Try New Things – Foreign Food is a Delight

Food

Food is a big deal. Especially when you’re traveling. Try to be open-minded . . . one thing I’ve learned is that foreign food can be a real treat. I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and try some new tastes.

If you’re about to visit a new country, you’ll soon discover that our American diet is, well, very American. 

For the Beginner

When I first started to travel internationally I wasn’t into strange or exciting food. I was drawn naturally to familiar American fast-food restaurants, pizza shops and bakeries. There’s a minimal language barrier at a pizza shop or bakery, all you have to do is point at what you want through the glass case. At McDonald’s or any other fast-food restaurant, it’s simple to order the extra value meal you want by showing the appropriate number of fingers and then stating in clear English, “Coca-Cola”.

The advanced traveler might try to also get extra ice for their drink and ketchup for their fries.

For the Intermediate Traveler

Ordering food at a casual or sit-down restaurant where the menu is a foreign language is much easier if you have a working smartphone. Always ask the server if they have a menu in English (it’s shocking how many places do). 

Side Note:

Could you imagine asking for a non-English menu at restaurants in the United States? You’d be laughed out onto the sidewalk!

Helpful Trick

If you can’t secure an English-language menu, there are helpful written-language apps like Google Lens, which I recommend you download before your trip. These special apps allow you to hover your cell phone camera over a group of foreign words or symbols that your phone will instantly translate into English on your screen. 

I believe that in the not-so-distant future smart earbuds will effortlessly translate all languages into English, allowing for simple communication with everyone, everywhere.

Food Issues

If you have a food allergy or intolerance, take the time before your trip to look up and translate your specific allergy or intolerance into the local language. “I can’t have dairy” in French or “gluten-free, please” in Spanish can easily be translated from English. Make a screenshot of your particular food issue and simply show it to your server before you order. 

A Note About Gluten

Two of my closest friends have gluten issues and we’ve traveled all over the world, never having problems finding food. In fact, if gluten is your issue, visit Eastern Europe. By the time you hit Budapest it becomes increasingly difficult to find food made with gluten. 

I’m still not super brave with my food choices, but I can go into most restaurants anywhere in the world and find something to eat. However, I do have my limits. I can’t force myself to eat raw fish. I don’t care for onions or curry and there are some sauces I can’t eat with my eyes open. Anything that’s staring at me with a dead-eye I probably won’t look back at. I’m not a huge fan of mayo, so I’ll usually pass on any white-colored dip.

A Terrible Story

While visiting a northern European country, my travel pal had the nicest extended relatives who invited us to their house for the day. They made a big spread of all the local delicacies, including a big tray of crackers smeared with mayo and sardines. Although my life’s motto is to always be nice, polite and considerate, I couldn’t bring myself to eat the mayo-sardine crackers. I still feel really terrible about this.

Okay Fine, Where Do I Start? 

While traveling, if you find yourself growing tired of McDonald’s, Burger King and Dominos but you’re a little scared of new food, where should you start?

That’s easy. Cheap and easy. Pizza and ice cream!

I also suggest you tiptoe out of your comfort zone and expand your palate by trying local desserts. Pop into sweet shops and you’ll discover that other countries make much better desserts than our bakeries do. Later you’ll also be delighted when you find the cake that you loved in Vienna being recreated and at your corner bakery at home.

If you like ice cream (and who doesn’t?!?!?) I recommend you try versions of ice cream in every corner of the world. There are so many different ways to make ice cream and you’ll find vastly different delicious flavors outside of the United States. 

In my opinion, Italy wins the ice-cream war. Gelato rules.

Street Food Rules

I’ve developed a love for street food and I’ve eaten “on the road” all over the world with no tummy trouble. For the best experience search out the vendor with the longest line and order what everyone else is eating. These places usually only take cash so don’t try to offer a credit card.

Deciding Where to Eat

Before you set out for your day of site-seeing, do a bit of research and see what nearby restaurants and casual dining spots are recommended AND sound good to your group.

I hate to kill spontaneity but it’s a good idea to have a lunch spot pre-selected before you set out for the day.

From my extensive experience, it’s best to have your lunch spot picked out in advance. This lunch spot can easily be replaced if your group stumbles across a different restaurant that offers amazing smells. I can tell you, there’s nothing worse than a group of hangry, jetlagged travelers wandering around trying to decide where to have lunch based on smell and/or availability of an English menu. 

Plus picking out your meal spots in advance gives you the chance to read a few reviews and discover the do not miss meal. There are a big group of folks out there who love to give and read reviews, especially for food. 

I suggest you follow this “pre-selecting the restaurant” tip faithfully. You can thank me later for keeping your group from attacking and possibly eating each other.

Try Foreign Food Before Your Trip

Before you leave on your trip, try foreign food locally. Venture out into your own neighborhood and find a local restaurant that serves the cuisine of the country you’re about to visit. Don’t miss this great opportunity to familiarize yourself with the food BEFORE you go!

Even better, try to visit a couple of times and try different food items. Take pictures of what you like and see if you can find that specific dish during your travels. I’ve found that most local specialty restaurants are proud of their food offerings. Tell your server about your upcoming trip, I bet they’d give you all sorts of food advice. 

I also love the idea of comparing the “authentic food” to the “American version of authentic food”.

Foreign Food to Watch Out For

I know it sounds exciting to travel around the world and eat weird stuff, but if you only have a week in at your dream location it might be better to not spend all your time on the toilet.

Be mindful of salads and raw vegetables, especially in parts of the world where drinking the tap water isn’t recommended. 

In some countries, it’s recommended to only drink bottled drinks. Even if you’re anti-soda it’s probably a good idea in places like Egypt to have a bit of Sprite or Coca-Cola every day to help fight back any bug that may have crept into your system.

I avoid restaurants on the main drag. Their food usually isn’t amazing and you’re paying a premium for the location. When searching for restaurants, step away from the tourists and check out the side roads. Find places where the locals eat. Your food will be better and cheaper.

Grocery Stores

I always pop into the local grocery stores. You never know what hot food, bakery and dessert options they have that you’re about to fall in love with. Plus, nothing makes you feel more “local” than being in a grocery store, and you’ll save a little money creating your own picnic.

What’s the Best That Could Happen

Because of my travels, I’ve discovered lots of new foods that I now love . . . street food, Thai food, Wok-to-Walk bowls and authentic Mexican food (which is different from the Tex-Mex that I also love). I’ve learned to appreciate heavy brown bread, anything Mediterranean, crepes, thick chowders and Shepherd’s Pie. I will eat sushi and love to try desserts of all types. I’ve never met a croissant in France that I didn’t love.

And boy do I love gelato.

I suggest you spread your wings and bravely try some local food during your travels. If you leave the restaurant hungry or unsatisfied, you can swing by a pizza shop or pick up a cheeseburger from the American Embassy. 

I mean McDonalds. 

Thanks for Stopping By

Please feel free to share your questions or comments below. If you see any typos, let me know!

I encourage you to share my tribal knowledge with someone who loves or would love to travel.

The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie.