Eat, Explore, Repeat

As the summer holidays come to an end and the kids head back to school, it’s a lovely time to think about some of the little things that made our days out and holidays memorable.

And what about food?

Did you eat something this summer that you’d never tried before?

Did you discover a local speciality?

Or perhaps you found a little café, market stall or bakery that you would never have come across at home?

There’s something really fun about eating local food when you’re somewhere different. 

It’s not just about filling your tummy -it’s part of experiencing the place you’re visiting.

Have you ever tasted a place?

While in Skiathos Town this summer, there were oranges being freshly squeezed into juice every day.

Fresh oranges. Freshly squeezed. Served straight away.

Simple, but absolutely delicious. 

And it got me thinking…

How often do we actually seek out the local food and drink when we’re away?

Do you look for the things the locals eat?

Do you try something simply because you’ve never heard of it before?

Or do you tend to stick with what you know?

There’s certainly nothing wrong with ordering your favourite meal, but sometimes the most memorable food experiences come from being a little bit curious.

The joy of trying something different

Perhaps it was a plate of freshly caught fish by the sea – not for me, I’m fussy with fish.

A local cheese you’d never seen before.

A pastry from a tiny bakery.

Fruit that tasted completely different because it had been grown locally.

Or maybe it was something as simple as a really good green tea enjoyed while watching the world go by.

What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve eaten on holiday?

Did you love it?

Did you hate it?

Or did you sit there thinking, ‘I have absolutely no idea what I’m eating, but I’m going to give it a go!’?

Those are often the stories we remember.

And you didn’t have to travel abroad

The same could have been true of a day trip somewhere in the UK.

Did you visit somewhere new over the summer?

Did you try something the area was famous for?

Did you find a brilliant farm shop, market, tearoom or independent café?

Maybe you discovered a local food producer right on your doorstep without even realising it was there.

Sometimes we don’t need to travel very far to feel like we’ve experienced somewhere completely different.

So, what did you discover?

With summer drawing to a close, I’d love to hear your food adventures.

What was the best thing you ate or drank this summer?

Where did you discover it?

Was it something completely new, or an old favourite that tasted even better somewhere else?

Have you got a funny food story from a holiday or day trip?

And, most importantly…

Would you have it again?

Share your favourite food discoveries in the comments — photos welcome!

Because holidays and days out aren’t just about where we go.

They’re about what we see, what we experience, the people we meet…

…and sometimes, what we eat.

Sam ‘turning orange’ Hobbs