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Originally Posted by MmePerdu
(Post 17431261)
+1
On the flip side, I was dating someone who did not like wine and had been told they couldn't go to France because they did not like wine. Ridiculous. We went and I drank Kronenbourg 1664 for most of the trip. I don't really care for beer but it was more important to make the other person feel more comfortable. My ex and I went to Hawaii for a week and then joined up with my co-workers on a reward trip. She likes club sandwiches. When staying at the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island, we ordered room service about three times. I had the curry every time because it was SO good. She ordered the club sandwich each time. After a quick trip over to Kauai for a couple of nights, we were back at the Four Seasons Hualalai for several nights. I honestly have no memory of what we ate. Nothing exotic. But I also know that no one else was monitoring - or judging - what we ordered. There are no bonus points for ordering certain foods. Order what you like. Including club sandwiches and beer. |
First night in Ho Chi Mihn City, first time in Vietnam, I was walking around and there were people grilling meats on the sidewalk, squatting over little hibachi grills.
That was not too far from a Gucci or Dior store. I didn't try the street foods. There were others with chicken and other meats in tupperware type of containers. They didn't have a cart or any kind of dedicated space it seemed, they seemed to set up randomly. I went to food halls in Singapore and saw a lot of finished plates piled up on benches, didn't really look at eating there either even though people rave about them. Ambience isn't the most important thing but there has to be some minimum level of nice setting. |
I have to stay clear of my two deathly food allergies of corn and chocolate and also dairy, to some extent, but not butter...
Allergic to chocolate? As a chocoholic I can't get my head around that. More for me I guess🍫🍫🍫 |
Originally Posted by crellston
(Post 17431391)
It is Burns Night next week so Haggis is in the supermarkets every where at the moment, here in England as well as Scotland. Very similar to the equally West Country faggots.
had to smile about the Phillipino Chocolate Pudding! I am with the late great Anthony Bourdain. Blood sausage is a thing of beauty whether it be called black pudding, boudin nor or whatever it is delicious and it is always good to use every part of the beast, though I have tried but failed to fall involve with pigs trotters. Never heard of kava JW, I assume you are referencing some form of mild hallucinogenic effect? I think I may have tried something similar one NYE in a village the middle of nowhere in Laos - I was ok till it was time to get up and walk! mlgb - does your conservative friend now eat rare steak? It’s the root of a pepper plant. It’s a mild stimulant used ceremonially in the Pacific islands or just to hang out with the fellas, perhaps like sitting around with friends and having a few beers. We met a really nice server at our resort and found out his BD was upcoming. He was a big Fijian man who loved rugby so we got him a Fijian national rugby jersey. Asked him what he did for his BD and with a big smile said he drank some kava. :lol: Been there, done that. |
Crellston - “Never heard of kava JW, I assume you are referencing some form of mild hallucinogenic effect? I think I may have tried something similar one NYE in a village the middle of nowhere in Laos - I was ok till it was time to get up and walk!”
I was introduced to Kava by a rugby playing priest friend whose parish was in the highlands of Fiji. My experience was the same as yours Crellston. We caught up with some of his friends in a village where we’d gone to see the boarding school - and of course the Kava came out. After a few sips, I noticed the inside of my lips became tingly and then numb, the knees followed when I went to stand up ;) It may not be alcoholic, but it sure packs a punch. Of course, I’m not a 6’2”, 16 stone chap so that may have been a factor too! A bit like Chang, served by my friend’s grandmother in Bhaktapur for Nepali New Year. It, unlike the kava, had no warning numbness and was very pleasant. Getting down the narrow, rickety stairs later that night was quite the adventure :) |
Even if you think you know the food you’re eating well, location can make a difference!
We were in Invercargill in the early70’s on a month’s trip to New Zealand. We’d already provided my husband’s cousins with plenty of laughs at our mispronunciation of place names - and were about to add to it when we settled in for dinner at a restaurant recommended by other Kiwi friends. We were both oyster lovers and ordered a dozen each as an entree before the chateaubriand. The waiter looked a little surprised and checked that we meant a dozen each - not a dozen between us. Oh no,we assured him, the dozen each would be fine, thanks. We were looking forward to trying their famous local oysters as we ate lots of oysters from different regions in Australia. And when they arrived, we discovered the delicious & famous Bluff Oysters have another attribute. They are twice or 3 times the size of Sydney Rock & the other oysters we were used to! |
crellston, no she cut into it first and then called the waiter over. We waited for her well-done one to come out. She also does not usually eat fish, but her husband convinced her to try the battered blue cod when we were in Stewart Island. She actually liked it.
I tried black pudding at breakfast for the first time in NZ. It would have been at a breakfast buffet, so maybe in Stewart Island. Just one bite was enough for me, didn't feel any need to have a second one. I will eat tripe though. |
The following has been posted here before, but it def involved 'trying new foods'. Mrs Z was not on this trip.
My driver and I had just crossed the Andes to arrive in the mountain town called 'Chacas' (ancient Incan for 'idiot traveller'). It was twilight and I was responsible for feeding the two of us. All the restaurants were closed, but he noticed a lone granny on the curbside about to pack up her food stall and call it a day. All that she had left in her bloody plastic bag were some half-cooked 'anticuchos', which were basically raw cow hearts. My driver indicated that this was as good as we were gonna get then, so I bought the lot and we consumed them. She also sold us her final clump of grapes. I think that my altitude-addled brain process was something like, "Hey man, 'when in Rome'. At least the grapes will offset the basic meat part." Mother Nature always bats last. It didn't take long that night for her to teach me a lesson about eating unsafe food. I was sick as a dog. My driver was fine, go figure. He managed to scrape what was left of me into his car then rushed me to the local hospital. I recall a stunning sunrise then. Who could ever forget our hotel owner's words to me as I collapsed into the car's front seat (note that he was a retired army General), "Si senor, you have become ill because you ate those grapes too late into the evening!" I am done. The dreaded grapes. PS the Rick Steves forum now has a similar thread about London foods |
mlgb - your friend reminds me of my FIL. The most fussy eater I have ever known. Only ever eats burnt steak (and I do mean burnt!) . Doesn't like cheese or tomato but came back from a trip to Italy raving about a new pizza he had found that he really liked. No cheese, no tomato just pizza and garlic butter. So garlic bread then? I love black pudding but absolutely draw the line at tripe, disgusting stuff. Did you try Mondongo in Colombia?
Another drug laced meal I remember was in Don Khong, an island in the Mekong in southern Laos. We had a long boat trip ahead of us and the guest house owner suggested a place for lunch before leaving. At his suggestion we asked for the "magic" pizza special. Of course, the herb used was not oregano! That was one fun boat trip - like being back in the 70s! |
Not in Colombia, but. had a tomato-based stew at a market comedor somewhere in the Andes. Cook said it was mondongo. I didn't know what that meant but liked the looks of it. Luckily it was good and not identifiable as anything but meat . It was even tender unlike the Chinese dimsum version.
My friend eats pizza and salads but gets picky on her veg. No cabbage. If it comes mixed in with her salad she picks around it. |
Originally Posted by crellston
(Post 17431569)
mlgb - your friend reminds me of my FIL. The most fussy eater I have ever known. Only ever eats burnt steak (and I do mean burnt!) . Doesn't like cheese or tomato but came back from a trip to Italy raving about a new pizza he had found that he really liked. No cheese, no tomato just pizza and garlic butter. So garlic bread then? I love black pudding but absolutely draw the line at tripe, disgusting stuff. Did you try Mondongo in Colombia?
Another drug laced meal I remember was in Don Khong, an island in the Mekong in southern Laos. We had a long boat trip ahead of us and the guest house owner suggested a place for lunch before leaving. At his suggestion we asked for the "magic" pizza special. Of course, the herb used was not oregano! That was one fun boat trip - like being back in the 70s! |
Almost for got about mentioning trying a native Hawaiian dish recently called 'lau lau" Mine was a combo of salted fish, pork and chicken wrapped in taro leaves and all this was wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed. You can eat the taro leaves but not the banana leaves.
It was delicious. It was served with poi and the one of those foods that just don't do it for me. It's so bland. |
Lau lau is probably my least favorite Hawaiian food, and callaloo made with taro leaf is my least favorite Jamaican food (even worse than pig's trotters). Poi is inoffensive but when taro puree is made into a deep-fried dimsum dumpling, it's pretty good ("Wu Gok").
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Originally Posted by mlgb
(Post 17431738)
Lau lau is probably my least favorite Hawaiian food, and callaloo made with taro leaf is my least favorite Jamaican food (even worse than pig's trotters). Poi is inoffensive but when taro puree is made into a deep-fried dimsum dumpling, it's pretty good ("Wu Gok").
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North of Cairns, Australia there exists Dawn Gray's exotic fruit farm. Visitors may taste her range of rare fruit. One of the varieties is 'magic berry' from west Africa. Folks who chew on those bland berries will be amazed. Their unique chemistry causes all subsequent fruits ingested (including lemons and limes) to taste as sweet as any sugar!
Incidentally, Dawn's neighbour there in Cape Trib' was poor Michael Chamberlain of 'A Cry in the Dark' fame. Michael was chopping wood the day that I visited Dawn's farm. Noting that I had tape-recorded interviews all across Australia, Dawn offered then to take me over for an introduction. I glanced down at my tape-recorder then thought the better of it. The poor man did not need the likes of me bothering him. I declined. I am done. the berries and the dingo |
There is a difference between "won't try" and simply not interested in certain things. I mean I guess if there was really a reason I needed to. I'd eat blood sausage. Not sure about the horse though. Durian tastes a lot better than it smells. I have never met a cheese I don't like.
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About that "magic" pizza, back in the "old days" on Koh Samui (so long ago that I was renting a beachside bungalow for $5 a night, way before there was an airport and fancy hotels), the beachfront eating places would offer omelettes; you could get regular omelettes, but many of us enjoyed the "special" omelettes!! The same thing was offered on Bali, at Kuta beach. Thanks for the memories!
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crellston, after your pictures for sure I will go to Argentina this year ))))
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Ontario7 as crellston indicated those photos are not from Argentina, but rather from Montevideo Uruguay, the famous Mercado del Puerto.
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When I travel, I always like to taste the local food, but it has to be something like chicken, pork, or fish (not an unusual delicacy, ex., insects, lol). I always ask for the ingredients before taking a bite.
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Food is one of the most exciting things about every trip! One of my favorite things to do is check out the local supermarkets and farmers markets. But... I just wish I had a stomach of steel as I like to try everything... but not everything agrees with me. I've had some very unpleasant travel experiences, so have to be very mindful about what I'm eating and how the food is prepared!
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Trying new and different foods is one of my favorite things about travel - it's part of the adventure. One related thing is that I like to try a Chinese restaurant in other countries. It is interesting in how they differ from place to place.
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When i used to travel some places i used to eat food of that particular area and enjoy a lot. Love to explore new culture and tradition of that area.
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I always look for the dishes or ingredients unique to the region I'm visiting. For instance, if you're in Japan, you've got to try sushi from a real sushi chef, or in Italy, a hand-tossed pizza in Naples is a must. Even street food markets, which are increasingly popular around the world, are fantastic places to sample a variety of local foods in one place.
Trying new foods also makes for some unforgettable memories, both good and not so good, |
>> I always look for the dishes or ingredients unique to the region I'm visiting. For instance, if you're in Japan, you've got to try sushi from a real sushi chef
Ok. To find dishes or ingredients unique to a region in Japan you would do well to have a kaiseki dinner at a traditional ryokan. There are several (at least a dozen) small dishes that are served. The idea being that the okami-san went to the market to get the fresh local ingredients that she needs for the number of guests she has that night. You'll get the local beef, a seafood dish in the regional style, even rice from the region. Several veggie dishes, pickled and fresh, with local ingredients (like wild mountain greens). It is a bit pointless to ask what every one of the veggies are. They are going to give you the Japanese name and even if they had a menu in English it is likely going to include stuff that you never heard of. |
Well I just ended a stay in Corsica.
Didn't seek out the maggot cheese that The Amazing Race featured there. |
scrb - maggot cheese notwithstanding, you're really getting around these days. Just saying...I'm a wee bit jealous.
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One thing that was memorable in Corsica was the cheese they served for breakfast at the hotel in Piana.
It wasn't Corsican cheese. In fact it was some mass market brand. One of them was Kiri but I forget the other brand, so I'm not even sure what brand it was. Kiri is some kind of processed cheese but it spreads on baguette like soft butter. So was the other one, which probably wasn't even some expensive camembert or brie. I couldn't get enough of it, even though I'm trying to limit my salt intake. It's got me Googling best French cheeses for bread and stuff. French snacks have so much more salt than the American counterparts. Some of the packages have a grading system for nutrition and the best is maybe B. They have these crepes filled with cheese. Those taste great but are graded E, the lowest. I know, I should just avoid processed and packaged food but at least you have an idea of the nutrition. Not sure what your'e getting if you get say a bruschetta or focaccia somewhere. Place I stayed in Bonifacio sold pizza by the slice and it looked good but had to be loaded with salt. A lot of dishes just say fromage du Corse or some say brocciu, which seems to be popular but unfortunately, limiting salt means limiting cheese consumption too. |
Yes, I always try local and traditional dish.
During my travels, trying the local food is one of my favourite thing to do. I avoid street food though or food that I can't digest personally.
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Originally Posted by scrb11
(Post 17430283)
Or do you seek out comfort food?
Or at least go for familiar things like beef or chicken as opposed to things like goose liver or blood sausage? Or does your culinary tastes not change at all? One thing I've noticed over the decades of travel is that burgers are now everywhere. Used to be that you had to go to fast-food chains or you might find the occasional restaurant offering an American style fare. Not only are there more places that offer burgers, there are regular restaurants which offer it as a main course along with more traditional dishes. And often, these places specializing in burgers have high ratings -- TA, Google, etc. Often the ratings are reflecting value as burgers can be 10-15 Euro versus say a steak being 25 Euro or more, way more. That's not to say burgers don't have any merit as a meal, just that the much higher popularity and availability may reflect travelers seeking the comfortable and the familiar rather than risk the unknown. Or they may have dined a lot of the local cuisine but wanted to take a break and have a simpler meal. Also seeing that there's more internationalization or globalization of a lot of menus. They all offer beef, chicken and fish of some kind, usually prepared with accompaniments which are similar to what you'd find in most industrialized countries. I was looking at restaurants in Stockholm in Google Maps and only a few in central Stockholm offered the infamous pickled herring. Otherwise a lot of Japanese and Asian fusion restaurants, a large number of Mexican fast food or fast casual chains (I remember tacos seeming to be popular in Oslo as well so maybe it's a Scandinavian thing). Of course a lot of burger places. About the only thing that stood out was one or two places offered moose dishes and deer (or maybe it was reindeer) dishes. I guess tourism as it exists today, a lot of people may try the local cuisine but a lot of them go for foods that are sold everywhere in the world. That's not to underplay the fact that a lot of locals like this internationalized food too. It's not just tourists packing into McDonalds and Starbucks stores in Europe. I would assume that's the case for other internationalized foods. A lot of it isn't an accident. I heard that the Thais had a strategy to spread their cuisine all over the world but they wanted to make sure a lot of the signature dishes all looked and tasted the same, would be prepared in similar ways. If there weren't such deliberate strategies, well business people who invest in and run restaurants would simply copy what they see working in other places. |
Every time I go somewhere, I try as many different local dishes as possible. Trying the local food is one of the things I like the most about traveling. I think it's amazing how you get to eat something you previously didn't even know existed. I never order any familiar dishes when dining abroad. I don't want to waste a chance to try something unknown, over eating things I could easily prepare at home, such as burgers or fries. I think it's important to try the local dishes when you have that opportunity and in my opinion no trip would be complete without a visit to a local restaurant.
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I love trying food of different places during traveling. I am a foodie person who love to taste every countries traditionally food and special recipe.
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Not trying out the local food in your travel destinations is like depriving yourself of the huge chunk these places have to offer :) I've recently stumbled across an article about Italian food customs and was literally amazed how they celebrate eating. I visited Italy once in 2006 and knew that they have a "thing" for their food, but didn't know that they are super crazy about it ;)
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I always taste new food when I travel if I get a chance, but only a little bit. Now that I’m older, I can tell how my body will feel just by looking at the food before I try it. After I sample a bit of the new food, I stick to my comfort foods. I am more open to try a variety of my usual food like a burger with different fillings in a new country. I was not always like this. I was adventurous when it comes to food when I was younger, always open to tasting exotic food in the countries I visited.
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I remember one time I was traveling through Southeast Asia, and I made it a point to try something different every day – from street-food stalls to little family-run eateries, the variety was incredible. It's not just about the taste but the stories behind the dishes, the people you meet while trying them, and the memories you make.
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Huge deal for me. Cuba was in part a disappointment because the food was just awful. The culture didn't work for me, but the food was a nail in the coffin. I travel to eat and experience new things, but Cuba felt like trying to avoid salt by the end of it!
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For those who might be considering traveling to the Amalfi Coast: note that the small town of Minori is a FANTASTIC place to base as regards food. There are 3 different delis that make outstanding sandwiches, a number of VG restaurants, a dedicated pasta-maker specialist plus ...(sound of trumpets)...the award-winning Sal de Riso pastry shop. We had assumed that Sal and his bro's twin cafe nearby were just for pastries, but in fact they are full-on restaurants offering a good range on the menu. Eg. citrus pizza!
*If you watched Stanley Tucci's CNN Italy series, then you might recall Stanley sharing a limoncello drink with Sal himself on the Minori pier at the very end of his introductory episode. I am done. the stomach |
I'm serious here. Our first stop for something to eat while in Texas when returning from Mexico is Taco Bell. Cheap, tasty, relatively low calorie. Not a new food, but in a sense it is.
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So authentic Mexican is overrated compared to Americanized Mexican?
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Food is an important way to know about local customs and one of the main activities of the tour.
I have tried fried insects in Yunnan, such as grasshoppers. It tastes like fried protein, not bad. There are some fried spiders and scorpions, but I dare not eat them. |
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