One of the absolute best things about traveling is the food. There’s nothing quite like diving headfirst into the local cuisine, sampling dishes you’ve never heard of, and discovering flavors that make your taste buds dance with joy. It’s one of the purest forms of cultural immersion—and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love an excuse to eat their way through a new city?
But as much as I love trying new foods, ordering meals in a foreign country can sometimes feel like navigating a culinary minefield. The menu is in a language you don’t speak, the descriptions are vague at best, and you’re left trying to piece together what’s what using context clues, hand gestures, and, if you’re lucky, a helpful waiter. The result? A delicious adventure—or sometimes, a hilarious misadventure.
Take, for instance, that time I was in Paris. Now, French cuisine is legendary, and I was beyond excited to try everything. But let me set the scene: it was my first night in the city, I was jet-lagged, hungry, and ready to embrace my inner Parisian. I found a charming little bistro, grabbed a seat by the window, and opened the menu with all the confidence of someone who had watched one too many episodes of Emily in Paris.
I scanned the menu and spotted something that seemed familiar: “steak tartare.” Now, I’ve seen enough cooking shows to know that steak tartare is raw beef, but in my sleep-deprived state, my brain somehow decided that “tartare” was just a fancy way of saying “lightly seared.” So, I ordered it, expecting a nice, medium-rare steak to arrive.
Imagine my surprise when the waiter placed a plate of beautifully presented, but very much raw, ground beef in front of me. My first instinct was to panic—was this a mistake? Did they forget to cook it? Should I send it back? But then I caught sight of the other diners happily tucking into their own plates of steak tartare, and I realized: this was no mistake. This was a quintessential French dish, and I was about to experience it in all its raw glory.
So, I did what any self-respecting foodie would do—I dug in. And you know what? It was surprisingly delicious. The flavors were rich and complex, and the textures were unlike anything I’d ever had before. It was a culinary revelation, and I was grateful for my moment of lost-in-translation confusion, which led me to try something I might have otherwise skipped.
But not all my food adventures have been so successful. There was that time in Tokyo, for instance, when I confidently ordered what I thought was a simple sushi platter. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself for navigating the menu, despite not knowing a lick of Japanese. That is, until the food started arriving. Plate after plate of sushi was placed in front of me, each more elaborate and intimidating than the last.
Apparently, I had inadvertently ordered a deluxe tasting menu meant for a group. As the dishes kept coming, I realized I was in way over my head—literally. There was no way I could eat it all, and I was pretty sure I’d accidentally blown my entire budget on one meal. But instead of panicking, I decided to embrace the situation. I took my time, savoring each piece of sushi, and even though I was beyond full by the end, it was an experience I’ll never forget.
Another memorable moment happened in Spain, where I discovered that what you think you’re ordering and what you actually get can sometimes be two very different things. I was in Barcelona, eagerly anticipating my first taste of authentic Spanish cuisine. The menu was in Catalan, a language I didn’t speak, but I figured I’d be adventurous and order something without asking too many questions. I picked a dish called “pulpo a la gallega,” which sounded exotic and delicious.
When the dish arrived, I was greeted by a plate of octopus tentacles, beautifully arranged and drizzled with olive oil and paprika. Now, I’m not typically squeamish about food, but let’s just say octopus was not something I’d ever planned on eating. I hesitated for a moment, contemplating how I was going to tackle this unexpected entrée. But in the spirit of travel and adventure, I gave it a try. And guess what? It was incredible. The octopus was tender, flavorful, and nothing like I’d imagined. It was a total win, and a reminder that sometimes the best experiences come from the least expected places.
Of course, not every food adventure ends with a new favorite dish. There was also that time in Beijing when I accidentally ordered chicken feet, thinking they were some sort of exotic dumpling. Let’s just say that was one culinary challenge I wasn’t quite ready for. But even though I didn’t love the taste, it was a story to bring home, and one that still gets a laugh whenever I tell it.
These moments—whether they result in a new favorite dish or a funny story—are part of what makes travel so exciting. They push you out of your comfort zone, force you to try new things, and remind you that sometimes the best memories come from the most unexpected places. Sure, ordering food abroad can be a bit of a gamble, but it’s a gamble that’s almost always worth taking.
So, the next time you find yourself staring at a menu in a foreign language, don’t stress too much. Embrace the adventure. Order something that you’ve never heard of, point to a dish that looks intriguing, or ask the waiter for a recommendation. Even if you end up with a plate of something you didn’t expect, it’s all part of the experience. And who knows? You might just discover your new favorite dish—or at the very least, come away with a great story to tell.
And if all else fails? Well, dessert is usually a safe bet—because no matter where you are in the world, a good dessert is something we can all understand.
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