Some quick tips: eating out when traveling
I have a lot of hobbies-more and more as I grow older, it seems-but the biggest one is food. Eating, cooking, reading about it. It's probably my very favorite part of travel, especially when I can partner it with people watching and drinking local wine.
I used to travel all over Southern Oregon for a position I had, and I had pride in my ability to find the best place to eat wherever I was, even in the smallest towns (Lakeview or Gold Beach, anyone?). I thought it would be helpful for me to take a few minutes to share with you what I look for, so you can have the best meal possible on your next trip, whether it's local or far away.
One of the first steps I take (when planning for meals that are must-do) is doing some research online-Yelp, Reddit and Facebook here in the states. But those platforms aren't really helpful in many international destinations-in Europe, I'm more likely to use Tripadvisor and TheFork, and event Google Maps. (The Fork is great because it's verified diner reviews). But I don't just go to one of those sites and pick the highest rated site...I narrow it down based on the things I most value.
I typically sort by distance when I'm traveling, especially if I'm somewhere I'm not driving. I want to be able to wander there and wander home....
I look for reviews written by locals. If I'm traveling to Italy, I'll find the reviews written in Italian then have my browser translate them. Reviews written in English often have American or English expectations within them-the meal took too long, the menu was small, they didn't speak English-which don't matter to me when I'm choosing where to eat. I might ask my Bolt driver or hotel concierge-though sometimes, they will direct you to places either popular with tourists or owned by someone who has connections to the hotel, so do your due diligence here.
I prioritize locally owned and locally loved places. So, I'm not going to pick the place right on the square in Siena, where the menu is in English with photographs. I want the place just a few blocks away, with a chalkboard menu and mostly Italians eating there. I'd rather try and puzzle out a menu, use Google Translate, or just point and ask the waitstaff than go to a place that caters to tourists. (Or even the local chain restaurant-like the place we ended up in Madrid for breakfast that was clearly the Spanish equivalent of Denny's. Not great).
And, for most of my meals, I just wander without planning. I leave the square, take the most interesting path (as Elizabeth Gilbert said at a conference I recently attended), go down that alley, turn left, and find a place where there are lots of people talking in the local language, sitting outside with their babies and their dogs, and the atmosphere is welcoming. The food is always delicious and I leave feeling like I had a moment of real connection with the culture.
What's the best meal you've ever had when traveling?
When I partner with you to plan your trip, I will usually add restaurant recommendations-as well as some general tips about food in the country you're visiting. Eat gelato somewhere different every day in Italy. Tipping isn't necessary in many European countries and if you tip, it's typical to just round up a euro or two. Similarly, in countries like France and Italy, it's normal to have to ask for the check. Your table is considered yours for the evening (vs the typical American restaurant turnover) and bringing the check as a hint to pay up and leave is rude.
Want to plan a trip centered around food and connection? Schedule a complimentary consultation with me and let's talk!
Cheers!
Sara
P.S. The picture above is of the best risotto I've ever had, in Siena, Italy at the Antica Osteria da Divo. It was a block from our apartment, and my husband and I left the kids and went for a date night. Beautiful space-the wine cellar is in an Etruscan cave-and oh, the food. And that risotto cost me €14-less than a meal at the Olive Garden.
