When I travel, food typically plays a huge role in planning my trip. I spend hours surfing the web for great restaurant recommendations, reading local food blogs to learn about regional specialties and referencing the dining section of the local paper to scout for any culinary events that may coincide with my trip.
There are so many opportunities to include foodie themed experiences when exploring a new city, here are a few tips and suggestions for those of you with vacations coming up.
- Check to see if any milestone food events are scheduled in your destination: Many great vacations spots have built in food events, from seasonal harvests to festivals & competitions. For example, you may be interested in visiting the wine country during “crush” season when they first begin to make wine from that year’s harvest. Or if you’re a beer person, then the Great American Beer Festival in Denver may be more your speed. Apple picking season in New England makes for a fantastic Fall get a way.
(If any of you are planning a trip to San Antonio this year, you might want to time your visit with the New World Wine & Food Festival in May. I attended several events last year, and I really enjoyed it!)
-Try and visit during “Restaurant Week”: Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity to experience the best dining in a new city without breaking the bank. Participating restaurants often offer special discounts, promotions or special menu offerings during this week-long event. By planning ahead a bit, you can make reservations at one of the top locations in town for each night you are visiting. Click here for a link to the major US metro areas offering a restaurant week in 2010.
- Check out specialty food shops or markets unique to the area: Making a trip to the local farmers market may require that you get up a little earlier on Saturday mornings, but it is well worth the sacrifice. Farmers markets are the optimal place to grab a delicious breakfast while taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the local food culture. You’ll also be sure that you are supporting the local economy. I always find it interesting to check out supermarkets in new cities to compare differences in product selection, prices etc. Most recently I made it a point to hit up Trader Joe’s while we were in Santa Fe. While certainly not unique to New Mexico, Trader Joe’s does not have a presence in TX. I could have spent hours there! While there we grabbed some inexpensive snacks to enjoy in our hotel room, and we were sure to stock up on bubbly since we visited over New Years. We also bought a case of Charles Shaw or “Two Buck Chuck” as it is affectionately referred to to take home with us. Since it will take us a while to blow through 12 bottles of wine, we’ll have a reminder of our trip to Santa Fe all year long!
(If you’re planning a trip to Texas, check and see if there is a Central Market in the area.)
Take a class: Many cities have a variety of food and drink related courses you can take in an afternoon or evening. Check with universities for extension classes, and reach out to high-end food retailers who will surely be informed of options in the area.
One of the highlights of our recent trip to Santa Fe was stopping by the Santa Fe School of Cooking. While I didn’t think ahead to schedule a class for myself, I was delighted by the market that was stocked with local and regional cookbooks.
I know on my next visit to Santa Fe I’ll be sure to schedule a class. They also offer guided restaurant tasting tours, you can read more about it here.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to food related travel. Social media and the Internet have made it so easy to find information on local events and promotions. Consider creating a twitter group specifically for your trip and “follow” local chefs, restaurants and food blogs for several weeks prior to your trip. You’ll be plugged into the pulse of the local food culture of your destination before you even set off on your trip!
