Food for Thought

Photo by Sophiecarnay

As the date of our departure draws nearer, many questions swirl through my mind. Practical questions, like how many electric plug adaptor do we need (and why do they only come in the 4-piece "Global Pack" when all we need is Europe), should we go with the monthly international cell phone calling plan, or just do it on a call-by-call basis, and most importantly, where should we eat while abroad?

Eating takes up a great deal of our day-to-day activities and plans. It's how we celebrate birthdays an holidays, where we turn to for comfort, and what defines our memories of events and trips, at least as much as, if not more so than, the trips themselves.

A good meal will be remembered for years to come. A disappointing one can mar an otherwise perfect outing.

To help us through the muddle of restaurants, each of which predictably claims to be superb, we've turned to Peter Mayle. He seems an obvious guide, having made a career writing about memorable meals and the people who eat them. More memoir than restaurant guide, his books possess the very quality we seek - transporting us to the eateries, capturing their essence, their aromas, making us envy his lunches.

And so, we've become students, studying for a test, skimming through texts, taking copious notes and pining for the Cliff Notes to A Year in Provence. Will our studies pay off? Only time will tell. But I ask you this - where do you find food inspiration?