Travel & Culture

About A Culinary Divide

The Culinary Divide is an exploration on how travel and culture impact our perspectives and practices.

A few years ago I was invited to Europe as our company was looking into site locations for expansion.  I had never travelled abroad so I extended the 3-day trip a few days to visit  countries I had been interested in seeing over the years. 

I originally flew to Frankfurt, Germany.  Obviously, I tried to learn a few phrases in German before arriving, but it became evident rather quickly that I didn’t need to.  Because of the Second World War, English is the second language throughout the entire European continent.  That helped because my next stop was Spain which turned into an amazing culinary adventure!

As I walked from shop to shop throughout Barcelona, I tried to taste everything in front of me.  The food is amazing, and as I talked to shop owners, I found that the country was similar to the US in that it is separated by regions with each region having a specific taste profile.

After Barcelona, I travelled to Lisbon Portugal, where I enjoyed coffee outside a small cafe on the beach. You quickly notice the different languages that are spoken in abundance. It’s incredibly beautiful to say nothing and just listen. 

As I thought about my story, I realized the journey was less about cuisine and found it was much more about Culture.  I spent time with some beautiful people, and everyone had a story about where they were from, how their ancestors influenced the country, and more importantly, how the country influenced them. If you have a chance to visit, roam a bit, immerse yourself in the culture. You will definitely appreciate the journey.