Ah, December.
That delicious time of year when we’re still recovering from Thanksgiving, while stuffing our faces with all the Christmas and holiday goodies that we only break out at the end of the year. Almost like we’re saving up the calorie count. And, of course, my wrap-up posts including my favorite culinary adventures of 2023!
I started recapping some of my top food experiences in 2021 and 2022, mainly because I love food. That and the fact that food plays a huge part in adventuring to other countries and discovering other cultures.
Let’s face it – food is one of the best reasons to travel. Not only do you satisfy one of the most basic of human needs, but you get a chance to glimpse into a local culture and try new things. Food that you wouldn’t have accessible back home, or wouldn’t have even bothered trying.
So grab a snack and read on for my favorite culinary adventures of 2023…including a few close to home!
EATING CHILES IN ALBUQUERQUE
I started the year off right with a solo adventure down to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had a goal while I was in ABQ – to eat as many chiles as I could possibly stomach. I needed to figure out if I was on Team Green or Team Red.
You see, eating chiles in New Mexico is historically tied into the culture, dating back to when chiles were first introduced to the area. When you go out to eat at restaurants (or even in people’s homes), you’ll be asked if you want red or green chiles on your food. Not “if” you want them.
I had a blast eating chiles all around Albuquerque (and in Santa Fe), easily falling in love with them. Turns out, I’m Team Christmas – a combination of the green and red chiles! And while yes, the chiles were amazing, this adventure makes my list of my favorite culinary adventures of 2023 simply because of the effort it took. I literally ate my way around the state for this one. Someone’s gotta do it.
FINDING AUTHENTIC SOUTHERN COOKING IN UTAH
I’ve been asked many times what my favorite cuisine is. And while I can make a case for many different types, my top 2 favorites would have to be Mexican and good ol’ Southern/Creole. I already located the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City and was pleasantly surprised to find the best southern food in Salt Lake City this year.
I have a running list of local restaurants I want to patronize, and am constantly checking local foodie blogs for something new. I learned about Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen and Chef Julius and promptly added it to the list.
Authentic soul food, southern cooking, whatever you want to call it, is prepared on the regular by Chef Julius and his crew, reminding me of the time I spent in NOLA. If you come here, get the house red drink, chicken fried chicken, and collard greens!
BBQ IN A JEFFERSON CITY GAS STATION
One of my weird dreams when visiting Missouri was to have my first BBQ in a gas station. I know, I know. But when you watch tons of cooking shows and travel shows, you learn that sometimes the best food is found in some of the most unlikely locations. A gas station is obviously one of them.
I was in Missouri this summer to visit some special friends and they took me to Lutz’s BBQ in Jefferson City. Of course the BBQ was delicious. What else would you expect from blue ribbon-winning sauces and a smoker that just won’t quit? But the reason this makes my favorite culinary adventures of 2023 list is the whole experience.
SNACKING ON A MANGO ON A STREET CORNER IN GUATEMALA
Sometimes the best adventures are the simplest. Like this one. I ate sliced mango from a baggie on the corner of the “busiest” street in Panajachel, Guatemala. The reason this makes it on my favorite culinary adventures of 2023 list is for its simplicity.
I had finally made it to the Guatemalan highlands on Lake Atitlán, successfully surviving a ride on a chicken bus, walking through back alleys to my hotel, and headed out the first morning for breakfast. There was a cute old man selling cut up fruit on the corner, so I purchased a bag of slices mangoes for 10Q (roughly $1USD) and slurped them down while watching the morning commuters go by. It was bliss. And then again when I got to La Antigua!
EPIC BRAIN FREEZE ON THE POOP DECK
First off – the Poop Deck is a restaurant in The Bahamas, so let’s just clear that up right now. I was out to dinner with my new hostel friends, celebrating a birthday and had the best virgin strawberry daiquiri of my life. I can’t nurse a drink to save my life, so I greedily sucked it down the straw…and instantly had the world’s worst brain freeze.
But did that stop me from ordering 2 more? Nope. Worth it.
MY FIRST HUSHPUPPY
It finally happened. I had my first hushpuppy. After flying into North Carolina, my friends picked me up and drove me straight to Randy’s BBQ in Statesville so I could try these little nuggets of joy. That is all. They were amazing, especially with hot honey!
DRINKING KINDERPUNSCH IN ROMANIA
I was in Romania close to Thanksgiving this year, which happened to coincide with the first day of the Christmas market in Sibiu. Of course my friend Nikki and her family met up with me in that town specifically for the market.
I’ll be writing more about the market at a later date, but the reason I bring it up for my favorite culinary adventures of 2023 list is this – they had kinderpunsch! Sure, they weren’t serving it in a nice mug like the ones I collected last year, but that doesn’t matter. I didn’t think I was going to get it on this trip and had been craving it since Germany. It was delicious and took me back to those cold days sipping on hot drinks around Bavaria.
ROOT BEER ON TAP
Did you know there’s a place in Missouri where you can order root beer on tap? I learned about this from my friend Megan and was so jazzed to stop by Fitz’s in St. Louis.
TRYING SERBIAN FOOD CLOSE TO SERBIA
While in Romania on that same trip, I spent some time in Timisoara on the western border, right next to Serbia. I was searching online for a restaurant recommendation and found a highly rated Serbian restaurant and figured…why not? I’m close enough for it to be legit and authentic, and I wasn’t going to actually make it into Serbia on this trip, but why not taste a local specialty?
I found my way to Lera’s Bistro and tucked into a pljeskavica sandwich.
From Wikipedia: “Pljeskavica is a Serbian grilled dish consisting of a mixture of spiced minced pork, beef and lamb meat. It is one of the national dishes of Serbia and is very popular in the neighboring Balkan and former Yugoslavian countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and Montenegro.”
Although I’d been to a Balkan restaurant before, this was my first Serbian-specific joint, and I felt strangely comfortable. Oh, and the pljeskavica was to DIE FOR!
A TASTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
Rounding out my list of top culinary adventures in 2023 is actually an experience I had close to home. It’s no secret that I want to visit Southeast Asia, so when I discovered a restaurant that specializes in that type of cuisine, I knew I needed to patronize them.
The food was delicious, the price was right, and the company was on-point. Check out my reel here for more info.
What a year it’s been! Have you tried anything that made the list of my favorite culinary adventures of 2023?
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