One of the exciting things about travelling is experiencing new cultures and cuisines. Saltee always strives to find that perfect lunch spot, discover new dishes and try the local specialities We love that holiday moment when we taste something so tasty and authentic that it creates mouth-watering memories that last forever.
We have teamed up with our friends over at Eating Europe, who provide award-winning, immersive food tours and culinary experiences in 10 cities across Europe. Their mission is to leave travellers with an unparalleled, non-touristy, food-related experience in undiscovered neighbourhoods of the most fascinating cities in the world. We caught up with Eating Europe founder Kenny Dunn, who gives us 4 tips for eating like a local.
Kenny’s Four Tips for Eating Like a Local when Travelling
One of the best parts about discovering a city is exploring the local cuisine and food culture. Having the best tacos of your life from a food truck in Mexico City, tasting something exotic like oxtail in chocolate sauce in Rome, or just enjoying a frothy Pilsner at a communal table in a beer garden in Prague. Local food discoveries like these are often the most memorable experiences on a holiday and the stories that we end up retelling long after we return home. The challenge is navigating past all of the tourist traps to uncover these authentic experiences and for this I can offer four of our best tips for eating like a local when travelling.
- Do Your Homework
Before heading out on your next holiday, do a bit of food research to familiarise yourself with what you should be eating while in destination and the names of local spots for getting a taste of the real thing. Seek out local food bloggers as they know the turf better than anyone. We also like www.eater.com which has local food maps typically researched by someone from that city. Stay away from Trip Advisor which is typically populated by tourists like yourself and instead use Google Reviews which are more likely to have been left from locals.
- Speak Locals in the Industry
Generally people who work in the food industry both care about the local cuisine and are well informed so if you don’t have local contacts ask for tips from a friendly bartender, barista, server, or street food stall holder. Many of the best food experiences I have enjoyed in my travels have come out of tips from the friendly person at the cafe who served me up by morning coffee.
- Book a Food Tour
Food tours are an amazing way to discover a local cuisine especially if you are short on time. In a matter of hours you will discover a selection of different local food haunts like market stalls, food trucks, hole in the wall street food joints, restaurants and bakeries while receiving the stories and context that allow you to appreciate all the delicious food you are devouring. You will also often have a chance to interact with some of the food artisans directly which can be hard to do on your own. As an added bonus most food tours will arm you with a list of other local places to check out on your own.
- Seek out a Local Food Market
Food markets are colourful, vibrant locations that offer tons of delicious eye candy and a window into the local food culture. One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the local cuisine is to wander around a food market taking in the sights, smells and tastes. Depending on where you are in the world there will often be amazing street food on offer alongside all the fresh produce, meats, fish and dairy. This is also a great location to ask for tips for where to dine out later during your visit.
About the Author
Kenny Dunn, is the founder of Eating Europe, and an avid traveller and eater who has visited 46 countries on a search for authentic local food and stories.
As part of our new partnership, you can enjoy 20% off when you book a tour with Eating Europe using the code SALTEE20.
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