Local food versus food that you already know
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31365)
Denmark
April 17, 2012 4:41pm CST
When I was looking for information about the countries in Asia that we are going to visit I discovered that many restaurants offer both European and Asian food. It made me wonder what other people prefer when they visit a foreign country - the food that they are used to or the local food? Personally I think that European food sounds boring, not because it isn't delicous, but because I can buy it anytime (I live in Western Europe) I want to eat the local food every day and try as many local dishes as possible, because those dishes aren't available in own country.
What do you prefer to eat when you visit another country? Do you look for places where you can buy food from your own part of the world or do you eat the local food? Why? Have you ever eaten a very delicious dish abroad that you can't find in your own country?
2 people like this
9 responses
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
22 Apr 12
Food is one of the main thing I look for when I travel. My trip won't be complete if I haven't tried any local food. May it be at the streets, at a house of a local or at a fine dining restaurant, I will try it. I usually visit food blogs of the particular city I intend to go to. Then look at the reviews where it is best to eat at. In our country, almost every kind of food is present. So what I am after, is the authentic taste of the cuisine if I were to eat at the city of origin of the food.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
22 Apr 12
I can hear that we share the same passion for the local food. I am always willing to try the local food. I might not like everything, but I want to try it at least once. I have visited many of the other European countries and in every country I have eaten the local food. I have discovered some very delicious dishes that way. Sometimes I look for some information about the local food before I travel so that I know which dishes I would like to try and soemtimes I just visit the local restaurants and try some of the dishes that I find on the menu.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
22 Apr 12
In Asia, almost always the best foods are not in the local restaurants in malls and main roads. You can find them in market places, in side walks and side streets. They don't look appetizing when you see them prepare the food and the presentation, but the taste, superb!!!
1 person likes this
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
I love trying something new in my life even such small things I never experienced before. I just thought opportunity comes once in a life time so it's time for me to enjoy. Specially on food, I never travel outside my country but here in my country still we have each other specialties in each region or provinces. And every time I go from each new places I'm exploring food that they only specialize, crafts and even cultures. That's why if your planning to visit our country I would suggest to you to try our dishes you can search them in the internet that can catch your eyes and I will assure you %100 you will not regret it.
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Ohh really, but maybe you have some Filipino people who already work or live in your country if you have a Filipino friend try to ask them about our food here.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
18 Apr 12
It is interesting that every region in your country have different specialities and I think that it is a great idea to explore the food and other specialities when you visit a new area. When I going to Asia for the first time I will visit Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The next trip will be Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines but that will take a while because I am still saving up for the first trip. I look forward to eating the food from the Philippines. In my country we can buy food from China, Vietnam and Thailand, but there are no restaurants where we can buy food from the Philippines, so I have never had the chance to eat that.
but that will take a while because I am still saving up for the first trip. I look forward to eating the food from the Philippines. In my country we can buy food from China, Vietnam and Thailand, but there are no restaurants where we can buy food from the Philippines, so I have never had the chance to eat that.1 person likes this
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
18 Apr 12
It is great trying out regional delicacies while you are visiting a specific region of an alien country.Ethnic food in fact lets you discover how food from a place other than that of yours feel like. It is important too that you should exercise some caution in not getting your digestive system if you are not used occasional changes in food regimen.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
22 Apr 12
I also think that it is great to try some of the local food when we visit a foreign country. It is interesting to eat food that isn't available in our own country. I always eat the local food when I visit a new country, and I have discovered some really delicious dishes that way. When I visit Asia I also look forward to eating the local food especially the food from Cambodia and Laos, because we can't find that food in my own country.
You are right that we should be careful when we eat new food because we could get stomach problems if the food that we eat abroad is very different from the food that we eat at home. My husband has to be especially careful, and I don't think that he will be able to eat the really spicy food, because he gets stomach problems quite often.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
22 Apr 12
I am a vegan and so are my disabled son and my daughter. We love to travel to different countries. I always take vegan snacks with me because in some places vegan food is hard to get. I take a camping style of knife, fork and spoon with me as. In addition I take a sharp knife that is quite small. These are great when we get food from a local supermarket and then do self catering. I love to eat fruit and vegetables. Plus these are available in most countries worldwide. I look at the list of what the food has in it otherwise. We can usually find ready salted crisps. We have to be careful to make sure all we eat is vegan. In Asia rice is available to eat and it is vegan.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
22 Apr 12
I can imagine that vegan food is hard to find in some places. I eat meat sometimes, but I often prefer vegetarian food. I love fruit and vegetables. When I visit Asia I am going to eat the fruit and vegetables that aren't available in my own country, I look forward to that. I have read about the fruits that we can buy in Southeast Asia, there are a lot of names that I have never heard about, and I would like to eat them when I visit the countries where they are available
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
7 Aug 12
I do the same thing. I love to eat the local food when I visit another country. In my country there are many international restaurants where you can eat food from other countries, but most of those restaurants from thom China, Thailand, India, Mexico and a few other countries and many other countries around the world aren't represented here. I find it especially interesting to eat the local food in those countries, because it is totally new experience. I am going to visit Laos and Cambodia soon and I look forward to eating the food from those countries.
@3account (317)
• United States
7 May 12
I personally prefer Indian dishes when travelling abroad (because Iam an Indian) but I also like to try out different local dishes served there especially street food.
I came across lot of places when I traveled to the U.S. I got to taste everything from hotdogs, beacon and fries , Beef steaks and many more.
But i did also try an Indian restaurant called Curry kitchen which served good Indian food.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
7 May 12
I like Indian food a lot. We have Indian restaurants in my country and they are owned by Indians who live in my country. They serve very delicious food, but unfortunately the food is a bit expensive so I don't visit them that often. The food from my own country is not spicy at all and I like Indian food because it is more spicy than our food. It is great that you had the chance to try many kinds of food when you visited the US. I always like to try the local food when I visit another country, and I think it is interesting to eat the dishes that aren't available in my own country.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
18 Apr 12
When tourists visit my country India they always like to try food that is available locally rather than eat what they get at home.Yes, they are wary about eating because the food here is spicy and hot and for untrained European stomachs it can be a disastrous affair.They should get used to the food of Asian countries available in hotels in their own counties to get used to it.Nowadays food from all over the world is easily available in most countries so there should be no problem.Personally i would always prefer to try food of a country that i visit.If one is a non-vegetarion there will not be any problem but if one is a vegetarioun then survival in a foreign European nation is difficult as such food is not easily available there and one will have to live on bread and butter and cheese.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
18 Apr 12
We have several Indian restaurants in my country, and I love to eat there. The local food from my country is not spicy at all, and I think that is a little sad because I love spicy food. There are vegetarians in my country, but most people eat meat and it is easy to see that when you visit a restaurant, because there are often 20 meat dishes and just one vegetarian dish. I think that we have one restaurant that is 100% vegetarian, but the rest of restaurants focus on meat dishes. It is possible to eat out as a vegetarian, but the choice of food is very limited. I have noticed that it much easier to find vegetarian dishes in the Indian restaurants in my country, and I think that is nice because I like vegetarian food.
@flamez3r0 (319)
• Puerto Rico
17 Apr 12
Hello :D. I prefer to mix it a little. Some days I enjoy the local food with all their differences and then the next day I will eat something I'm used to. The reason for this is that I have to allow my stomach to get used to the spices and new food, since jumping head on can get ugly :p. Once I went to Mexico and ate only Mexican food (everything spicy :p) and I spent the last day on the bathroom. After that time I mix them, and I have never gotten that problem again in any travel :D. And the most delicious thing I have tasted that I have never been able to find in my country is emperador (a fish like a marlin) and bull's tail. I got that in Spain, and they were quite nice, but they don't sell the ingredients here so I haven't eaten that again. I have eaten good food in other places, but I can find the ingredients around here so I can cook it for myself if I don't find a place that sells it :).
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
18 Apr 12
That sounds like a good idea. I am used to spicy food and I can usually eat it without problems, but my husband often gets stomach problems so I think that he should be careful and mix the spicy food with food that is less spicy. I am excited about trying new kinds of food when I visit Asia. We have Asian restaurants in my country, but I am sure that it will be a different experience to eat Asian food in Asia. I want to try some new dishes I have never heard about emperador, but I had many other kinds of delicious food when I visited Spain.
I have never heard about emperador, but I had many other kinds of delicious food when I visited Spain.
@befrindwithme26 (5805)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Well, i have not to visit in other foreign country but , i am happy that you visited here in our country.
Hows your going.
for me i will try to find my food that i love it ,and maybe hard to find for me specially t's my first visit.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
18 Apr 12
We hope to go to Asia in the November and December this year. We have saved up part of the money already, but we still need to save up the last part of the money that we need for the trip, so I am going to work hard and take an extra job. I hope that you will be able to find some of your food when you travel. I don't how hard it is to find your food abroad, but I think it depends on the country that you visit. In my country we can't buy food from the Philippines, and I think that is a pity, because I would like to taste it.
