Food Trucks Are Perfect Pandemic Dining

I don't know about anyone else, but some things are harder than others during this pandemic. Before this hit, we used to spend our weekends eating out and going to movies. I have found that the longer this goes on, the less I miss sitting in a restaurant, but that doesn't mean I want to make every single meal. Food trucks to the rescue!

For the last 4-5 months, we've basically been making all our own meals, with the exception of Friday nights. Previously, this was our takeout night, so we decided that we would continue that, with the exception of getting our food delivered instead of picking it up on the way home from work, since Eric now works from home full-time. UberEats and their Eats Pass have been a staple for our week's end. But we have to get out some time. 

Going out and getting some sun and exercise is always nice, so I made us go out to the food trucks for lunch this week. It seems like a lot of people had this idea as well, as the food cart pod near us was packed. I was pleased to see that nearly everyone was wearing masks this time, unlike last time I was there. People were taking this seriously, as we are asked to wear masks in outside areas where social distancing  isn't always possible or a lot of people are gathered. 

Right now, food trucks are a great option for dining out, because:

• You're actually dining out.
• You don't have to be in contact with more than one person.
• Very few people handle your food.
• Covid hasn't been known to spread via food, just in case someone does breathe on your meal.
• Everything is to-go.
• You don't have to be near others if you don't want, so there is minimal exposure.

I love food trucks for a multitude of reasons, even when not in a pandemic, too. Here are just a few of them:

You can experience some of the best food in the city for less, because you aren't paying for all the overhead (wait staff, tables, rental space). Unless there's a tip jar, you don't even have to think about adding extra to your bill. The truth is that even some of the spendiest items on a food cart menu are still less than plates at a normal restaurant. 

You have more choices!

How can this be when food carts are so small? Where there’s one food cart/truck, there are usually others. It’s unlikely for several of the same cuisine carts to gather in the same place, which means you have a choice of different kinds of food. This is great for those traveling with kids who are picky and never seem to want the same thing you are eating. Don’t like the dessert one cart is serving? Go check out what the others have to offer!

Mobile dining 

Not only is your restaurant mobile, but you can also take your food with you. Either eat nearby or enjoy your meal on your way through the city. It’s a great way to burn calories and save time when you want to get more sightseeing done. 

Today there were so many people around, we took our food with us and went home to eat outside in our backyard. We got the outing we needed, food we didn't have to make, and still got to sit in the sun for a bit and chat before going back to work. If you're traveling, you can eat on-site, take your food to a nearby park, or go back to your room or rental and eat there. 

Make sure to bring along wipes and hand sanitizer for when you use a public table and after you've touched things others have, like the credit card screen. 

Bring your own utensils

With the same idea about straws, I generally travel with a set of bamboo utensils. Why? Because I love eating at food trucks, but I hate plastic utensils...and there's never anyplace to recycle them (if they even are recyclable). There's also the fact that sometimes those plastic forks and knives are just not sturdy enough for the food you're eating. Have you ever had a fork just snap in half while trying to eat something heartier? Well, bamboo forks will never do that, plus, you can wash them and reuse them without worrying about BPA and degradation. 

If you don't care if you have a whole range of utensils, then check out these awesome travel utensils from Humangear.

How are you dining out during this turbulent time?

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Organizing an Ideal City Break

At some point we'll be able to safely travel again. People are planning epic bucket-list trips for when that happens. People are saving money by not having so many options for eating out, going to movies, go to cons and concerts. Just because you can't travel now (well, you can, but it's not recommended and a lot of things are still shut down), doesn't mean you can't save up for that amazing trip you've been waiting to go on for forever. 

Photo Credit

When we think of holidays and getting away, we tend to think of typical summer holidays. We think of jetting off on a flight to a sunny and warm destination, where we can kick back and relax by a pool or on the beach. We think all inclusive hotels and resorts. But this isn’t the only getaway option. In fact, the popularity of city breaks is on the rise and increasing numbers of people are choosing to spend their vacation time in big cities they’ve never been to before. If you’re unfamiliar with city breaks, you may take a while to get used to the ins and outs of making them successful. To help you along the way, here are a few pieces of information that can help you to organize the best city break possible!

Making a To-Do List

First things first, you need to make a to-do list. Most city breaks have countless things to do. There are likely to be world famous sites you want to see, museums and art galleries you want to visit, well known restaurants you want to dine at, shows you want to watch and more. So, make a to-do list. This will help you to manage your time and prioritize what you really want to see and do while you’re away. If you're traveling with others, make sure you plan together.

Find Discounts and Plan Transportation

After I make my to-do list, I start searching around for discounts on entrance fees. I also figure out my itinerary, by clumping things that are near each other together and working out how we will get there and between things. There are lots of ways to save money on your trip this way.

Dropping Off Luggage

Often, we want to make the most of our time and want to cut out as many unnecessary steps while travelling as possible. This leads many people to keep a hold of their luggage when they get off their flight and head straight out into the city instead. Sure, this could save you a little time and some back and forth with going to the hotel and dropping your things off, but it can prove massively inconvenient and simply not worth it. Hauling luggage around a major city is going to be difficult. You’re going to take up more space and get in people’s way. You are also unlikely to be able to visit any major attractions with a suitcase or large bag in hand for security reasons. So, make sure to just drop your luggage off. If you’re just stopping in a city for the day and you don’t have a hotel or room to drop your luggage off, you can make use of luggage storage. Read luggage storage guides to find an option that works for you.

Booking Tickets and Making Reservations in Advance

Big cities tend to be busy and well known places tend to be in high demand. Make sure to book tickets or reservations for anything you want to do before you get there. This will help you to avoid disappointment or large queues.

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about when organizing a city break. This is just the start. Hopefully, some of the above information will help you to get the most out of your trip and have the best time possible!

Unique Ways for you to Try New Cuisine When Abroad

There really is nothing better than exploring a new cuisine when you are venturing around the world. Tasting the local delicacies is a very crucial part when it comes to you immersing yourself in culture. When you are in a new town, you need to make sure that you are always sampling the new cuisine and you also need to try and push yourself too.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Food Markets

Food markets in major cities really are a great place for you to try new food. Food markets remain to be the best way for you to get back to basics as a traveller and it is also the most authentic way for you to shop and buy new food. When you visit the local food market, you will usually be taken to the epicentre of trade and you will also be able to visit some of the oldest corners of the city as well. So take a walk through, and make sure that you get plenty of pictures. When you do, you will soon find that you have the best time and that you are also able to make a scrapbook of all of your memories.

Eat with a Local

Getting together and sharing a meal goes back thousands of years. If you want to have the best experience, then there is nothing wrong with sitting down with the locals. Social dining for travellers is a modern way for you to experience very traditional cuisine. There are so many sites out there which connect you with hosts, and when you do, you will be able to taste home-cooked food unlike any other. The great thing about this is that the locals feel pride showcasing their cuisine and you can feel pride knowing that you are helping out others.

Food Trucks

The US has one of the most bustling food industries around. Food trucks are now the commonplace for events, markets, festivals and more. If you want to find a local food truck, then you should know that there are so many apps out there which are designed to help. You can take advantage of lobster, pizza and even burgers too. You can do this from whatever state you choose to visit. If you want, you can also visit an iconic steakhouse, like Cattlemen's Steakhouse.

Street Food

When you are roaming around a brand-new city and looking for something to eat, why not sample the local cuisine? When you do, you will soon find that you are able to have the best time and that you are also able to just sit back and relax. There are so many street vendors around who sell iconic dishes and there are often benches dotted around various areas too, so you can eat while you are on the go or you can choose to just sit back and take it all in. This is a fantastic way for you to have the best time and you would be surprised at how much fun and enjoyment it can provide you with.

When we can get back to traveling, we're going to want to support as much local and small businesses that we can in the destinations we go to. These are great ways to do that.