6 tips for the traveling vegetarian

Half of the reason I travel to new, exotic places is to experience new, exotic foods. Nothing can compare to a fresh baby artichoke salad at a streetside cafe in Milan, bubbly cheese fondue in a cozy ski hut in the Swiss Alps, or an inventive French-Thai fusion dish from the hippest restaurant in Manhattan. I’ve been known to schedule entire days around certain restaurants I’ve wanted to try. I treat grocery stores in new countries like most people treat museums. Food is a big part of the fun of travel.

Traveling while vegetarian isn’t always straightforward: once you’re out of the comfort zone of familiar local restaurants, shops, and your own kitchen, it can be difficult to know where to look to get your vegetarian fix. But trust me, it can be done. I’ve eaten fabulous vegetarian food in over 20 countries, and have had only a handful of complete meal disasters. Here are a few tips on how you can have a successful food tourism adventure of your own.

1. Plan ahead. Find out about the local offerings before you go. Are there any local specialties you want to try (or avoid)? Guidebooks such as Fodor’s, Rough Guides, and Eyewitness Guides all tend to point out at least a couple places which serve vegetarian-friendly items. Also, there’s a wealth of information about vegetarian restaurants around the world available on the internet (start by googling ‘vegetarian restaurants’ and the name of your destination), and many restaurants post their entire menu on their website these days. HappyCow also lists vegetarian restaurants by city (although some cities have more complete listings than others).
2. Bring it with you. Depending on your mode of transport and how light you want to travel, you can pack some snacks or even a meal before you leave home. Nuts such as almonds pack well, as do fruits such as apples and veggies such as bell peppers or carrot sticks (just make sure you eat any pre-chopped veggies the first day, unless you have a good way to keep them cool). If you’ll be going on a long road trip, consider filling a cooler with lunch foods to eat at a rest stop – I’ll take a homemade hummus, arugula, and tomato sandwich over a crappy fast-food salad any day!
3. Call ahead. Have a phone and the number of a restaurant you’re curious about dining at this evening? Give them a call and ask about their vegetarian offerings (and while you’re at it, make a reservation if the menu sounds good). If you’re staying at a hotel with a concierge, ask him to do some calling around on your behalf.
4. Keep your eyes open. As you’re exploring the charming downtown area of your vacation destination on foot, check out the menus that restaurants usually display outside (or just inside the door). Even if you already have plans for tonight, you might come across something you’re dying to come back to another time.
5. Get your veggies. Too many days of vacation in a row, and I start feeling a little vegetable-deprived. Restaurant meals can be delicious, but they can also end up being heavier (think starch and cheese-based) than the fresh fare I usually feed myself at home. To avoid feeling blah, I try to sneak in extra veggies where I can. In this part of the world, hotel breakfast buffets often include some tomatoes and cukes, so I start my day off with those. I also try to add veggies to my restaurant meals – ordering sides of vegetables or starter salads in addition to my main course. The other thing I do is snack on fruit and veggies – while checking out a local grocery store or market, I’ll pick up some bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, seasonal berries, or whatever catches my eye.
6. Eat in. Especially for longer stays in one destination, consider renting an apartment or suite with a kitchen area instead of staying in a hotel. Sometimes this option ends up being less expensive, and you’re sure to save money on meals. Preparing your own meals gives you more control over the menu, and you can still delight in the area’s regional cuisine this way by picking up local specialties at shops and markets. Hit up the neighborhood bakery for fresh-baked treats, the local farmers market for the freshest fruits and veggies, and a local winery for a bottle or two to drink with your home-made meals.

What have your vegetarian travel experiences been like? Are there destinations which surprised and delighted you? Any place you went where a good vegetarian meal was impossible to find?