They say that travels aren’t complete without food. There’s always an eat and feast session when you’re on vacation, and you really can’t say you’ve been to this or that place if you haven’t tried the destination’s unique dish.
It’s not a secret, however, that it’s tough to be in a celebratory, excited mood for travel and food these days, given the coronavirus pandemic and general community quarantine measures in place.
But while trips are limited and the majority of tourist attractions are still closed, there’s a way to ease that intense wanderlust even while staying at home: cooking signature dishes from bucket list places yourself. Try these travel recipes.
A taste of the place’s famous food is an immersive cultural experience. Cebu’s Lechon takes you to the exciting, glamorous scene of big fiestas. The spices of Indian food believed to have healing properties, give you a peek into the extensive influence of Ayurveda to people’s way of life. You learn so much about customs and traditions just by treating your palate to the place’s unique flavor.
This is why food and travel recipes work during the quarantine. You get to relive your trips, how you savored that juicy, crispy lechon skin at the last Sinulog festival, or be excited about ticking off your bucket list, like going to the must-try seafood restaurants in Boracay once the crisis is over.
While staying at home, dealing with the “itchy feet,” scratch it with some signature food from your favorite tourist destinations. Below are some recipes you should try, all of which yield to four to six servings:
This crispy, crunchy meal is a staple in every restaurant and drinking session. It’s a crowd favorite not only in Vigan but also in many restaurants in Metro Manila.
While you may not enjoy it with the backdrop of vintage houses and cobblestone streets, you can appreciate it all the same as you share it with the entire family. What’s more, preparation is easy, especially when you’re following quick travel recipes.
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This is the Bisaya’s version of tinola. What’s different about this travel food, however, is that Aklanons traditionally cook it in a bamboo tube or coconut shells to make it more flavorful.
If you’re looking for some chicken recipes or missing traveling to the breezy province of Aklan, this food will surely give you comfort. It’s okay if you don’t have a bamboo tube to cook it with; your same, old pots will do for this travel recipe.
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This province is known to have an abundant supply of fish, with tilapia being the most common food in the locals’ dining tables. This food recipe has a lot to do with coconut milk and vegetables.
Serving this for lunch or dinner, you’ll surely await the day when you can eat the same meal with the view of Lake Sebu.
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Can’t get enough of Aklan? Bring Boracay to your table with this moist, tender delicacy. Just letting the smell of this oven-baked goodness waft through your kitchen is enough to take you to the quaint Real Coffee and Tea Cafe.
This recipe will surely make you more excited about traveling back and finally using that Boracay gastronomic guide to good use. Bond with the kids while following the recipe:
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For an international flavor, go for Korea’s best veggie bites. With this, you’ll feel less miserable that you can’t see the Tangeum Lake Rainbow Bridge, Hallasan National Park, and other kilig hotspots from your favorite scenes from K-dramas.
With the sour-spicy flavor of kimchi, coupled with some slow, romantic K-Pop ballad, you can relieve that wanderlust and experience Korea, all the same.
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The rainy season is here, which makes it the best time for slurping these yummy, hot favorite. The best thing about this dish is that it’s easy to make.
As you slip into a food coma following the easy travel recipe below, imagine getting a taste of authentic ramen in the next winter sakura season in Japan. For sure, this will hype you up in jotting down bucket list ideas, what to do, and where to go in the Land of the Rising Sun.
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If you want another noodle dish to make your rainy days less gloomy, pad thai is a good choice. This stir-fried meal will get you in the mood for preparing your Thai street food crawl on your next trip. Make sure that you don’t forget this in your Thai food travel recipes.
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Literally “bread” in English, banh mi is a classic Vietnamese sandwich stuffed with meat and pickled vegetables.
You may not see the grandiosity of Halong Bay or Ho Chi Minh City in the near future, but you can take a piece of Vietnam home by serving this popular snack for merienda.
Hopefully, this crusty bread roll would get your palate ready for other unique, must-eat Vietnamese dishes and make you more excited about traveling there.
Photo courtesy of Flo Dahm via Pexels
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There you have it, international dishes that are super easy to make right in the comfort of your home.
The coronavirus pandemic may have put a halt in your travel plans, but it shouldn’t stop you from learning about the destination you’re eyeing to visit. Take a “tour” around the country and Asia by satisfying your tummy with unique dishes from bucket list places.