My brother and his family recently returned from Mexico City, and while describing the museums, galleries, architecture, and other sights, one thing he said really caught my ear.
“I’ve had many tacos in my life,” he exclaimed, “but never any as good as some some we ate from a food stand on the street.” That comment made me think of the incredible food we’ve had while traveling.
It is not lost on me that we are extremely fortunate to live in Southern California, where you can get any of the world’s cuisines, any time you want. We can literally walk to a variety of food options ranging from taco trucks to a Michelin Bib Gourmand Shanghai-style restaurant, but I believe getting away from home and finding incredible food (and drinks) help make the travel experience memorable.
Here are just a few of my favorite food memories.
Bahia De Los Angeles, BCS: I grew up hating to eat fish, though I loved to go fishing and would always gladly give away my catch. But one time we went fishing with the town doctor on his boat in a small Baja California fishing village. Once back on shore, he selected a certain fish and dug out a chunk of meat inside. He claimed that specific chunk was the best part of the entire fish.
We ate it raw while standing on the shore, and my mind was blown because the taste and texture was just like…avocado! It was a magical experience, with a cool breeze and cold beer under the warm sun highlighting the experience. This may have been the first bite of fish I ever truly enjoyed eating.
Laughlin, NV and New Orleans, LA: During the early-to mid-90’s, my friend Matt and I would drive to Laughlin, NV after work, stopping at the Colorado Belle Casino, which had a small Louisiana-style bar hidden on the upper level. We drank Dixie Blackened Voodoo beer, and I would always order a plate of raw oysters with lemon wedges, Tabasco, and fresh horseradish. (I was in a casino, so why not gamble?) But every bite made me dream of one day going to the famous Acme Oyster Bar in New Orleans.
Many years later, Kim and I finally made the pilgrimage to NOLA for Po’ Boys and gumbo at Mother’s, Muffuletta sandwiches at Central Market, beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe Du Monde, and of course, a plate of fresh oysters at the Acme Oyster Bar. It was all far better than I had imagined.
Costa Rica: Pizza was wonderful in Italy, especially in Naples, but it was unexpectedly outrageous at an Italian ex-pat’s restaurant in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle. It had a deep, rich red sauce and was baked in a wood fired oven. I still think of that one pie to this day, and none has come close except a food truck in Austin, TX that served our first Detroit-style pizza. Another great pie.
Puerto Nuevo, BCS: In the 1970’s through the early 1990’s, my Grandma had a couple of properties in Rosarito Beach, Baja. We would go to a small and sleepy fishing village south of town, called Puerto Nuevo. I remember eating fresh lobster in the living room of one of the local fishermen, Senor Ortega. He eventually turned his small restaurant business into a lobster empire with several large restaurants in Puerto Nuevo. I didn’t really enjoy the food until much later, though, when we went back on our own terms to eat and drink as underage youngsters. I began to love lobster.
Babbette Restaurant, Rome: We stumbled upon a hidden Roman courtyard restaurant, but the hostess advised us that people had made reservations weeks in advance and that they were full for lunch. We understood and turned to leave, but the owner overheard and soon the staff prepared a table for two. The hand made pasta, a variety of fresh bread, and the special off-menu soup the chef sent out were all exquisite. It was one of the most delicious meals we have ever had.
Mykonos, Greece: As usual, we walked away from the tourist traps and tried to find our own way around the island. We eventually wandered into a waterfront restaurant, and didn’t know until we were seated that the table we were given was the best in the entire place. A string of random people interrupted our meal to take selfies in the gorgeous spot. All of them were apologetic, and we didn’t mind because the view was gorgeous and it was only right to share it. I ate some sort of braised beef over a bed of creamy orzo with a slight cheese and lemon flavor. It was one of the most delicious things I have ever had. I don’t remember the name of the dish, but I remember that it felt like I was unlocking new space in my brain while I savored each bite.
Coconino National Forest, AZ: The last person we had seen had been several miles back. We had definitely needed and used our four-wheel-drive to get to our campsite high above Flagstaff, AZ, and our big and beefy truck handled the rocks, ruts, and roots with ease. It was getting chilly, and we quickly set up camp before the sun fell behind the thick forest canopy. The menu was simple-rib eye steaks, fettuccine, salad, and craft beer. We were hungry after slogging up the winding forest road to get to this spot, and worked together to quickly prepare dinner. Served on paper plates balanced on our laps, I can’t recall ever having anything better.
San Antonio and Austin, TX: The first time I had Texas BBQ was at a large work conference near San Antonio. I have had dozens of conference “rubber chicken” meals, and was not expecting much this time. But the first bite made my head explode and I realized I had never really had meat so perfectly cooked that it could be cut with a fork, and the smoky flavor was incredible. I figured if the mass-produced conference meal was this good, going out into the city would be even better. It was.
Since this was a short work trip, as soon as I returned home I said to Kim, “We have to go back. You have to try the BBQ”. We did in fact return a couple of years later with the boys and had incredible BBQ in both San Antonio and Austin. Can’t wait to go back a third time, just for the meats!
