I know food is a huge part of travel. All you have to do is look at Instagram to see 346,193 photos per day of tacos, tender steaks and terrific-looking salads.
I am, of course, making up the number of food shots, although I’m sure some geeky underling at Instagram could tell me how many food photos they see posted every day. The point is that food has always been a big part of travel. And now there’s a study that puts an exclamation point on it, and that also points out some different characteristics of Canadian travellers versus American travelers.
Here’s what the folks at KAYAK sent me just a little while ago. My comments are in bold, so you know what’s from the report and what additions/comments I’ve made.
According to a recent survey conducted by KAYAK and OpenTable, Canadians are 38 per cent more likely than Americans to book a trip based on culinary offerings.
The Apple Barge dessert at Table Rock Restaurant, Niagara Falls, Ontario. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The survey also revealed that when travelling, almost three quarters (74 per cent) of Canadians would prefer authentic local dining to something familiar.
I don’t quite know what to make of this. I mean, maybe we’re just more adventurous than Americans. Tour operators often tell me this is the case; that Americans like to stay at hotels in Mexico and other destinations, while Canadians like to wander about and explore more.
Having grown up in the U.S. I’m not entirely sure about the stereotype, as I’ve always been the sort to get out and explore. But I do hear it a lot.
I’m also not surprised at the food issue in general. I don’t go home specifically for food, but when I return to the San Francisco Bay Area my first stop is almost always a local hot dog chain called Caspers, which has the best hot dog on the planet, with a perfectly steamed dog that has a nice flavour and perfectly snappy casing. I also try to stop most visits at a burger place in Hayward, California called Val’s, which to my mind serves the VERY BEST hamburger on the planet; flame-broiled with excellent meat and a great diner environment.
My Dad and I enjoying hot dogs at Caspers, a wonderful San Francisco Bay Area chain.
To help travellers satisfy their cravings for local culinary experiences around the globe, KAYAK and OpenTable used diner insights to release the Top 25 Hidden Gem Restaurants Worth Travelling For.
Featuring under-the-radar dining spots, the list compiles local favourites from around the world as well as details on flight cost and when to book both your flight and your dining reservation. Additionally, KAYAK and OpenTable share how to tip and what to order, including many of the restaurants’ most well-known dishes, so food-focused travellers can confidently plan their next vacation to the cities that ranked among KAYAK’s most popular destinations over the last six months.
“As travellers look for more authentic dining experiences, we teamed up with KAYAK to create a guide that helps food focused travellers find all of the best tips and recommendations in one place,” said Caroline Potter, OpenTable’s Chief Dining Officer. “From where to eat and what to order to when to book and how to get there, our goal is to make dining decisions in some of the world’s most popular cities even easier.”
KAYAK and OpenTable’s survey, commissioned through YouGov to help travellers and diners bring their passions for travel and eating together, revealed that the appetite for culinary adventure among Canadians is very strong, with 22 per cent claiming they would book a vacation solely to dine at a restaurant they wanted to try. Additional key takeaways from the survey include:
Good food is worth the road trip. A lengthy drive is no obstacle for Canadians, with 71 per cent claiming they would travel an hour or more to eat at a restaurant on their wish list. Many also noted that they have taken a long detour (27 per cent) or a day trip (33 per cent) just to dine at a restaurant they wanted to try.
Food is top of mind for Canadians when making travel plans. 28 per cent of Canadians will research restaurants in another country before booking their flights, and 10 per cent will book a reservation before booking their travel.
Canadians have an adventurous palate. 74 per cent of Canadians claim they would prefer to try something new and local rather than food they are familiar with revealing that they are keen to experience a city’s culture.
Before I go any further, I’d LOVE to hear your comments. So please use the commenting section on my blog. Thanks
12th Avenue Grill, Honolulu.
To help uncover the best hidden gem restaurants in some of KAYAK’s most popular travel destinations, OpenTable looked to diners for their top recommendations. Findings are below.
12th Avenue Grill – Honolulu (a truly spectacular food city at the crossroads of the Pacific)
Alux Restaurante – Cancun
Battista’s Hole in the Wall – Las Vegas
Bistro Campagne- Chicago
Cafe Luxembourg- New York City
CRUST- Miami
Frances- San Francisco
Gilda by Belgious- Barcelona
Mamma Maria – Boston
Musso & Frank Grill- Los Angeles (Great, classic resto in Hollywood I got to dine at earlier this year)
Nusr-Et Dubai- Dubai
Omonia Taverna & Bar- Frankfurt
Osteria Savio Volpe- Vancouver
Paddock & Vine- Sydney
Rosetta- Mexico City
Schnitzelei Charlottenburg- Berlin
Serafina by the Water- Fort Lauderdale
Stella Cocktail Club- Dublin, Ireland
Terroni Queen – Toronto (Very nice restaurant but a little surprised at the ranking, to be honest)
Tatel Madrid- Madrid
The Tap Room at Dubsdread- Orlando
Van Speyk- Amsterdam
Westerns Laundry- London, England
Wirtshaus in der Au- Munich
Kaikaya by the Sea – Tokyo
OpenTable + KAYAK Methodology:
OpenTable’s list of the top 25 Hidden Gem Restaurants worth flying for is generated solely from diner reviews collected between 7/1/2018 and 6/30/2019. Cities were chosen based on KAYAK’s list of the top 50 most popular destinations for travel between July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.
All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. The overall score is made up of unique data points, such as overall diner rating, user klout, total number of reviews and regional overall rating. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the sum of tags for which “neighborhood gem” was selected as a special feature.
YouGov Survey Methodology
Total sample size was 1,056 Canadian adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between August 6-13, 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Canadian adults (aged 18+).
