Most people might find it surprising, but becoming a food traveler is a full-time job. It’s not just about taking cool pictures and eating delicious food. You are responsible for putting wholesome and entertaining content out there for your followers.
As people travel far and wide to explore the hidden food treasures of the world, the interest in food traveling is at an all-time high. While people have always loved the idea of traveling ad exploring new places, the thought of doing so for food and beverages is highly unique and interesting.
You know what they say, there is no better way to learn more about a place than to eat its local food and learn about the food culture. So, if you want to become one of the lucky few who explore and see the world through the lens of food, you’ve come to the right place.
This blog will serve as a guide to becoming a food traveler, just like Irina Bukatik from Wanderlust Food. Keep reading to learn more.
What is Food Travel?
Before discussing how to become a food traveler, let’s look at what food travel is. It’s a popular saying that food is the best way to experience a culture. Food travel, also referred to as food tourism and culinary tourism, is skyrocketing all around the world. Becoming a food traveler means you need to have a mindset that is full of adventure, fun, and curiosity.
According to The World Food Travel Association (WFTA), food tourism is when you travel and get a sense of a place by tasting the local delicacies a place has to offer. This means that to learn and explore a place, you will taste and eat the food there.
Food travel is all about looking at a place through a curious lens and connecting with the local people there. You need to have the yearning to learn more about the local food culture, as that is the only way you can explore a place through food tourism. Furthermore, authentic food experiences are the backbone of any food travel trip.
When you make food and local cuisine the primary reason to visit a country, you get the privilege of experiencing the place from a unique perspective. You get a peek into the gastronomic flavors, traditions, and food culture, learning what they say about a country.
Therefore, it is fair to say that food travel takes you into the heart and soul of a place, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture. So if you’re looking to go on a life-changing journey, consider becoming a food traveler.
How to Become a Food Traveler?
Now that you know what food travel means, let’s take a look at some ways to become a food traveler. Being a food traveler is one of the most enriching and exciting journeys of life that you’ll ever embark on. How deeply you want to get involved in the profession depends on how much time and energy you are willing to put into the task.
From experiencing the joy of cooking in your kitchen to journeying across the world to explore several food cultures, the choices are all yours. The following are some food tourism activities you can engage in as a food traveler.
Bring Travel to Your Kitchen
Becoming a food traveler doesn’t necessarily mean you have to board a flight and travel to another country. You can also do so by experimenting with international recipes in your kitchen. Just step into your own kitchen and let the magic begin.
All you need is a sense of adventure and curiosity to learn more about another cuisine. Be excited to try something new and fun. It will feel like you are traveling the world by just experimenting with a few different ingredients.
Explore Different Beverages From Around the World
Eating local food goes hand in hand with drinking and tasting local beverages and drinks. To get the full food travel experience, tasting the local brews is a must. Although local drinks aren’t as coveted as local foods, they are still highly desirable. Most local drinks are associated with some tradition, giving you a chance to go back in time and learn about untold stories.
Likewise, wine tourism is a popular and growing sector in the food and travel industry. There is nothing quite like pairing cuisines and specialty food with wines from the local vineyards. Plus, visiting local wineries is an experience you don’t want to miss out on.
Attend a Cooking Class
Another way to become a food traveler is to take a live or virtual cooking class. This is one of the top food travel activities you can pursue while traveling. Taking a cooking class in every new place you visit will give you a chance to learn more about the local food specialties.
You can explore and work with the local ingredients and taste emblematic dishes, all while taking on new cooking skills. This is a great way to introduce yourself toa new local cuisine. If you have no plans to visit a new country or place any time soon, you can try an immersive virtual cooking class that will prove to be an enriching journey.
Moreover, joining cooking classes also gives you a chance to meet the local people and learn some special things that make their food so unique. Plus, you will get to eat the delicious food made during the cooking, so it’s a win-win.
Go On a Food Tour
To become a food traveler, you must search for food tours that will take you through authentic food experiences. Opt for the food tours that take you through the back alleys and help you discover the hidden gems. It’s important to be highly selective about food tours as they can either make or break your food travel experience.
More importantly, be open to new experiences, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty to uncover the hidden treasures that are quite underrated. These are the places that will give you a real taste of the local food and cuisine. Plus, the local food facts and insights will be an eye-opener on your food travel journey ahead.
Eat at a Local Restaurant
You have to go through some average-tasting meals to find great ones. You might not get things right the first time, but you will eventually find what you were looking for, and the best way to do this is to dine at local restaurants. In a new place, eating at local restaurants is the road every food traveler must take.
This is because the taste, textures, and flavors are highly authentic in these dishes. However, finding the diamond on the rough is not always easy. You might be surprisedto learn that the best food is not always offered at the fanciest restaurants. Instead, you will mostly find them at places that don’t seem very inviting or appealing.
Explore the Local Food Produce
Understanding the local produce is another expression of food travel. Go on a journey to meet the local artisans because they are the people who work hard to keep the local food culture and heritage alive. Work with a fisherman/woman or a local seller in the food market to experience the fun firsthand.
Once you spend a day with them and witness how they do and what they do, you’ll leave with a more in-depth understanding of the local food culture you’re so curious about. Additionally, look for family-owned businesses that work hard to keep the culinary traditions alive.
Food travel activities that put you directly in touch with the local artisans will prove to be much richer than eating the local food.
The Bottom Line
All in all, becoming a food traveler is a very unique concept and will give you a chance to explore the world in a completely different way.
As mentioned above, there are several ways you can become a food traveler, from joining a cooking class and exploring the local produce to eating at a local restaurant, going on a food tour, exploring beverages, and cooking international dishes in your own kitchen.
All you need is the curiosity to see how food speaks volumes about a certain place.
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If you are an aspiring food traveler, you will need some help.I – Irina Bukatik –am a food and travel blogger. You can follow my food blog – Wanderlust Food – to explore more about my food and Incredible Travel Experiences around the world.