Food and Travel: Creating Memories & Supporting Communities

By Danielle Bonds

Traveling is more than just ensuring you check off every box on your itinerary; it is about taking a deep dive into the culture, the experiences, and the essence of what that city offers you and your travel companions. Getting the chance to walk through the local neighborhoods to meet new people and explore while on wild excursions, and we can not forget about the signature hotel nap in the afternoon before the adventure of the city's nightlife erupts! While taking in all these experiences, there is one activity that truly gives tourists insight into what the city has to offer: food. If you are a foodie like me, along with creating a list of to-dos, I have another list that includes all the local restaurants I want to try. I remember traveling with my extended family when I was younger, and I could not understand why they would opt to stop at McDonalds, Burger King, or any other national food chain. Not that there's anything wrong with stopping at those places, but even at a young age, it was ingrained in me that when we travel, the goal is not to eat at a restaurant that is back home. Seeing famous tourist attractions and relaxing on a private beach is great, but for me, trying new restaurants is an unmatched experience.

Traveling is about creating core memories through experiences with family and friends. Many of the core memories are established by learning the historical significance of a local restaurant. Sharing moments and embracing the warmth of experiencing meals where the recipe has been passed down from generation to generation is an incomparable adventure. Another reason to try local restaurants when traveling is to support the community. Supporting the local mom-and-pop shops of a small town and connecting with people from different cultures and backgrounds through food can be a unique experience and create emotional connections (O'Dwyer, n.d.).

Munoz Carrasco (2023) states, "Food is a universal language." No matter where you are in the world, it is evident that humans need food to live. However, it is not just a source of nutrients but an expression of culture, love, and history. Travel is about fully embracing the city through the tastebuds and experiences of the local community. Every person and every flavor builds meaningful moments for you to truly appreciate the city’s history and culture, making every trip an unforgettable one.

Listed below are some tips for choosing a good restaurant when traveling:

1. Check Online Reviews: Review reviews on Yelp, Google, or TripAdvisor. These sites allow you to see customer reviews and photos. They also will have recommended meals to choose from at that specific restaurant.

2. Ask the Locals for Recommendations: When my husband and I travel, we always ask residents to point us to authentic, unique restaurants with great food! We have had much success with this method.

3. Social Media: Using Instagram and Facebook has been a lifesaver when looking for new foods. There are so many food influencers who review restaurants in a specific city. For example, I live in Chicago. I would search the hashtags #chicagoeats or #bestchicagofood to pull up pictures that scream out, "Choose me!" Experiment with different hashtags!

4. Be Adventurous: The key to a memorable dining experience while traveling is to be open to trying new things! Find a food festival or street foods that offer new, delicious flavors. (Of course being conscious of hygiene and sanitization standards!) Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Most importantly, have fun and be ready to embrace the memories you create by trying out new cuisines. The joy of discovering new flavors and dishes is an integral part of the travel experience, so don't be afraid to dive in and enjoy!

References:

Muñoz Carrasco, I. (2023, July 5). Food is a universal language. University of Essex. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2023/07/05/food-is-a-universal-language

O'Dwyer, T. (n.d.). Creating memories through food & drink stories. The Tourism Space. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://www.thetourismspace.com/blog/creating-memories-food-drink-stories

Photo: Adobe Stock. (n.d.). Local restaurant search results. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://stock.adobe.com