Why Food Tastes Better When You Travel: My Favorite Food Adventures

Traveling the Good Food Highway

Food for the Soul

Food connects us in ways that go far beyond hunger. It softens moments, brings people together, and says things we sometimes can’t. I’ve always felt that we’re wired to share it—to pass a plate, offer a taste, or linger a little longer at the table, sharing a laugh or two. Even our phones join the ritual now, capturing the meals we want to remember and the ones we want to share.

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The Best Stories Always Start with Food

We celebrate, mourn, and comfort one another while we eat. We labor for hours chopping, mincing, dicing, marinating, sauteing, and simmering. And then we spend hours lingering and mingling over it. Food is life. Some of the best stories start with good food. Because food is a massive part of the travel experience, only some things I’ve eaten, I’d eat again, that’s for sure, i.e. Fruit de Mer. Frog legs, snails, horse meat, and even pigeons– loved them all. I had to finger-fight my youngest over the last frog leg.

For more food-related travel stories, check out Venetian Seafood Salad and Why I Chose Ballymaloe Cookery School.

Fresh Baked Bread

My Grandma Mabel in Baltimore

One of my absolute favorite foods is bread. One of my earliest and fondest food memories happened in my grandmother’s kitchen. My grandma Mabel used to make the best-baked bread. The memory alone makes me salivate. She’d rise early Sunday mornings before the sun. And make pan after pan of golden baked, butter-topped, fluffy white rolls. I’d wake up to the most delightful aromas and every tabletop, flat surface, including chairs, would be covered in bread. All morning long, people would travel from all over the city to get a few rolls. Grandma never charged a single penny. She did it out the kindness of her heart and because she loved making people happy.

Mabel has been gone for many years now. And it pains the entire family that no one, not a single one of my mother’s sisters, were able to replicate her recipe. Believe me, they tried. However, the rolls were not quite the same. So eventually, they all gave up and get their rolls from the grocery store like everybody else. Those mornings in my grandma’s kitchen taught me that food carries memory, and I chase that feeling every time I travel.

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French Pastries

Paris

The only other time I’ve ever felt like Sunday morning was walking into a French patisserie on Rue Cler in Paris. The bread was literally dripping from the ceiling, hanging from every nook and cranny. The crust is thick and crunchy and the inside is soft and chewy. And the aroma of baked bread, pain du sucre, croissants, honey buns, fruit tarts, and chocolate eclairs was overwhelming. It was palpable in the air all around me. You wanna just stick your tongue and lick the air. it’s just that good. Those aromas taught me that taste begins long before the first bite, and I still look for that same feeling every time I travel.

Eating Paella

Mallorca

Good food results when cultures merge. It’s a way to travel without leaving home. It allows you to explore the spices of the North African Moors, the herbs of Provence, or the variations in olive oil grown all over the Mediterranean.

Paella is one of those things that is a melding of cultures. Most people consider it a traditional Spanish delicacy. However, it would not be possible without saffron, lemons, and bay leaf. However, the Moors of Northern Africa brought all three of the European continent. And it’s a dish that has many variations.

I’ve had an all-seafood variation that included tiny shellfish in Mallorca. And I had it with chicken and chorizo sausage in Barcelona. I even made the mistake of ordering it in Brussels, let’s just say that wasn’t a great idea. I should have ordered the Moules et Frites (mussels and fries) or a savory waffle instead. Stick to what you know, is not only a cute restaurant slogan but a recipe for good food and a good life. Eating paella in Mallorca showed me that some foods hold the whole place inside them. Once I ate it there, I stopped expecting it to feel the same anywhere else.

Food is Really Good When it’s Shared

And When You Travel

That’s something I’ve come to wholeheartedly believe. We get nourishment for our bodies as well as the soul when we eat with family and friends we love. That’s why I won’t eat with people I believe are toxic. I don’t want to ingest their caustic fumes along with my pasta.

Speaking of pasta. Do you like spaghetti? I do. But it’s never been one of those things I’d order if I was going out to dinner. I can make some pretty lip-smacking good spaghetti in my own kitchen.

However, on a trip to Rome, I ordered a plate of spaghetti and an order of shrimp and arancini—a meal that I’ll never ever forget. Rome showed me that taste deepens when a meal jolts me awake—whether it’s shrimp staring back at me or the first forkful of pasta that makes silence fill the table.

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Off with their Heads

Rome

The waiter placed the first course of shrimp before me. And I had the opportunity to meet the little critters face to face. Their beady little black eyes stared straight through my soul. I cut off their head and their head and their head. The arancini came next. Arancini or little orange in Italian is a fried arborio rice ball packed around some cheese and other fillings. OMG!! Those little suckers are good!!! I’ve tried to make them several times with little success.

The highlight of my first trip to Rome wasn’t the ruins or the river walks. It was a simple plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce. The dish looked plain at first glance, but the first bite stopped me cold. The sauce carried a slow sweetness, the tomatoes tasted sun-warmed, and the olive oil softened everything without drowning it. I wanted to lick the plate. I wondered if it was truly that good, or if sitting in Rome—where pasta belongs to the walls, the air, and the rhythm of daily life—made each forkful feel richer. Maybe the flavor came from the dish itself. Maybe it came from me sitting there, open and unguarded, tasting a moment I couldn’t recreate anywhere else.

Seafood Salad with Don Fernando

Venice

In Venice, I met a dish I wasn’t prepared for. Don Fernando set an entire octopus in front of me, still warm from the lagoon. He seasoned it with only salt, pepper, and olive oil, then sat beside me like we were old friends. The texture fought back with every bite, and no amount of chewing could soften it. I picked out the pieces I recognized and hid the rest under my napkin. But here’s the strange thing: I still remember that meal with affection. Not for the taste, but for the place—the quiet shuffle of boats outside, the soft slap of water against stone, the way Venice makes even a culinary misstep feel like part of its charm. That dish taught me that travel expands our palate not through perfection, but through surprise.

12 Inch Wood Pizza Board with Handle

This acacia wood pizza board brings durability, beauty, and versatility to your kitchen. Each board has its own natural grain, and the set includes a stainless-steel pizza cutter and server so you save money on extra tools. The paddle-style handle offers a comfortable grip, and the hanging hole makes storage simple. The 17″ × 12″ size works for pizza, produce, cheese, bread, or charcuterie. It also makes a great gift for anyone who enjoys cooking or hosting.

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Eating Pizza with a Knife and Fork

Germany

Germany surprised me at the table long before it surprised me anywhere else. I remember sitting in a small neighborhood pizza parlor, expecting something familiar. Instead, the server placed a whole, unsliced pizza in front of me—with no hint that anyone here ate it by the slice. I watched the locals for a moment, quiet and curious, then followed their lead. Knife in one hand, fork in the other, I cut small, careful pieces. The crust felt crisp but tender, the cheese carried a warmth that lingered, and the meal unfolded at a slower pace than I was used to. Eating something familiar in a new way—changed the taste for me. Travel does that. It slows you down, asks you to notice, and reminds you the ordinary can feel new again if you let it.

Cheap and Fresh

Greece

Greece fed us with honesty. Every meal felt simple, fresh, and confident in what it offered. I still remember my first gyro from a stand near the harbor—warm pita, tender lamb shaved thin, vegetables that tasted like they had seen the sun only hours earlier, and a tangy yogurt sauce that felt cool against the heat of the day. Nothing fancy, nothing overworked. Just ingredients that tasted like themselves. And it was so affordable that we found ourselves looking forward to lunch and dinner in a way we rarely did elsewhere in Europe. Eating in Greece taught me that flavor has its own passport. When food comes from the land around you, prepared by hands that trust tradition, it carries a depth you can’t recreate at home.

Family Style Meals

Croatia

Some of my best meals have been the simple ones shared with friends. In Croatia, we sat in a courtyard on Hvar Island, the stone walls holding the day’s warmth while the sky softened into evening. The table filled with small dishes—bite-sized octopus, fresh vegetables, bread still warm from the oven. Nothing felt rushed. We passed plates back and forth and settled into the moment. That night reminded me that food tastes better when the setting slows you down and the people around you feel like part of the meal.

Potatoes Bravas & Other Tapas

Spain

I fell hard for tapas in Spain. Olives, patatas bravas, little plates of things I couldn’t pronounce but ordered anyway. Some bars handed out free tapas with drinks, while others counted your toothpicks at the end to settle the bill. My kids wanted fast food; I wanted to wander from counter to counter tasting whatever came next. Each plate felt like a tiny surprise. Spain taught me something simple: the more curious I became, the better everything tasted. And patatas bravas proved it—no matter how many times I tried to make that simple fried potato at home, I never came close. It belonged to Spain, and maybe that’s why it tasted so good.

Festival Food

Germany

Festival food is a highlight of attending seasonal celebrations, despite not being the healthiest option. From roasted chicken and suckling pig to bratwurst and fried potatoes, the flavors are as rich as the history they celebrate. Sitting among locals, enjoying traditional dishes, and indulging in sweet treats from various cultures is a joy.

Donuts

France, Greece & Turkey

Sweet fried dough seems to follow me wherever I travel. In Germany it was the Berliner. In France, beignets dusted with sugar. Greece and Turkey offered loukoumades, warm and sticky with honey. Spain had churros y chocolate, and Mallorca introduced me to ensaimadas—soft, coiled pastries people eat morning, afternoon, or whenever the craving hits. Each version carried its own story, shaped by local hands and local ingredients. Maybe that’s why they tasted better on the road than they ever could at home.

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Corner Markets

Locally Grown Produce

Since returning to the states, I’ve missed the fresh produce available at corner markets abroad. Preferring fruits and vegetables that ripen naturally, I’ve leaned towards shopping at smaller, local establishments rather than large chains, seeking the freshness and quality that remind me of my travels.

KHAO SOI IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

I don’t have to tell you Thailand has delicious food. We ate everything. One of our favorite dishes is the Northern Thai dish called khao soi. It is a yellow curry with egg noodles, tender chicken, and a layer of crisp noodles on top. The broth feels rich and warm. The heat rises slowly, then settles. I still remember the scent of curry paste and lime at the table.

Cafes in Thailand →

KOREAN CAFE CULTURE

I loved living in South Korea. I miss a lot about our life there. But I really miss our weekends when Steven, Kyung Sook, and I would travel to all the beautiful cafes to eat delicious food in the mountains, by the ocean, in a traditional village, or by the side of the road.

Cafes in South Korea →

NIU NIU IN TAIWAN

One of our favorite hole in the wall experiences was in Taipei– which has an amazing food culture, cafes, and night markets. But we had the best time exploring the maze of street stalls away from the tourist area looking for what Steven believed was the best bowl of beef noodle soup. It was delicious and cost a couple of dollars.

Cafes in Taiwan →

SINGAPORE HAWKER STALLS

Everyone thinks Singapore is expensive and it is. But one place you can save money is at the hawker stalls. The food is delicious and inexpensive. Many dishes carry stories that began in China, India, or Malaysia. The flavors meet in one place and feel familiar and new at the same time. Anthony Bourdain was right– do not skip the chicken and rice.

Cafes in Singapore →

Slow Food, Good Food

Seasonal

The slow food movement, which emphasizes seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, has captivated me in France, Italy, and Ireland. Restaurants like the Provençal Café in Williamsburg, which changes its menu based on local availability, embody this philosophy, offering fresh, nutritious, and delicious meals inspired by the Mediterranean.

Final Thoughts

This narrative captures the diversity and richness of international dining experiences, from unexpected culinary surprises to the simple joy of sharing meals, underscoring the profound connection between food, culture, and the pleasure of discovery.

Street food aromas, flavors, simple prep & ingredients are the quintessential cheap travel eats. And street food in Asia resonates like nothing else. There’s nothing like good fast food and motorbike exhaust at a street-side stall. The flavors and aromas ignite all the senses and become what you remember most about the place.

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