"
Many people are alarmed at how daring I am with my stomach, especially when they hear about my total immersion into the street food culture of Thailand and Mexico. In all my years of traveling and eating around the world, including two years of round-the-world travel with six months in Southeast Asia, I've only had one tiny bout of queasiness over a couple of days on Sumatra in Indonesia. In fact, during that two years of travel, I had never eaten so well or felt so healthy in my life. Some might argue that I have just been very lucky, but I think I have found a good, safe balance of common sense and adventure.
I don't recommend trying everything, and I do recommend a few common sense tips for sampling the full range of the food on offer throughout your travels:
- at street and market stalls, do watch the cooking for awhile to ensure that the ingredients are fresh and the food is being cooked thoroughly; if you have any doubts, move on to the next vendor
- if you don't see it being cooked, and you don't know how long it's been sitting out, take a pass; (I admit I've tested this one a few times, depending on the type of food, the climate and the state of cleanliness of the place)
- choose vendors, whether street, market or restaurants, that have a good steady flow of customers - not only is the food probably very good, but the turnover probably means fresher food
- ask your guesthouse host and any other residents you meet for their favourite places to eat, and for recommendations on dishes to order
- follow the other food safety tips you find in travel guides, like recommendations about water, ice cubes, and peeling fruit and vegetables
If food features large for you in your travels, or you enjoy traveling the world from your own kitchen, The World Traveler's Food Companion features an ever-expanding collection of international recipes and cooking tips, trip planning resources, and inspirational stories about traveling and eating around the world. Be sure to check your options for 'staying tuned in' as The Recipe for Travel grows.
