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The number one reason not to travel…

The one downside of travel is...

… You may become a gastronomic snob and forever struggle to fulfil your cravings at home.

We have a lot of great Asian cuisine in Auckland, but pickin’s are a bit slim on some of the other fronts.

I’ve ranted on here enough times about it; I won’t blather on about the nonexistent Mexican scene anymore. I do think we can do better on the North American front overall, though. Americana seems to be the latest fad, but having so recently been through the US I just can’t get excited about most of the new options here (to say nothing of the portion sizes).

But the biggest letdown I’ve had came a few weeks ago, when we bought ostensibly fresh burrata from the Parnell farmer’s market. Now, it was made locally, by genuine Italians, but it was so far off the mark compared to what we ate in Italy. Consider the difference between good and bad squid – lightly cooked vs rubbery and tough. This burrata was stringy and dryish – edible, but a pale imitation.

I don’t wish to move to Italy to live or anything, but by god do I miss the fresh foods and simple yet sublime farm meals we had there.

7 thoughts on “The number one reason not to travel…

  • Reply Kate@GoodnightDebt September 12, 2014 at 10:29

    The number one thing I want to do with my money is use it for travel. I’ve thought to myself how different my life would be if every dollar didn’t have the end goal of being a travel dollar. Travel begets more travel. It’s like a hungry travel snowball! It needs to be fed!

    So while I don’t long for the food, I whole heartedly agree. Don’t travel unless you are ready to constantly be reminded that you are overdue for your next adventure!

  • Reply krantcents September 12, 2014 at 10:57

    Living in Los Angeles, I have a lot of choices! I still think some of the best Italian food is still in New York City though. It gives me at least one reason to travel to New York once a year. A major portion of my overseas travel revolves around food and I like it that way.

  • Reply Genie September 12, 2014 at 13:07

    Every time I plan a holiday, I’m actually planning an eating holiday. Food tastes best when there is a journey or a story to go with it. Whether it’s a family meal shared with loved ones who haven’t come together in ages, or a meal cooked just for you in an unmapped location by poor locals who have never left their village. Trying to replicate the sensory background when all you have is the food is going to be impossible.

  • Reply Taylor Lee September 12, 2014 at 22:42

    I’ve experienced the same exact problem (though, probably to a much less legitimate extent than you). While visiting DC my significant other and I went to this Italian place where the food was AMAZING. I mean, they made everything on site from the noodles to the pesto. And they were so soft and chewy I could melt into that bowl of pasta and be done with living because nothing could ever match those noodles.

    Now I live in a VERY Italian-food-heavy town, and despite that, I feel like I can never go for Italian food again because it will forever tarnish that beautiful and delicious memory of those noodles.

  • Reply Hannah Wasielewski September 15, 2014 at 07:25

    I’m planning on going to Australia and NZ next year, and I’m worried about the non-existent mexican food. I eat Mexican about twice a week, at least I’m pretty good at making it!

  • Reply Revanche September 17, 2014 at 11:40

    Agreed – I’m becoming more and more of a homebody except for the food aspect, I couldn’t give up the amazing foods you can get when you travel. Even now I miss the pastas in Italy, the street food in Asia, and all the good eats in New York.

  • Reply Funny about Money September 17, 2014 at 15:55

    LOL! Wish I could send you some Mexican food. REAL Mexican food, that is…not the stuff you get in most restaurants, even here in the Amurican Southwest. 😉

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