For the Love of Food

It was not until my trip to Argentina four years ago in 2013, I began to appreciate the heightened sense of awareness that interacting with food brings to the travel experience.  By paying attention to the aroma, colors and taste of your meals while on vacation, it can help you to etch memories of your travel that will last a lifetime.  

My husband and I still talk about the colorful buffet restaurants throughout Buenos Aires and not to mention his favorite, rib eye steak which was readily available at most restaurants!  How could I forget the random stranger who sat and talked with us as we ate ice-cream on the side-walk and I could almost still taste our mouth-watering meal at the Dinner and Tango Show.  My husband, a tea lover, also quickly learned about the health benefits of Yerba Mate, a popular herbal detoxifying tea.  Participating in these cultural activities can open the door for valuable social connections.  These vibrant experiences are also intertwined with learning about the culture, exploring new palettes, making history and creating new memories.

On the contrary, our recent trip to Cuba, we literally spent more time talking about food than eating food.  When we did eat, our palette was left with much to be desired.  We even appreciated the efforts of one restaurant that tried to make my husband his requested meal that was not on their menu after hearing his plight for something tasty.  It did get frustrating at times especially since I have now introduced culinary awareness as part of my travel.   But I understand that every experience is different and when that food is good, its an added bonus to traveling.   We certainly did not let this take away from our experience but it became part of the whole adventure.  It also gave us an opportunity to appreciate and remember the occasions when it was good such as the homemade breakfast at our bed and breakfast, made with love, an ingredient where there's no substitute.  

So while traveling, good food is worth it!  Food is a part of every culture and society and tasting will only open up a whole new perspective of your journey.  Don't be afraid to dig in, smell, explore and appreciate the power of food on your travels!

Happy Eating

Food Stand, Buenos Aires, Argentina