How to pack for culinary travel
We have ideas for that, too!
Some quick thoughts - in bullet points (because who doesn’t love bulletpoints?!) - to answer your most daunting packing questions:
You’ll pretty much always need less clothing than you think! A seasoned traveler chooses a couple of pairs (or one if you’re brave!) of comfortable pants, two good pair of walking shoes and one fashion shoe. One good dress up outfit is all you need because, as a traveler, you likely won’t be making repeat appearances anywhere. Your travel mates will be the only one to know. Create a few travel uniforms, roll ‘em tight in your suitcase and leave the rest of the space for new purchases at your destinations.
I travel with a soft cooler, like this Polar Bear Cooler (it’s such a shame they added their huge logo to the bag - they used to look so sleek!). You can check this bag just like luggage and, if you are doing road trips, it comes in mighty handily for picnics and purchases at farmer’s markets, etc. This is a great trick to also return home with all your food purchases - this particular cooler stays cold for up to twleve hours, so if you’re willing to fight through customs to bring a few fun snacks home, this is your guy! Most cheese shops will vacuum seal just about anything for you, FYI…..
While we’re at it, here’s a pretty thorough and well thought out list of what you can bring back to the States from France!
If you are truly a keen cook traveling with tools, check your kitchen tools in your luggage, as obviously, you can’t carry knives on a plane. As a general rule here, take a photo of your expensive knives and any special equipment that you are packing so that in the terrible case of your luggage being gone and lost forever, you can show that they owe you a grande for that Takeshi Saji knife.
The myth is true: roll your clothing. It saves so much room.
Essentials for the long, often overnight plane ride to leave you refreshed upon landing:
Face wipes, even if you’re sitting in the fancy seats and they give you a warm washcloth at the start and end of the journey. This has saved me from lots of gross feelings before, during and after. Just so nice to give yourself a nice little cucumber wipe down every once in awhile when you’re on the go.
Drip-drops or other electrolyte powders! This has become an essential travel tool for me. I bring my smaller 16oz canteen to travel with (the other gets too heavy on long walks through the airport) and I fill it up at a filling station before my flight and pound a packet before my flight and THEN again during/midway through the flight and then again as the plane lands. It sounds crazy, but I travel enough now to know that dehydration is what always compounds swelling, fatigue, constipation and jet lag. This doesn’t solve everything entirely, but holy hell does it help! Even if it is overkill, I’d rather just be peeing too much and feeling a bit more human.
If you are not opposed to Ibuprofen, I also pack this for onboard. I don’t care to take any pills unless I absolutely have to, but I have found that a little advil during the flight helps with a lot of my inflammation and, just in general, helps me rest.
Nuts and fruit. For snacking. The food just wrecks me - sometimes I dig in, sometimes I don’t. And, honestly, the more I fly, the more I do not partake. It’s not very conducive to feeling great when you land - but maybe your stomach is stronger than mine. I try to eat light on the plane and, even if I have to just grab a coffee and a pastry from a kiosk, I still feel a bit better than if I eat like I’ll never see food again on the plane. Plus, it’s airport food, but it’s fun to see what an airport in a foreign land has to offer! *Note, it’s usually not as terrible as we Americans are accustomed to!
A sweater or sweatshirt - for cold times or a pillow or a shroud to hide you from everyone, depending on your mood.
Some mints or gum or even a little toothbrush or mouthwash to get the fur off your teeth and greet your friends (or taxi driver) with a little freshness.
These are just a few essential travel tricks - you’ll find your own needs and requirements as you go! But hopefully this is a good place to start.
Bon voyage, happy trails, may the wind be always at your back and may you walk off your next flight feeling strong and good and ready to have the adventure of a lifetime!