Food Travels

The impact of my recent travels

The impact of my recent travels – Food Travels

I recently returned from a trip to Paris, Reims, Epernay, Biarritz , San Sebastian & St Jean de Luz which apart from a little golf was very Gourmet Centric !!!

At  its core, the essence of food, its flavors and textures, has remained relatively consistent over time. There are technological advances yes  — the amount of meat substitutes comes to mind — but those moments of wow when biting into homemade pasta in Italy, pho in Vietnam or a taco in Mexico are just as awe-inspiring now as they were 50 years ago.

Yet while tastes and smells might be fairly consistent over time, the culinary travel experience has changed profoundly. Like travel itself, food offerings have evolved with the changing demands and expectations of travelers. For the authentic: food tours through neighborhoods that people have never heard of, offering interactions with tradition. And, of course, one of my favourites Instagrammability !!

One is in constant search for the local and authentic, and one finds themselves increasingly support mom and pop shops and experience culture through cuisine. And while it might drive chefs crazy to see their guests photographing meals rather than eating them, the association says that the impact of social media and travelers using the internet to arm themselves with information about food and drink are positive travel motivators.

Food tourism can be phrased “the act of traveling for a taste of place in order to get a sense of place,” which encompasses well what travelers increasingly want.

I love to travel to experience the new — new cultures, new landscapes, new experiences — but of all these pleasures, what I tend to remember the most are the new flavors we encounter along the way.