My mind is filled most of the time with various thoughts about food! It might be something as mundane as what’s for dinner, but it could run the whole gamut from what I’m planning for the next market, the historical origins of a particular dish to solving the issue of food scarcity in our local area and lots in between. It should come as no surprise, then, that when I visit somewhere new, that food is high on my list. I want to know everything - what’s grown locally, what dishes have historical significance, why certain meals are presented the way they are, what sells at the markets and what I should try. I want to eat well, but I’m less interested in dining at the best restaurants or queuing for hours just to eat where Anthony Bourdain did. In my experience, waiting such a long time to try a certain dish creates expectations that are rarely met.
So, for an insider’s guide to the food of a city, a food tour makes a lot of sense. On a cold and wet day in Porto, Portugal a small group of us met our guide at the entrance to the central markets. I’m always envious of cities that have a central market. Despite Tasmanian’s connection with food and its reputation for having access to plenty of local produce, it doesn’t have a permanent market. Porto’s Bolhão market is one I would love to have regular access to.
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