058 – Eating well in Europe
May 16, 2008 in Travel
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In this episode of the Indie Travel Podcast, Craig and Linda Martin talk about how to eat well in Europe. We’ve discussed this topic before, but it wasn’t enough for listener Jeff to win his argument with his friend about whether or not to eat out for every meal – so we go into a bit more detail this time.
We think it is vital to eat out in Europe – the food is fantastic. But eating out three times a day can stretch the budget to breaking point, and it isn’t necessarily the best thing to do anyway – preparing a picnic can sometimes give you a better eating experience. We suggest you eat breakfast in your hotel only if it’s included in the price – otherwise find a cafe for coffee and a bakery for pastries. Eat out for lunch or dinner, but not both. Lunch is often the better option since there are usually more special deals on offer during the day, but having dinner out once in a while is also fantastic.
Preparing food for yourself can be really tasty as well, sometimes better than restaurant food. We prepared fantastic sandwiches for six people in Bern for 15 euros, when buying similar rolls with less fillings would have set us back eight euros apiece. Plus we got drinks and snacks for later, and some of the fillings lasted another day.
If you don’t have a stove, sandwiches and crackers can be topped with local cheeses or meats, spreads like pate and hummus, or vegetables from a local market. Premix lettuce leaves can make a tasty salad with the addition of whatever you want – we suggest freshly cooked chicken from the supermarket or deli.
If you do have a stove, staples like pasta, omelettes or soup are inexpensive, but you can also grab random items from the shop and give them a go – we tried a weird hashbrown dish in Zug, Switzerland.
Plus, you have a lot of choice when it comes to drinks. The cost of one bottle in a restaurant could buy you five or six in a supermarket – choose a couple of local wines or beers and enjoy!
You could even have a dinner party in your hostel with each person contributing something – a drink, a salad, a dessert … we’ve done it and it can be a lot of fun.
In addition to talking about food, we also bring you up to date with our current French holiday – the canal is still flowing and Linda’s sister Anna has turned out to be a closet gourmet – producing meals like sea snails in white wine and garlic, duck a l’orange and filet mignon. Yum.
Poll of the month:
This article was written by Craig and Linda
Craig and Linda Martin have been living on the road since February 2006. Both born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand they are ... somewhere in the world! Craig and Linda host the Indie Travel Podcast - you can get in touch with them here.
Since November 2006 the Indie Travel Podcast has evolved into an independent travel hub with regular audio and video podcasts along with articles by travellers from all over the world. 
Hosts Craig and Linda Martin started travelling in February 2006 and have been to over 50 countries. They were 
ArahMan7 said on May 21, 2008
Hola,
Just want to tell you that the foods in Malaysia are marvelous. We have the hot and spicy type, bittersweet and all that jazz kind of foods. Come on over to Malaysia and ring me up. I will take you to taste the best foods in Malaysia – my beloved Mum’s cooking. Once you tasted her cooking, I’m not sure you wanna leave again, lol!
See you around.
Greetings and lots of love from Malaysia.
Craig and Linda said on May 21, 2008
Hey Arah,
Thanks for the invite! We’re hoping to spend some more time in Asia in the next 12 months. If we can’t get there, it’ll be in the next few years. It’d be awesome to come around for some good Malaysian food! I’ve had a bit in Auckland, NZ but I haven’t seen a lot in European cities (where we’re travelling now).
I hope you’re getting some votes for Malaysia on the poll this month
ArahMan7 said on May 21, 2008
Hola Craig and Linda,
Thanks for the reply. Well then, hope to see next year. BTW, I’ve been meaning to ask you this. Hope you can answer it for me. What is the meaning of Indie?
See you around, Craig and Linda. Best wishes to both of you.
Greetings and lots of love from Malaysia.
Craig and Linda said on May 21, 2008
“Indie” is for independent. It’s used a lot in music and fashion: an “indie label”, for example, is one which is not owned by a large conglomeration like Virgin Music.
We use indie as a play on our musical choices and our commitment to staying lo-key, no crap and completely independent.
ArahMan7 said on May 21, 2008
Hola again,
Thanks for the prompt reply. And thanks again for explaining Indie. Now I understand what it mean.
In Malaysia we say Terima Kasih as in thank you.
See both of you around.
Greetings and lots of love from Malaysia.
Erin said on May 23, 2008
When I was younger and traveled with my family, we always had “euro picnics” for lunch. There were 4 kids and two adults, so my parents were smart about not eating out too much on our trips to Ireland, Germany, and other places in Europe. We’d get a loaf or two of tasty bread, good meat, cheese, and spreads, and whatever fruit, salad, or local treats tempted us. Now I’ve introduced my husband to the concept, and these unplanned picnics are perfect for when we travel anywhere.
Also, the Prix Fix concept is great for eating out while traveling. Finding a menu with various options is a great way to taste local food without breaking the bank. In Paris a few months ago we had a huge, fantastic dinner, and it was about $50 american dollars per person. These types of set menus are a great way to eat well.