Eating Well: My Favorite Way to Explore

the World

Why I believe the best way to connect with a culture is by tasting it.


When I say I believe in eating well, people often assume I mean eating healthy or dining at expensive restaurants. But that's not what I mean at all. To me, eating well is about seeking out flavor, joy, and experiences. It's about tasting something new and letting it tell me a story. Every meal, especially when I travel, becomes a way to connect-with the place I'm in, the people who live there, and the traditions that have shaped their cuisine. It's not about luxury-it's about meaning. I plan my travels the way some people plan museum tours: with food at the center. I look forward to meals just as much as historic landmarks (and I'm a history buff, so this is saying a lot!). In fact, I'd argue that tasting a place is one of the most intimate ways to know it. A street vendor's skewer of grilled meat, a bowl of soup passed down through generations, a freshly baked loaf from a tiny neighborhood bakery- those experiences linger in a way that postcards never can. Whenever I visit a new destination, I make it a point to try the foods that place is known for. Not just the touristy dishes, but the things locals actually eat- whether it's souvlaki in Athens, goulash in Budapest, or a warm croissant at a corner cafe in Paris. These dishes carry with them centuries of culture, pride and identity. They aren't just meals; their heritage served on a plate. Trying the food a place is proud of is one of the most respectful and enriching things you can do as a visitor.


Some of my most vivid travel memories are wrapped in flavor: the saltiness of feta in a Greek salad by the sea, the comforting steam rising from a bowl of seafood linguine in Costa Rica, the rich sweetness of a pastry shared with a stranger in Vienna. These aren't just meals. They're moments. And they've stayed with me longer than any souvenir ever could. But not everyone sees food this way. I've been scoffed at by fellow travelers who don't understand why I'd go out of my way to try something unfamiliar or stand in a line at a tiny stall just to taste what the locals are eating. For many people, food is just fuel. But for me, it's a language- one I want to learn fluently.


I wish more people could experience the kind of joy that comes from being surprised by a flavor or finding a sense of place through a dish you've never had before. You don't have to be a gourmet. You just have to be open. Ask a local where they eat. Try the thing that looks a little strange. Say yes to a shared plate. Because when you travel with your taste buds, the world becomes a little more vivid. A little more human. And a whole lot more delicious.