There is an excitement I have for culinary travel that is unmatched by any other hobby I’ve tried to pursue.
I’ve learned so much about different cultures simply by letting THEM show ME how they experience a meal. An open mind is a powerful thing!
I’m Caitlin (learn more about me here!) and I’m launching The Food Quest to share my favorite culinary experiences from around the world.
My goal is to inspire culinary curiosity in my readers and provide suggestions along with my personal experiences of the best places I’ve visited. The world is a big place but I’ve found that no matter what country you’re in, an exciting meal – expensive or dirt cheap – will be a great memory.
The Food Quest is not a place for “restaurant reviews” – TripAdvisor and Yelp already have that covered and they’re great places to start.
But, The Food Quest IS a place for learning about hidden gems, finding itinerary suggestions and getting tips to make the most of your culinary travels.
What do I know?
Over the last few years I’ve traveled extensively and have spent countless hours researching and experiencing all things food and travel related. Traveling has taught me that you don’t necessarily NEED to spend a bundle of money to enjoy incredible experiences. And that’s the beauty of exploring.
My favorite thing to do when visiting a new place is to pick ONE dinner spot for the first night. Then, on that first night, it’s my goal to befriend a waitress, bartender, cook, chef, busboy – ANYONE, and ask them where they eat when they go out.
I’ve repeated this process multiple times and without fail, I always managed to find incredible experiences. Local suggestions have led me to truffle hunting in the hills of Western Italy, riding in the back of pickup truck in the rice fields of Northern Thailand, exploring on my way to learn how to make banana soup in Northern Thailand. Both equally memorable, but for different reasons!
While the idea of not planning out every part of a trip to new place might give some travelers anxiety – especially new travelers – I’m here to ease your tension by providing you with my favorite places. You don’t have to be a seasoned traveler to explore like one – I’m here to help!
Travel is all about seeing new places, meeting new people, listening to new music, learning new cultural traditions and eating new food. My food suggestions typically go hand-in-hand with seeing what the locality offers.
My overall personal goal for my culinary travels is simple: to find the best there is. I wanted to find the best octopus – so I went to Greece; the best chocolate so I went to Belgium; the best cheese so I went to France. I’m on a Quest for the Best.
Quest for the Best
In these posts, I share where I’ve found the best of the best of a certain dish or ingredient. For example in my Quest for the Best: Sea Urchin I write about the best, standout sea urchin I’ve ever consumed in my life. I focus on the 5 senses – because, let’s be honest – if it’s the best version of that ingredient, the entire environment made an impression on me! The flavors, the complexity or simplicity, and the drink pairing if there was one. This section is where I’ve fulfilled my quest.
I love hearing from my readers and I’m always open to travel and culinary suggestions. If you have one, please send me a note!
Cheers to Exploring!