How to Plan the Ultimate Food Trip
When choosing a holiday destination, do you think only about the food? Is your list of must eats so long that you don’t know how to fit everything into that always-too-short visit? Don’t worry—with this guide, you’ll play every city from start to finish.
Whether you’ve booked a ticket to the Far East, are eating your way around New York or are spending a weekend in Rome: you never want to feel at the end that you’ve missed something. At the same time, you don’t want to eat so much that you can’t walk anymore and feel completely miserable. By now, I’ve taken plenty of food trips and am happy to share my wisdom with you, so you always get the best out of every city.
Planning
As soon as the ticket is booked, the anticipation begins. What is there to eat at your holiday destination? There’s so much information, it’s important to curate it a little. For example, I only take tips from people I know understand food or whose tastes are very similar to mine. Someone you meet in a bar may have had a fantastic experience somewhere, but that doesn’t mean you will too.
The same goes for the internet. I once googled ‘best breakfast Florence’ and ended up on a blog post that recommended nothing but hamburgers. You quickly know something’s wrong. Click through and see what else someone recommends and whether it aligns with what you like to eat. Use as many reliable sources as possible. That means reputable websites with a knowledgeable editorial team. The Eater website maps out the 38 essential restaurants for every major city, which I always consult when I travel. And of course, watch the Anthony Bourdain episode if he visited your chosen city.
Kill your darlings
After all that research, do you have a list of 30 restaurants while you’re only in a city for three days? Then cut things and work by category. Maybe it isn’t necessary to eat pasta bolognese four times in Bologna, when you also want pizza once and fine dining once.
Make a map
This may be taking things a little too far, but I don’t enter an unfamiliar city without a homemade map. It’s very easy to make one in Google Maps. You can’t be too specific. For every place, note its signature dish, opening hours and a photo of a dish. It takes some work, but once it’s finished, it will be your very best friend. You may make some reservations in advance, but the map is ideal for those unplanned moments when hunger strikes. That way, you can always see whether you’re near one of your favorite spots and never accidentally walk into a tourist trap.
Get in line
It may seem now as if I’m a psychopathic planner, and perhaps I am, but I always leave enough room for chance. Mapping everything out in advance is great, but above all, don’t get too fixated on the schedule. Does somewhere smell incredibly good, or do you see a long line? Chances are there’s something delicious to be found there. If there are lots of locals, the food is bound to be good.
That’s how I once got in line in Japan for a restaurant when I had no idea what was being served. Halfway through the line, the staff came to take my order: medium or large, and would I like an egg with it? I still had absolutely no idea what was waiting for me inside. It turned out to be a divine bowl of ramen with lots of black pepper. Mmmm… Always do it.
Look at people’s plates
Have you come across a long strip of restaurants and don’t know where to sit? People often laugh at me for this, but I will always cherish this tip from my mother: look at other people’s plates. A menu can look delicious, but in the end, you want to know what you’re getting on your plate. Just have a peek. Do you see nothing but amazing dishes passing by? Take a seat. If not, simply move on to the next restaurant.
Share everything
Ticking off that endless list of must eats becomes much easier if you share everything. Of course you want to eat that enormous pork sandwich, but there are more things on the list. Half a sandwich makes a perfectly good snack at four o’clock. A stack of pancakes for breakfast in New York? The portions there are so big that it’s more than enough for two. This way, you avoid feeling full while still getting to taste everything.
Signature dishes
Is a particular restaurant known for an incredible dessert? Then of course you don’t need to eat three courses there. Is that dim sum joint known for the very best soup dumplings? Eat them as a snack between breakfast and lunch, and order nothing else. Find out what a restaurant’s signature dish is and plan your trip around it. Of course, sometimes you’ll eat a whole meal, but to get the most out of your trip, occasionally go for a quickie too.
Walk
There’s nothing more annoying than missing the ultimate snack because you weren’t hungry when you passed it. The solution? Do everything on foot. You’ll also see much more of the city than you would from a taxi or metro. The biggest advantage? You’re staying active and burning calories, constantly working up an appetite for your next meal.
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