How to explore local food while travelling
Travelling truly opens our eyes to new sights, sensations, smells and tastes.
Especially the latter smells and tastes.
Yet if you’re someone who does not explore much or likes to remain in their comfort zone, exploring other cultures can seem daunting.
But, once you get the swing of it, doing this is incredibly rewarding, and you can learn so many things. Plus, you broaden your food knowledge on so many tasty delicacies.
We understand, though, that the first step up from eating just the foods you know to completely foreign ones is a daunting one.
Today to help you, we’re going to provide you with some tips on local food adventures and how to make that transition easy.
But before we do so, we need to look at certain factors about local food.
Things to consider before trying local food
When trying local food abroad, you don’t want to do so on a whim. You should have a bit of knowledge on what to look for so you stay healthy and safe while travelling. You will want to think about the following before buying:
- Opt for freshness: The best local food and the healthiest ones are fresh. Ideally, you will want to see your food being cooked as you order. You might also want to know what the common dish is in the area so you can enjoy it.
- Amount of customers: A good indicator of tasty and safe local food places tend to be ones with many customers. Look for ones that have ques and long lines to give you an idea. Don’t always be deceived by long lines, though; it could just be because it’s a busy area. Try and see what locals are ordering and order the same.
- Think twice about salad and ice: Some foreign countries don’t allow you to drink their tap water as it’s unsafe. If you’re travelling in a country where you can’t drink their water, don’t eat their ice or salad. They may have washed the vegetables with that water or used it for ice. You don’t want to take the risk as you’ll be more likely to become ill.
4 ways to try local food
Now you have a bit of an insight on how to stay safe, here are a few ways you can easily try local food.
1. Take a food tour
There’s nothing like taking a food tour from a local and throwing yourself in the deep end amidst the food tasting chaos. We’re confident when you go on a food tour, you will feel good doing so and afterwards. Usually, a food tour involves a guide taking you to several places over a few hours, half-day or full-day and shows you their local cuisine.
There are so many companies you can book food tours online in advance of you visiting that country, like TripAdvisor and Viator, to name a few. Plus there’s a wide range of benefits to them, they allow you to:
- Learn about the culture firsthand from a local
- You’re supporting the local economy and agriculture
- You discover hidden gems and places you may not have found on your own
- You avoid the tourist trap
- Everything is planned for you, so it saves you the stress of finding local food on your own
2. Go to local stores and supermarkets
Ok, so this option is not exactly a bold move as a food tour, but nevertheless, this is still a great step to you trying food different to your own. Take your time to go to foreign supermarkets and look in their aisles to see what they sell that is similar to your home country.
While doing so, look at the unique options you can’t get back home to and buy (if you feel brave enough). Often these supermarkets are a great insight into another culture as they show you what’s popular with the locals. Plus, they are hygienic, well packaged and safe to eat.
3. Take a cooking class
Similar to a local food tour, you can also try a cooking class hosted by a local. Often these cooking classes are hosted in their home, a restaurant or in a safe space. These dishes are definitely healthy and safe because you will be preparing them yourself.
Also, when you’ve created the dish, you’re more than likely going to try it as you’ve made it! While the cooking class is happening, you also get to interact with a local and learn about the history of each dish alongside the ingredients behind it. Further to this, your cooking instructor might recommend good places to go and eat for the remainder of your stay.
4. Visit a farmers market
Farmers markets are such a common thing happening in many countries. Whether it’s a local farmers market or a hipster type up and coming one with vendors, it’s a really great way to explore local dishes.
First of all the produce, they serve you a fresh and straight from the farm themself, so it’s tasty and healthy. Second, there are so many options at a farmers market you will most likely get to try fruits and vegetables that you can’t find in your own country. Plus, you’re supporting the local community.
Conclusion
You don’t have to go to the nearest street food vendor when travelling to taste local food safely and effectively. There are many ways like taking a food tour, cooking class, visiting a supermarket and a farmers market. All of these serve a wide range of benefits while travelling.
Before you try local food, though, make sure it’s hygienic, i.e. you can see it being cooked in front of you. Similarly, try to go to places with a big queue or undergo classes or tours with lots of reviews. Moreover, you should avoid food that’s been cleaned with tap water that you can’t drink.