Why Food and Travel Are Inseparable: Unforgettable Culinary Journeys Worldwide
I had strayed far from the tourist trails into a rugged fishing village on a misty peninsula jutting into Japan's Sea of Japan. As the first foreigner in decades who spoke Japanese, I was welcomed as an honored guest and escorted with great fanfare to the local culinary gem, akin to Chez Panisse.
Endless sake and beer flowed, accompanied by exquisite small bites on delicate plates. Then, the room hushed as a special dish arrived triumphantly before me.
It was a whole fish, artfully posed with head and tail arched as if leaping. Its side revealed translucent slices of ultra-fresh flesh. All eyes watched as I lifted my chopsticks. I selected a promising slice—and the fish twitched. Dismissing it as a reflex, I tried again; it jumped once more. Glancing at its eye, I realized it was alive—Japan's freshest raw delicacy. With no escape amid the anticipation, I committed.
On my third attempt, I seized the slice, touched it to my tongue, eyes closed under collective gaze—including the fish's. An explosion of ocean-fresh flavor hit; my eyes flew open in delight. The restaurant erupted in cheers.
Travel and food are inextricably linked, often delivering profound lessons, as in that Japanese eatery. One undeniable fact: we must eat wherever we roam. Thus, cuisine captivates us, unlocking destinations physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. I've witnessed this globally countless times.
Many cherished travel memories center on meals. The biftek-frites at my favorite six-table Paris bistro post-college, where the owner anticipated my vin ordinaire. An ouzo-soaked night of plate-smashing and dancing in an Athens taverna, plus an Easter lamb feast in the Peloponnesus hills, where I received the eyeballs as honor. Sachertorte shared with new friends in Vienna. My first ripe figs at an Istanbul market.
A timeless afternoon on La Colombe d'Or's sunlit terrace in St-Paul-de-Vence, savoring daurade avec haricots verts amid Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, and Miró masterpieces. Post-wedding sake and sushi in Shikoku; an Ecuadorian Thanksgiving in the Galápagos; starry Yosemite nights with freeze-dried boeuf bourguignon; garlic-grilled huachinango in Zihuatanejo, shared beachside. Meals forging memories.
Food sustains travelers, opens tribal hearts, weaves enduring bonds. It frustrates or blesses, spurs quests or sparks festivals. Awful or divine—often both.
Ultimately, food transforms, forging deeper connections to peoples, places, and cultures.
A Moveable Feast collects global travelers' tales from renowned voices like celebrity chefs and award-winning writers to debut authors. Edited by acclaimed Don George, it features Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, Mark Kurlansky, Matt Preston, Simon Winchester, Stefan Gates, David Lebovitz, Matthew Fort, Tim Cahill, Jan Morris, Pico Iyer, and more.
