When I travel I make it a point to try the foods that the region I am traveling to is known for. This started many years ago when I went on a business trip to Maryland, which was my first trip to the East Coast. Back in those days I was not very adventurous in my culinary activities. When eating out I would usually order either a French dip sandwich or prime rib. Before I left on my trip to Maryland, everyone kept telling me I had to try the Maryland crab cakes. While in Maryland, the locals kept telling me I had to try the crab cakes. I tried my first crab cakes in the Baltimore Inner Harbor area and I loved them.

A year later, two business trips took me to New Orleans where I fell in love with beignets and iced chicory coffee at Cafe Du Monde. While in New Orleans I also tried and enjoyed the jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp po’boys, pralines, and muffuletta sandwiches. From then on there was no stopping me.

On Cape Cod and in Maine it was the lobster rolls I had to try. In Kansas City it was Arthur Bryant’s barbecue. In Germany it was the beer, sauerkraut, bratwurst, schnitzel, and spätzle. And it just goes on and on.

After I had children I encouraged them to try different foods. On a recent trip to Australia, my 17-year old daughter decided (on her own, with no encouragement from me) that she was going to try meat pies and kangaroo, which she did. Before she left for Australia she hated vegemite, but came home loving cheesy vegemite.

Herb and garlic kangaroo kebabs

Meat pies in the Hunter Valley area of Australia

Plated meat pie

Having a mom and aunties that constantly take pictures of the food they are eating or cooking, it was only natural that my daughter would snap pictures of grilled kangaroo and meat pies. The proprietor of the establishment selling the meat pies became angry with her while she was taking pictures of the meat pies and told her she was rude for taking the pictures. I guess the next thing we are going to have to investigate is what behavior is and is not acceptable in the various regions around the world . . . .

~merry~

Travel broadens the mind, raises the spirits, and can increase your girth.