Whenever
I travel, my mind flashes back to my favorite class at Brigham Young
University. As I neared my senior year, I had missed taking a class
in the nutrition department. The only class that I could work into my
schedule was one on foods from around the world. I found it
fascinating to study the specialty foods that you find in every
culture.
When
I turned twenty-three, I went on my first trip across the Atlantic
Ocean. One of the countries that I stopped to see was Sweden. When I
arrived and saw all the open-faced sandwiches, I remembered that
there were more than 400 different types of open-faced sandwiches in
Scandinavia. It was amazing to see the variety and creativity that
went into each one.
This
last week my niece, Mary, went to New York City to see the famous
ball drop at Times Square for New Years. She asked me if I could
give her some ideas of places that she could visit while she was in
New York.
Being
oriented to food when I travel, my thoughts went immediately to all
the delicious food I have had in the “Big Apple.” One of
my favorite things is to walk down streets and see the beautiful
displays in restaurant windows, gourmet shops, and delis.
One
of the most popular specialties in New York is its pizzas. You can
find a pizza shop on almost every block in New York. As you’re
rushing around the city, it is easy to pop into one of the stores and
pick up a slice of pizza for about a dollar.
Another
one of my favorites is the corned beef or pastrami sandwiches that
you find at Carnegie deli. They are so big that when you buy one
you’re getting lunch, dinner and breakfast at the same time.
The sandwiches come with two slices of rye bread with six inches of
sliced meat in between. There is also a jar of pickles in the middle
of the table and a bowl of mustard on the side.
Boys eating sandwiches in a New York deli.
As
many of you know, I go to China at least twice a year. The most
famous food that we eat is Peking duck. As we travel around the
countryside, we see ponds filled with beautiful white ducks waiting
to be a memorable meal in Beijing.
The
ducks are carefully roasted and then brought to the table. The chef
with a tall hat goes into show mode as he slices thin slices of duck
and carefully places it on a plate.
With
a spoon you put a little plum sauce over a small and thin pancake and
then place a couple of pieces of duck in the center with a little
onion and a thin piece of cucumber. Now all you need to do is roll
up the pancake and you are set for a memorable taste of Peking duck.
When
you venture to Hawaii, the most memorable food, I think, are the
delicious pineapples. At Christmas time one of my good friends gave
me a Hawaiian pineapple. It was so sweet and delicious I was sure I
was going to hear some waves come through the front door.
When
you board a plane in Hawaii they have cases of pineapple for you to
buy so you can take them home and share them with your family and
friends.
It
is always fun to take a minute and think of the places you have
traveled and the delicious foods that you have tasted on your
travels. As I talked to Mary about her trip to New York, she said to
me, “The food was at least half of the wonderful experience I
had while I was in the city.”
Learning
about the foods and the customs of the people is an integral part of
any journey.
Come
travel this year with Dian Thomas to South Africa, February
26-March 11, China June 10-21, and Peru and the Amazon, April
16-25, and June 25-July 4. For
more information email Dian at info@DianThomas.com.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com