Traveling and Eating

We’ve recently returned from our honeymoon in Ireland. It was such a delicious trip! I love eating out at restaurants, but I also crave quiet, simple meals at home. Finding ways to enjoy both types of experiences while traveling can be tricky. Here are five tips that might help you on your next adventure:

1. Become a regular at your local café – It’s fun to frequent the same breakfast spot several days in a row and get to know the people who work there. By the end of your stay, you might even have a usual order.

2. Try a fancy restaurant at lunchtime rather than dinnertime – Same wonderful food, much less expensive. Do some research on well-known local restaurants ahead of time, but stay open to discovering hidden gems. Also, look for budget-friendly lunch specials like a bowl of soup and half-sandwich.

3. Embrace the snacking culture of the place you are visiting – In Ireland, we often enjoyed a late-morning tea and pastry. When we were especially hungry before dinner, we’d stop at a pub to share a pint of Guinness and a plate of fries.

4. Pick up edible souvenirs – Look for non-perishable snacks like nuts, certain kinds of bread, crackers, and dried fruits. These all are small enough to fit inside your bag, and any snacks you don’t open will make terrific gifts for friends back home.

5. Have a picnic –Scope out the deli, butcher shop, and cheese counter of your local market. You can buy sliced prosciutto, six or seven olives from the olive bar, a tiny wedge of cheese, a slender baguette or a couple or rolls, and some fruit—and you’ll be all set!