One of the best things about travelling is the food. Every culture can offer a different culinary experience. When your travelling, you may only get to spend a couple of days in a city, so you want to make sure you get to experience the best of the food culture around you.
We’re going to let you in on a little secret, the key to finding the best food is to get off the tourist trails. Not only will you find the best food eaten by locals, but you’ll also usually find that it saves you some pennies too.
Here are a few tips to help you get off the beaten track and emerge yourself in food culture.
Do Your Research
There is an abundance of information out there for foodies, with so much choice, it’s about researching to find the right restaurants for you. Along with your favourite travel books, websites and shows you can look for travel sections in the newspapers which will have the latest trendy restaurants, check out some of the online blogs seeking out the adventurous cuisines or check a culinary experience platform.
Speak to friends or family who may have travelled to the places you are going; other travellers are always happy to pass on their recommendations.
Hit The Streets
One of the most authentic ways to eat like a local is to hit the streets and stumble upon a hidden gem. One place to start is local marketplaces; you’ll find some of the freshest produce, some incredible street food while experiencing the local buzz.
If you are lucky, you might be able to time your holiday with a local food festival where you are sure to experience the local food culture. These happen all year round, all over the world, from summer seafood festivals to food trucks at music festivals, to the winter Christmas markets.
Learn The Language
A pretty good indication of a local restaurant is that the menu is written in the local language, this is where learning the language, or the basics at least will help you to find some incredible food.
Learning the language will also help you to ask locals you may come across, ask your local taxi driver, someone at your hostel or a local at the bar when you are asking them to remember to ask where they would go with their friends to avoid a touristy recommendation.
Be Adventurous
Don’t be afraid to try something new, if you happen to stumble upon a local restaurant, let them curate the menu or try a local cooking class. Every culture has its delicacy, and the only way to truly eat like a local is to try their local dish. Whether it be Pad Thai in Thailand, a Sunday roast in London or a Vindaloo in India, you’re sure to eat some delicious treats.
Step out of the central hub and explore new areas, you’ll find that taking a bus ride out of the city or simply walking into less well-known areas take you straight off the beaten track.
And that’s it! By following the above tips, you’ll be able to eat like a local and make the most out of your next overseas trip. Not only will you save money, but you’ll have some beautiful memories to remember for years to come.
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