Traveling Tastebuds
I have gained so many wonderful things through my various travels around the globe, among them a deeper appreciation for my own life, a better understanding of the world and its people and opportunities to see and do things I never dreamed of. Another thing I have gained is, undeniably, an expanded taste palette. I’ll admit I used to be a very picker eater (I would very rarely try something new), and, while I’m not saying I’ll try any and everything now, traveling has, without a doubt, introduced me to new, exotic and delicious foods - foods I never would have sampled otherwise. And, I am still picky in some ways. I will never ever eat a tomato.
I was never a fish fan - until my trip to the British Virgin Islands. On the first night there, I decided to be adventurous (for me) and I ordered shrimp and Mahi Mahi. It was phenomenal and I can’t believe what I was missing out on all those years. Mahi Mahi is now a staple of my diet.
In Sicily, it was eggplant. It was not that I hated eggplant, I had just simply never had a desire to try it before. One of the most popular dishes in Sicily is Caponata, which we had frequently. It was another dish and vegetable I would not have tried if I hadn’t traveled to Sicily.
In India, I experienced the whole world of Indian food. After nine days in the country, the food was starting to bother me just a bit, but I discovered lots of new, interesting dishes. I also discovered some foods I don’t care for while there (and in other destinations). In Korea, it was bibimbap and Korean barbecue. I enjoyed both. In Germany, different types of sausage. In Hungary, it was goulash. In Chicago, it was a different style of pizza. In South America, ceviche! The list goes on…
Travel has not only tickled my tastebuds while abroad, but it has changed the way I think about food in my day-to-day life. I am more willing to try new things or choose an ethnic restaurant over an old standby. New foods have become a regular part of my diet and my outlook has changed. Thanks to my globe trotting, I now have traveling tastebuds!
-Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
May 8th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I don’t know what it is about travel, but I have had many food firsts while on the road. In New Orleans, I had turtle soup. In NY, I had plantains. In Toronto, I had calamari. In Houston I had pumpkin ravioli. Who knows what will happen if I go overseas!