Get a Taste for Travel Without Leaving Your Home

It’s no secret that I love to travel. We were in New Zealand when the world started shutting down this spring and miraculously got out of the country on one of the last flight before they fully shutdown! That’s another story for a different day. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t looking ahead to some sort of travel. We always have a trip on the horizon worth looking forward to but not right now! I thought it would be fun to share some thoughts about getting a taste for travel without leaving your home.

What are your favorite parts of travel?

I think it’s helpful to start by reflecting on your favorite things about traveling… do you love trying new foods? Do you love the fact that your cell phones are basically non-existent? Do you love reading on the beach? Do you love adventuring? Is it the new-to-you languages? What are your favorite parts of traveling?

Once you’ve realized what you love the most, I’m guessing the ideas for recreating at home will come fairly naturally. If you love trying new foods, find a new recipe! (Specific ideas coming below!). If you love that your cell phones aren’t present, try a night or weekend with your cell phones tucked away. If you love reading on the beach, find a peaceful place to read outside. You might not have the ocean nearby but you can still find a little oasis for yourself! If you miss the new languages, consider taking some language classes!

Tastes Around the World

Without a doubt, my favorite part of traveling is trying the cuisines. I am a foodie through and through and that doesn’t change when I’m on vacation! I thought it would be fun to round-up some recipes inspired by different parts of the world. If you’re feeling like you need an adventure… this food is guaranteed to take you there! Add some string lights, candles and/or plants and you’ve got a whole mood going on!

Thailand

My Veggie Pad Thai comes together in less 20 minutes and is incredibly tasty.

Hot Thai Kitchen – Pai grew up in Southern Thailand and now has a thriving blog dedicated to Thai Food. Her recipes look so delicious!

SheSimmers – Leela has three amazing looking Thai cookbooks and a blog where she shares authentic Thai cuisine.

Mexico

I love Mexican food. LOVE! There are so many delicious recipes to try but I’m going to make this Carne Asada ASAP!

Chicano Eats – I’m newly obsessed with this bright, beautiful food blog dedicated to Mexican food! Esteban has a cookbook coming out and looks like it’s going on my wish list.

Mexico in My Kitchen – Mely is a former school teacher turned food blogger. She shares traditional recipes for authentic Mexican food.

Mediterranean

I have been inspired by Mediterranean food since my trip to Israel back in 2016. I’ve made so many dishes on my blog but new favorite are these Chicken Shawarma Bowls. So good!

The Mediterranean Dish – Suzy was born on the coast of Egypt – the heart of the Mediterranean! Her recipes look absolutely amazing. Can’t wait to work my way through this blog!

Tasty Mediterraneo – A vegetarian food blog where Margarita shares simple and affordable recipes from the Mediterranean cuisine.

Spain

Paella is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Spain. Can’t wait to try this Shrimp and Chorizo Paella! We will obviously be pairing with delicious wine…

Spain on a Fork – Albert grew up in Spain and is sharing pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan Spanish recipes. Drool-worthy recipes!

Spanish Sabores – A Spanish food + travel blog? Bookmarking! Lauren has lived in Spain since 2009 and is sharing the most amazing authentic recipes.

Italy

Have you ever taken a stab at homemade pasta? No better time than now! Try this Fresh Pasta Dough recipe for the ultimate date night.

Italian Food Forever – “The essence of Italian cooking today is simplicity.” Sold! Can’t wait to dive into some of these recipes.

An Italian in my Kitchen – Rosemary grew up in Canada, moved to Italy and fell in love with the food. She now shares authentic Italian recipes on her blog!

India

My friend made this Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower and called it life changing. Enough said!

Mallika Basu – Talk about an inspiring, boss woman! Mallika has a food blog, multiple cookbooks and a spice line.

Hooked on Heat – Meena focuses on simple but delicious recipes inspired by Indian flavors. Love this approach!

China

Omnivore’s Cookbook – I’m newly obsessed with this blog! Maggie describes her cooking style as “modern Chinese cooking.” She shares her family recipes with a modern twist that makes them more accessible to the masses.

The Woks of Life – Ok this blog name?! Dead. Also this is a FAMILY THAT BLOGS TOGETHER! The sweetest thing I’ve seen in awhile. Not to mention their insanely delicious looking recipes.

Latin America

I know this isn’t a country… this region of the world has the most incredible flavors and blogs that show them off!

Laylita’s Recipes – Laylita was born in Ecuador so a lot of her recipes are inspired by the traditional dishes she grew up on. She’s expanded to include all types of Latin American meals… everything on her site looks amazing!

The Spruce Eats – This popular food blog has an entire page dedicated to Latin American Recipes.

Africa

Obviously not a country…again! But If you’ve been wanting to experience some regional varieties of African culture, hopefully some of these dishes will inspire you.

Afrolems Food Blog – Afrolems specializes in Nigerian food that I cannot wait to make!

Immaculate Bites – Imma’s hope is that we learn more about African cultures through food. Love this approach!

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