Tag: eating out

Yes, being safe is the usual choice when it comes to eating out whilst you are travelling. Well, you really don’t want an upset stomach in the midst of your a trek in the Namibian desert or a stay in the village where the nearest doctor would probably be miles away.

The safe traveller would pack in couple of packets of dried nuts, fruits, chips and resort to heading out to the nearest burger joint. And yes, I do agree that packing a sandwich or a burger over trying out the local flavor always seems the right way to go especially when you are face with a menu of unknown dishes. Paani-puri? Anago-meshi? Uova con tartufi? “Um, I’ll take a sandwich and a salad to go”

But, I’ve always felt that the best way to sink your feet into the local culture is experimenting and what better way than the local cuisine. There is an instant connect – bang on when you sample the local delicacy just like every one else. You throw off the mantle of being ‘just another tourist’ and don on the ‘locale flavor. So how do you do it…well, it’s pretty simple!  Take a cue from the locals when looking for the perfect dish to try. Look around. See what the crowd is gorging on.  Smile. Point. And Indulge!!!

And ofcourse, a bold and brave taste buds are essential; in some cases, an iron stomach is encouraged.

Arepas of Colombia

Colombia might be the only Latin American country where rice is more important than corn. But Colombians have a special place in their heart for the cornmeal cakes they call arepas. If you’ve never had the pleasure, imagine corn bread with a more delicate crumb that’s been flattened into a pancake, filled with cheese or egg, and griddled or fried to form a brown, crispy crust. Each bite sends butter streaking down your chin and, for Colombians, inspires memories of abuela at the stove. For the best, fly down to Cartegena…head to the nearby soccer field, where a gaggle of ladies sell carimañolas (yuca fritters filled with ground beef), empanadas, and most importantly, those fabulous arepas.

Sago’t gulaman of Philippines

One of the beautiful things about the Philippines is the love for food everyone has. And a must try local delicacy is Sago’t Gulaman – walking around local markets, you would find street food vendors with their moveable food cart serving hungry lines of mouths just waiting for a bite to eat of this local delicacy. Sago’t Gulaman is a mix of sago and agar agar in a sugary caramelized liquid. This dark colored refreshment is sweet to the taste and filling with all of the sago and gelatin like cubes. Top it up with a cantaloupe juice – where the melon is so sweet….strips of the cantaloupe meat float around your cup, so you get some with each sip you take. If you finish all of the juice, the cantaloupe strips are layered right in the bottom of your cup, all ready to be snacked on.