How to Be Adventurous With Food on Holiday

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I have an old friend that I worked with for ten years. We shared many meals together, both in restaurants and from food being delivered to work. She would often tease me that I was so boring and predictable. I grumbled to her she was wrong, but in retrospect now looking back I know she was right. Now when I go out I first look at meals I think that I might like that I haven’t had before. If I find myself leaning towards dishes I have already had I will try to pick other things, unless the item I am wanting is so amazing there that noone else makes it as well. Megan shared some thoughts with me about the meals we eat while on vacation, which I am sharing with you.

“Variety is the Spice of Life”

There’s nothing quite like enjoying an evening with your favorite meal – even if you had the same yesterday. Comfort food is just that — comfort — and the type of menu you enjoy regularly is influenced certainly by your culture and upbringing. That’s exactly what’s so enjoyable in a vacation, as it broadens your horizons and presents a real culinary adventure. Here are a few tips to make the most out of your appetizing trip abroad:

Developing an adventurous attitude towards food on holiday

Most people can afford to go abroad at least once now, thanks to the availability of so many options for cheap holidays, which is a good start. Even if it’s only a trip down to Mexico for a few days, this is going to provide the opportunity to experiment with some new dishes you’ve never tasted before.

Fast-food and western restaurants are now a global phenomenon and whilst it’s tempting to stick with what you know, do your best to look beyond the familiar. It pays to be adventurous, and this means have a willingness to leave your usual culinary comfort zone.

Trying the national dishes

You can now usually find affordable holidays in exotic countries like Thailand, China, Japan, and Vietnam, and these destinations provide some of the best opportunities for culinary adventures. The food in these parts of the world also tends to be pretty healthy because most meals are made with lots of fresh vegetables and spices. You might even be able to stock up on the particularly tasty spices to take home. A willingness to “try anything once” is going to help you get the most out of this type of holiday — you can test this resolve by experimenting with something particularly unusual like fried grasshopper!

Continuing the adventure back home

One of the most fun things to do while traveling abroad is to go on a cookery course. These may only last a few hours, but they’re terrific fun, and you’ll usually get to learn more about the culture as well as learning how to cook the food. It’s common on these courses to visit a market, and this is a fabulous way to learn about the local ingredients. The best thing about cooking courses abroad means you can take the taste of your vacation home to impress those friends and colleagues.

Why don’t you turn your next holiday into a culinary adventure? You’re sure to enjoy some unforgettable experiences, and you’ll be developing a deeper understanding of the local culture. Take away the tips from a cooking course and meal times can be much more interesting when you get home.

When you go out to eat are you the predictable type that sticks to order “safe food” or are you the adventurous type that orders something completely new?