My very first experience of international travel was to Salzburg, Austria. I was working for an Austrian company, and they sent me to the headquarters in Salzburg for training. I studied German in both high school and college but had never tried it live – so to speak – and was excited. I was traveling with several other Americans, several of who had made the trip before. But I was the only one with any German skills at all.
Our hotel was close to old town Salzburg and not far from the castle. As soon as we were checked in, they all suggested we go to Planet Hollywood for a PIZZA! A PIZZA?? …in Salzburg, Austria. I was shocked and disgusted and ditched those losers as quickly as I could.
I mean, I’m in Austria for Chrissakes. The last thing I wanted to do was go to an American Restaurant! I wanted to experience Austria as Austria, not an Americanized vacation version.
I enjoy trying new things and I think this particular trip is where that kind of started. I was in a foreign country and in my mind that meant you try the local food. Why would I fly halfway around the world to eat something I can get at home? What’s special about that? Who wants to hear someone brag about eating a pizza in Salzburg? No one! I want to hear about the bier and the wurst and schnitzel! The real Austria.
So, I set off to explore the city on my own. I barely spoke the language, had no idea where I was going, and my cell phone barely worked in the country. Yet, I had a new camera and a sense of adventure.
I ended up walking down to the river and getting some great pictures of the Mozart Bridge on the path along the bank. The area had an amazing Old World feel and I was soaking it up. Then I found a little bar/restaurant nearby.
I sat at the bar and asked for a menu; it was in German of course. I wasn’t bothered because… adventure! I had no idea what I was ordering but I just pointed at something and ordered a beer. The beer was stronger than I was used to but lovely. However… dinner turned out to be a cold cream of tuna… “something”. I wasn’t sure what it was. All I could do was laugh at my situation. Of course, it was going to turn out to be something completely weird that I would never eat on purpose. And yet… it was delicious! It was by far the best mystery meal I have ever had.
I did save a picture of it. Maybe someday I’ll go back and find out what it is.
Now, I don’t recommend doing the random menu item trick. But… definitely explore the local cuisine. Travel to explore the world, not to experience what you can get at home. Foreign travel should never feel like a Disney version of a foreign country. It should be feel, sound, smell, and most certainly taste foreign. My wife and I like to go on food safaris to experience as much as we can. Even when we travel to new cities we want to experience it. We want to taste the local food and the local beer and eat at local restaurants. Foreign travel should never feel like home. It should feel like an adventure and new foods better be part of it.
Postscript:
After a search of my memory and Google Maps, I was able to actually locate the restaurant in Salzburg. Flavour…weinbar restaurant is still there and they still have the same dish on the menu. It turned out to be Vitello Tonnato, an Italian dish made with boiled veal in creamy tuna sauce which is served cold. I highly recommend it!
So Many Words... 