Are you a food traveler?

10 Aug Are you a food traveler?

Why do you travel? What makes you feel like you had a wonderful holiday? Are you trying to find a relaxing trip? One filled with adventure? Or, one immersed in art and culture?

Or, do you go for the food?

If that’s you, if you feel that food makes or breaks your trip, you’re not alone. Momondo recently did a survey which found that 63 % of British travelers believe that good food is crucial to whether they feel that they have experienced a good holiday. 30 % of Singaporean travelers said that the quality of food is a critical factor in where they choose to vacation.

And, 30 % of surveyed Americans say that they deliberately choose destinations based on the availability of activities related to local food and drink, whether it’s a beer or wine festival, a farmers market, or a farm to table experience. 61 % of the surveyed Americans were interested in taking a trip to a destination within the U.S. to engage in culinary activities within the next year.

Food travelers have been called many things– foodies, gourmands, culinary travelers, and oenophiles (for the wine lovers). The World Food Travel Association defines “food travel” as “the pursuit and enjoyment of unique and memorable food and drink experiences, both far and near.”

All of that means this: We are the ones willing to walk an extra fifteen minutes to find places with unique ingredients and local specialties. We want to try Philly cheese steaks in Philadelphia, paprika in Hungary, wines in the Napa Valley, and noodles from street vendors in Thailand. Our mouths salivate when we talk about that last macaron we had in Paris and the deconstructed creme brulee at New York’s hottest eatery. Moreover, we recognize that the best meals can be found at a humble street stand for $1, as they can be at a Zagat rated, Michelin starred gourmet restaurant.

Yes, we want to eat at great restaurants, but we also want to:

• Visit food markets, farm markets, and farm stands.
• Take tours of artisanal farms, wineries, dairies.
• Tour commercial kitchens and food-related factories.
• Shop at gourmet shops.
• Attend food fairs, festivals and other special events.
• Take lectures or demonstrations conducted by a local chef.
• And participate in cooking classes or schools.
• Take organized food tours, or do-it-yourself food tours, such as following a wine, a beer trail, or a food-related trail.

Simply put, the food traveler loves experiencing food. This is the reason why: food is the great common denominator among all countries, cultures, and races. Nothing breaks cultural barriers like shared smiles over a great meal. Nothing put an end to language difficulties like a well-timed “mmm” and belly rub. Nothing connects people like cooking together.

Food brings us together. The food traveler is continuously looking of that common ground.