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Seeing how
locals live and eat is probably one of the main reasons you travel. One way
to explore the regional cuisine and find out what locals really eat, according
to Anthony Bourdain, is to visit a local open air or grocery market.
Within your first
day or two at a new destination, hit up a market to get a sense of what locals
eat and what’s in season. When I did this at Kyoto’s Nishiki Market,
I was able to see everything from plump, colorful mochi to grilled baby octopus
on a skewer to huge barrels of pickled daikon. My time
exploring there inspired me to try those same things on local menus, like wagashi (sweets
specifically made to be enjoyed with tea).
You can also use
the market as an opportunity to stock up on snacks or ingredients if you plan to
cook a few meals during your stay. Even if you’re just there to look, take note
of anything that you want to try. Write down the name or take a photo so that
you can recognize it on menus later. Visiting a market is also a good way to
ease into the culture at your own pace since you can go as slowly or quickly as
you like and you don’t necessarily have to talk to anyone to get a full
experience.
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