I love to eat. One of the joys of traveling is trying the different types of food from the local cultures or even checking out a new place around the corner. Several years ago I was a Pescatarian, a person whose diet includes fish but no other meat. I am an animal lover and became educated on some of the treatment of animals prior to them being “prepared” for consumption in the US, thus adopting that lifestyle.  Like many people, I try to watch what I eat and make good choices. If I find something I enjoy at a restaurant, I tend to order the same thing on the menu every time I visit. If I like a certain meal that I prepare, I will make it more often. My diet at times tended to be unexotic and boring. I have since opened my eyes and my appetite to different food experiences. Although I do tend to watch what I eat and be selective in the ingredients I buy, when traveling, I like to open my palate to enjoying new food.

On a trip to Greece a few years ago, I met a guy named Doug on the trip. Doug was from Connecticut. A former Wall Street trader turned Nurse; Doug was also a real foodie. He not only liked to cook, but when he was at home in Connecticut he enjoyed trying out new restaurants in the New England area. Doug could taste one bite of a dish and could tell if it had too much fennel or comment that it might taste even better with Rosemary. I am pretty sure that Doug has earned his share of badges with the extensive number of Yelp reviews from his many dining experiences. Although I only spent a couple of weeks with Doug on this trip, I suspect if I wanted to know a good place to eat anywhere in New England or the different spots he visited in his travels, he would have a recommendation and a story.

With the group of friends that we met on the trip, we spent many meals together. As we would sit down to order, there were many choices and at times difficult to choose. I might want to try the “Souvlaki” but also thinking about the “Moussaka” or “Spanakopita.” To help curb everyone’s curiosity, we would order multiple plates and share so that everyone could experience the different dishes, more tapas style. As the waiter brought the wine, the hummus and pita, we would discuss what we would want to try. Once the main courses arrived, we would first pause for a moment, not necessarily to give thanks and appreciate the wonderful meal we were about to enjoy, but so that Doug could take a photo of each dish. Many people would follow suit and after a two-minute culinary photo shoot, we would dig in.

At first, I thought about why we take photos of food when we travel. Sometimes it is to share with friends back home through social media so we can say “Hey, look at me, I have a rooftop view of the Acropolis and I am enjoying my bottle of “κρασί” and “arni me papas”. Maybe it is to say, “Wow, can you believe I ate this” when you try something exotic or unusual. There is nothing like documented, visual proof that you have taken a leap into unknown food territory or just savored the most delightful item on the menu. For Doug, he considered good food an art. If you ask any chef, they might agree. If you were visiting the Louvre, you would not hesitate to take a picture of the Mona Lisa. If you are visiting Barcelona, it is must that you would photograph the works of Spanish Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi such as “Casa Batlló” or “La Sagrada Familia”. For Doug food was an art, but also a pleasant reminder of a great dining experience.

A few months ago, my good friend Craig from Chicago was visiting Florida. He and I were in Wilton Manors, Florida and after a fun night out, stopped to get a grilled cheese from the New York Grilled Cheese Company on Wilton Blvd. I had ordered the Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a side of Tomato Bisque. I took a photo and shared it on Facebook and Instagram. I took the photo for two reasons, one it was the best grilled cheese sandwich I can recall having, but also it was a reminder of an amazing night I had with Craig. We still talk about that night. 

Doug sadly passed away about a year ago. Since the trip to Greece, I have adopted the tradition of taking photos of various dishes on my trips and sometimes locally. It is part of the adventure.   As the food is being served, I pause and whip out my iPhone. I will still think about that trip and as I am snapping a quick photo, I think, “Doug, this one is for you.”