Traveling is 70% about exploring a new place and 30% about tasting a wide selection of dishes from the local cuisine. For food lovers, they make food the primary reason for traveling. Don’t be too confident though, eating your way through a new land is not easy.
Here are some tips to get you started.
Study local table manners
If you’ve been a busy traveler, you should know how important it is to respect each other’s culture. This habit should go well into the dining room as you wouldn’t want to offend anyone when eating. Take time to learn about table manners in each country.
In Japan for instance, it’s completely normal to slurp your ramen’s soup. In fact, not doing so may offend the chef as he will see it as a sign that his food is not good enough.
Learn basic phrases
Although English is a universal language, you shouldn’t expect everyone to understand you. When eating out, it’s important to memorize some basic phrases in the local tongue. Doing so will save you the trouble of miscommunication.
Some of the phrases you should learn in the local language include “cheque please,” “I’d like to order,” and “thanks for the meal.”
Ask Taxi Drivers for tips
Taxi drivers spend a lot of time around the city so it should not be surprising that they know a lot about the local restaurant scene. If you are at an impasse about which restaurant to eat at next, ask your driver to drop you off somewhere special and you definitely won’t regret it.
Taxi drivers should also be familiar with the restaurants that are budget friendly or are open in the wee hours of the night.
Broaden your horizons
Don’t be afraid to try out new and exotic dishes. A lot of travelers play safe by going to familiar fast food chains that they have back home. Of course, that’s not an entirely great idea as you could miss out on some amazing dishes.
Do your research
Any kind of trip benefits from research. From the top restaurants in a city or the best dishes in a country, it’s vital that you do a lot of research beforehand. Who knows, you may find some hidden gems in your next travel destination.
These are just some helpful tips to help you eat your way around a foreign land. If you follow this guide wholeheartedly, you’ll be able to make the most out of your trip.
