The ESL Teacher C · Nomad Educator

✈️ Work abroad — Navigating foreign food — A Quick Guide

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☞ Are you considering a workation or already made the big jump to a new location?
☞ Are all the dishes new or intimidating? Here I help you navigate the local foods.

● Content

● Food boundaries

☞ You have to know where you’re willing to go between standing up at a food kiosk or sitting in a five star hotel restaurant.

  • How clean do you like things to look?
  • How uncomfortable are you willing to be while eating?
  • What kind of vibe do you like: restaurant only, hole in the wall, crowded pub, quiet café?
  • Do you want the most authentic experience?
  • How tough is your stomach?
  • Food restrictions

⟹ Some of these you should research ahead, especially food restrictions or allergies, lest something important be lost in translation.

☞ What is your curiosity like?

  • Are you the curious type anyways?
    • Try something completely new or very local
    • You might never have the chance to eat this ever again
    • This might be the only place where you can taste certain ingredients, certain dishes, or dishes with this level of freshness, or with this kind of beverage (it doesn’t need to be alcoholic).
    • Try the typical or popular local dishes
  • Are you rather cautious?
    • Try a dish that’s highly liked by tourists.
    • Ask the waiter to recommend something popular.
    • Add a side dish or a snack that is very different or very local. Since it’s smaller:
      • It will be a cheaper investment
      • Easy to wash away with the flavours of your main dish if you didn’t like it.
      • Or a softer introduction into a cuisine you might fall in love with.
  • Are you very picky or difficult with food?
    • Try eating in hotel restaurants
    • Try travelling only in larger cities
    • Do research ahead the quality of the food, the types of dishes, or the kinds of diets.
      • Blogs can be a good reference since many are specialized (ex: a vegan traveller’s page)
      • Travel guides have a wide range of options for those who have many restrictions or those who want to walk the less travelled road (ex: Lonely Planet is great with this)
  • If you have serious allergies, you’ll know this, but just as a reminder
    • Either learn how to notify the restaurant staff;
    • Research places where they serve foods you can eat without worries;
    • Or have written in the local language the foods you cannot eat
    • If you have any, you’ll want to bring any medicine or enzymes pills in case you come in contact with allergens.

● Typical Dishes and food joints

☞ Different regions of the world serve their best food according to different customs

  • Are taverns the default, wether for families or for a pint?
  • Are street markets the place to be?
  • Are picnicks the model everyone enjoys?
  • Are some meals better if eaten in a sharing fashion?

* Pro Tip: Sometimes dishes come with a specific experience, try it if you have a chance.

● communicating one’s needs

☞ Do you know the local language?

  • Don’t want to learn?
    • Pictures go a long way.
    • Google translate and other apps are great at translating text or conversations, live.
  • Want to learn?
    • basics: ‘hello’ ‘want’ ‘don’t want’ ‘this one’ ‘that one’ ‘how much’ ‘please’ ‘thank you’ ‘goodbye’
    • more advanced: ‘I want to order …’ ‘What do you recommend’ ‘It’s delicious’ ‘I want this to go’ ‘Check please.’
    • food restrictions: ‘I’m allergic to …’ ‘I don’t want spicy food’ ‘What vegeterian/vegan options do you have?’

● Things to note

☞ Try to take note of customs particular to the food activities you’ll join.

  • What times do the locals go out to eat, some countries eat really late, you might see families starting their dining as late as 11 pm.
  • What kind of dishes do they eat? Those tend to be the freshest in that region.
  • What kind of ingredients are particular to the region you’re in? You might never get to taste them again.
  • Is there a particular type of place where people eat? Do people eat in taverns, holes in the wall, street food, a trattoria?
  • Do you know if tipping is required?

Recap

Eating is an activity that allows an easy partaking in the local culture. Even if you are queasy about certain food customs, there’s bound to be something you can enjoy, even if its just a snack in a stall or a cup of tea in a shop.

Questions & Comments 😄💬 Let’s Chat

☞ What kind of food explorer are you?

☞ What the craziest dish you’ve tasted?

☞ What’s you’re favourite cuisine?

★ Click on the star to show you liked this post 🙏😊 it encourages me so so much.

Teacher C

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