Food culture: Eating Locally While Traveling!

When you have the opportunity to travel, you are seeing new things, hearing different accents and you are certainly surrounded with traditional cuisine to discover. Experiencing different cultures is a perk for business travelers but whether you are ready to do the research to find the local favorites or searching high and low for the best deal, here are a few suggestions of where to start!

Looking for hidden, local gems?

Start by polling the locals! With limited time, a conversation with a stranger in a taxi is an effective way to uncover the perfect local culinary experience. You are likely to walk away from the conversation with a few mouthwatering suggestions for your stay.

Don’t forget to check out the Food Network! Shows like “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” can’t afford to risk their reputation to recommend subpar eateries. Every dish and restaurant I have tried per Mr. Fieri’s recommendation has exceeded expectations and has tied in that staple dish or native ingredient.

Searching for that special deal?

Restaurants count on the relationships they have built with the local concierge to boost traffic and will often leave coupons for the concierge to pass along to travelers. Many are within walking distance so you might even save a few bucks on parking or travel.

Regardless of the any of the before mentioned ways you choose to gather intel, you will most likely also utilize your smartphone to check out top spots on TripAdvisor, Google Maps, Open Table or Yelp. All of these popular websites provide reviews that consist of (hopefully) non-bias feedback and share guest experiences. As some companies use these platforms to spend marketing dollars in an effort to improve their exposure onto the website, remember that you can’t always trust what you read online. Be sure to leave your own review so that the next weary traveler can take advantage of your research!