Why We Plan Our Travels Around Food

When most people plan a trip, they start with attractions.

The beaches. The museums. The landmarks. The hiking trails.

We start with restaurants.

Before we book a hotel, we're researching local specialties. Before we decide what neighborhood to stay in, we're looking at where the best bakeries, food trucks, diners, and hidden gems are located. Before we ever pack a suitcase, we're making a list of things we want to eat.

Some people collect souvenirs.

We collect meals.

Food tells the story of a place in a way that no guidebook ever can.

You can learn a lot about a city by standing in line at a local breakfast spot on a Saturday morning. You can learn about a region's history through the ingredients on a plate. You can learn about a culture through family recipes that have been passed down for generations.

A few years ago, my mom and I took a cruise up the East Coast. Most people would probably remember the ports, the excursions, or the scenery.

We remember the lobster rolls.

Before we even left home, we had already decided that we were going to try lobster rolls in every port we visited. It became our mission. We compared the buns, the amount of lobster, whether they were served warm with butter or cold with mayonnaise, and of course, which one was our favorite.

Newport Chowder Co. Rhode Island

Looking back, I couldn't tell you every detail of every stop. But I can still remember sitting with my mom, sharing bites and debating which lobster roll deserved the top spot.

That's what food does.

It turns a trip into a collection of memories.

Some of our favorite travel moments aren't tied to famous landmarks at all. They're tied to a bowl of gumbo shared with friends, a tiny roadside café we stumbled upon by accident, or a restaurant that was so good we still talk about it years later.

Sometimes food even determines where we return.

Years ago, we visited New Orleans and took a food tour. One of the stops was Mahony's Po-Boys. Long after the trip ended, we were still talking about those po-boys. Whenever someone asked for New Orleans recommendations, Mahony's was always on our list.

Now, life has come full circle.

We live in New Orleans, and Mahony's is still one of our favorite spots. What started as a single stop on a food tour became a restaurant we visit regularly. It's proof that sometimes the meals you discover while traveling become part of your life long after the trip is over. (Hint:  Get the onion strings and the debris fries. You will NOT regret it!)

The truth is that food slows you down. It encourages you to linger a little longer, talk to locals, and venture beyond the places every tourist visits. It turns a destination into an experience.

That's why we plan our travels around food.

Not because we're food critics.

Not because we're searching for fancy restaurants.

But because food connects us to a place.

It brings people together around a table. It creates memories. It gives us stories to tell long after the trip is over.

That idea is really the heart behind Luggage and Ladle.

This space is where travel and food come together. You'll find recipes inspired by places we've visited, restaurant recommendations worth adding to your itinerary, destination guides, and stories about meals that became unforgettable memories.

Because for us, the journey and the meal have always gone hand in hand.

Wherever we're headed next, you can bet we're already thinking about what's for dinner.

Taste of the Journey: New England Clam Chowder

One of my favorite things about traveling is finding ways to bring those experiences back home.

While I haven't recreated every lobster roll my mom and I sampled along the East Coast, that trip definitely deepened my appreciation for New England seafood and coastal comfort food.

Whenever I'm craving a taste of those memories, I turn to a bowl of homemade clam chowder. It's rich, comforting, and reminds me of waterfront restaurants, salty ocean air, and the fun of hunting down the best lobster roll in every port.

If you're dreaming of your own East Coast getaway or simply want to bring a little taste of the journey to your kitchen, give my New England Clam Chowder recipe a try.

Clam Chowder

---

Do you plan your travels around food? I'd love to hear about a meal, restaurant, or local specialty that became the highlight of one of your trips. Share it in the comments below!