What Travel Taught Me About Food, Culture — and Myself


🍽️ Wandering with a Fork in Hand

Ciao from Malta!

We just wrapped up an unforgettable 3-week, 3-country adventure — Uganda, Italy and Malta — and while the views, people and places were amazing… I’ll admit, I had one big worry before leaving:
What am I going to eat?

I’m not the most adventurous eater (an understatement by some people’s standards), so the idea of spending three weeks without familiar foods? Honestly, it felt a little daunting.

But now, looking back, food is one of the things that made this trip so meaningful. Even for a cautious eater like me, food became the thread that connected everything.

Let me show you what I mean…


🌍 Across Cultures, Food Connects

In every country we visited, I found that sharing a meal means more than just feeding your body — it’s how people connect, communicate and celebrate life.

Here’s a taste of what we discovered:


🇺🇬 Uganda

A country where poverty reigns, sharing a meal of posho, boiled cabbage and beans meant family (my personal interpretation).

  • Breakfast food fave: Rolex – eggs rolled up in chapati (not the watch 😄).
  • Fun fact: Chapati is served with nearly every meal - awesome for bread lovers like me!
  • Brave moment: I sampled enswa (flying termites) at a local market. Crunchy, nutty and — once I got past the mental hurdle — not terrible! Plus, my sample delighted the boys in my host house. 🥰

🇮🇹 Sicily, Italy

Where food is joy and every meal is a celebration.

  • Our daily rituals: Granite & brioche for breakfast. Late-night cappuccinos. Pizza, pasta and seafood done right (perfect for my Cultural Foodie wandering partner!).
  • An unforgettable experience: The night we joined nine other wanderers from around the world for a “Cook, Eat & Embrace Sicily” cooking class. Shout-out to Andrea and his parents for hosting us so warmly as together we connected over:
    • 🍝 Hand-made pasta
    • 🍕 Wood-fired pizza
    • 🍷 Local wine
    • 🍮 The best cannoli I’ve ever eaten
  • A new favorite: Sicilian pesto bruschetta made with tomatoes & almonds instead of basil & pine nuts. I’m definitely recreating this at home!

🇲🇹 Malta

A flavorful fusion of Mediterranean influences.

  • Seafood & spritzes: Malta’s seaside dining is all about freshness and a hands-down favorite for my Cultural Foodie. ♥️
  • Pizza perfection: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Sliema — our carbonara pizza with mozzarella, guanciale, egg and pecorino Romano was amazing and steeped in history.
  • Island favorite: On Gozo, we had the most wonderful “Flavours of Gozo” charcuterie board, featuring goat cheeses, tomato dip, fresh bread and local crackers.
  • Savor the moment: Food in Malta was our love language — simple, fresh and meant to be lingered over.

💡 My Biggest Takeaway?

Wander with an open mind — and a hungry heart.
Even if you’re a picky eater (like me!), food can become the key to understanding a place, its people and maybe even a little more about yourself.

And who knows — you just might try something unexpected… and love it. 🐜😉


💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve ever eaten while traveling?

I’d love to hear your story — just hit reply and tell us your favorite foodie memories. Or, if you’re hungry for more stories, come visit us over on the Wander for Days blog or follow our journey on Instagram!

Ciao for now,

✈️ Wander far. Eat well. Stay curious.

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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Wander for Days

Hello! My name is Deanna and I'm the voice behind Wander for Days - a travel blog written to challenge you to embrace life's adventures and explore this beautiful, diverse world we live in.

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