Food Tripping, Shopping for your Palate

Dining is Also Shopping

Be it at the local diner, that deli a few blocks down the road, or that hip new place that requires a reservation months in advance, eating out can be quite the shopping experience for your taste buds. The promise of new aromas and tastes await you if you can muster the courage to try out new things.

If you have never tried that new eatery, then now might just be the time do so. Splurging money on food is not a waste, if anything it is an investment in yourself; trying out new foods will not only bring you new experiences but will also enrich your cultural understanding of culinary arts as well.

Making Something New of Your Old Eating Spots

Many people tend to fall into repetitive habits when it comes to shopping; from buying a certain kind of clothes or a certain style of shoes to having specific brand preferences. The same is also true for eating habits. People tend to order specific items from the menu. If you find yourself practicing these same habits, then you might be missing out on a lot of great items from the same eatery that you have been going to for years!

Get to know your local chefs and cooks and ask what their specialties and newest dishes are. These are often excellent choices to order. They might even recommend some of their old favorites from the existing menu as well. If you are familiar enough to them, you can ask the chef to surprise you with something new.

You certainly do not have to eat foods that you dislike. An adventure is not the same as self-torture; but trying out new foods is definitely the way to go. If you have had the pleasure of ordering almost everything on the menu, you can consider going to other eating spots in your local area. Ask your paperboy or sitter about their recommendations. They often know people in the area and have either first hand experience eating at different places or at the very least, know which places other people prefer to go to. You do not have to travel out of the state just to experience a new taste. That is a totally different option, and it is certainly an exciting prospect.

Going Beyond the Local Taste

Certain regions have specific food cultures ranging from west side high cuisine to southern Cajun taste. Depending on where you live, you have probably grown up to learn and appreciate a great deal of the specialty dishes of your state and even your home town.

Consider it a natural progression to consider traveling a little farther than usual to find a new experience in the world of cooking. Whether you go north, south, east or west is entirely up to you; just know that each area has its own unique food culture and an exciting experience awaits you. Before you go taking that first spoonful of new delicacies, you should take a moment to talk to your cook or waiter. Be sure to ask what the ingredients are or at least make them aware if you have allergies to certain foods.