"Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture." -Mark Kurlansky
There are many reasons for one's love of travel: To experience new cultures, to immerse themselves in a foreign land, to meet new locals and to see more of the world. However, there is a certain flair in an excursion solely for the discovery of new food. Today, gastronomy has evolved so much that food is no longer viewed as a necessary fuel or sustenance to keep the body nourished and healthy. Today, the mere act of taking the first bite into a new and foreign morsel is in itself, an experience. For this reason, people ought to travel for food or with food in mind.
Experience the different flavors a new city has to offer, taste the fine wines of Italy, go on a food trip in Pampanga and just basically eat your heart out. After all, according to George Bernard Shaw, there is no love sincerer than the love of food. Here are some of the reasons why your next excursion should be for the sampling of the different dishes of a particular city.
1.) It gives you new inspiration for culinary pursuits
Sure, you may thumb through a foreign culinary cookbook, see all the lovely pictures of food and their corresponding descriptions, but that would not be as close as to experiencing the taste of the food itself prepared by the experts (with their local ingredients as well). Eating the food for yourself as drawn up by international chefs and breathing in the wonderful aroma of Chinese delicacies while walking through the busy streets of Hong Kong will be enough to send you to the kitchen the moment you get home. Try something new and do not be shy when asking for the recipe to make back at home.
2.) You will meet people who share the same enthusiasm for food as you
Whether you are traveling solo or with a group, it is inevitable, you are going to meet people who share the same love for food as you do. This is particularly the case when you are alone and if you want to connect with food-lovers abroad. There are many opportunities for this especially when you take part in tour groups, cooking classes or group dinners.
3.) You can get to try ingredients that are not offered in your hometown
Without a doubt, this is one of the best perks when you travel for food abroad. True enough, you would be able to sample some of a foreign country's ingredients through buying exports, but it would be priced exorbitantly high, and it is still not as good as the ones they grow locally. Just compare the mangoes you get in the Philippines and compare them to the ones exported abroad, and you will see a vast difference.
4.) You can learn the history of a particular area through the food
Food is an integral part of history. In fact, some wars have been won based on who had a better food supply whereas some countries would rely on a single type of crop for survival. This is where culinary history would come into play. Undoubtedly, when people would have to depend on a solitary source for food, it is inevitable that they would have to think of creative new ways to make it taste better or perhaps to vary the preparation of their meals. Some of these fares are still in existence today, and if you are fortunate enough, you may even get to taste it.
5.) Food and drink festivals
Wherever you are in the world, people of all ethnicities and races would all collectively love to celebrate. And with these celebrations, comes an array of various food and drinks. Sometimes, there are even festivals celebrated in honor of a particular food or beverages. Before going on your next trip, research on the area you are visiting and look for these food-specific festivals so that your food experience would be twice as fun.
