When I first started traveling as an adult, I never really understood the importance of doing research around food. I would go and assume that all restaurants on the strip with a nice logo had food worth eating. It wasn't until I started to notice a pattern of how things would flow if the food and the experience were extra ordinary that it clicked that food really is a central magnet to ease of a trip. I will give you an example, over the summer we went on a trip with a group to Italy and they took us to this restaurant that had Florentine steaks. This was interesting because I rarely will eat meat. We went and had a glass of red wine in this little tiny place that could barely fit our big group and you could see the butcher in the back of the place cutting these giant steaks, like 5 inch thick and as wide as 2 heads together. The butcher brings over one of these monstrosities to the table to ask if it was going to be okay. So, I see this, and immediately feel discomfort and emotional. I decide in that moment to release expectation and be in the moment. In a beautiful place on earth with great people and wound up having one of the most magical nights of my life. The food was incredible and they did have meat free options there. Yes, if you are wondering, I did taste the steak! We had such a good time laughing and sharing stories that we would get dirty looks from other people in the place trying to have a quiet night out. At the end of the meal, the owner came out and actually thanked US. She said that she had not had any group laugh and have fun like that in a year and a half since the pandemic started. What a gift it was for them and for us to just let go of expectation and be in the moment. To do what humans do naturally and just enjoy each others company. I will never forget this night and how important it is to travel, to release our fears, and to be open for anything. I hope that despite what this world feels like in this moment, that you can remember the beautiful of being uncomfortable!! In a new place, eating a new thing, and spending time with people that do not speak your language. In doing this, we remember how freaking similar we are despite all differences.
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