re: People that go to places and don’t try the local cuisine

I know a guy that only eats hamburgers when he travels. Doesn’t matter the restaurant unless it’s Cajun. He wants a burger.

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Its why other countries hate Americans. We went with a group to Europe once, and several people wanted McDonald's for lunch.

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The first thing we do with most new cities we visit, especially in Europe, is to take a food tour. You can try the local cuisine, learn a little local history, and find places to return to on that trip or later trips.

However, if I'm at a conference, and they're feeding me, I'll probably eat those meals so that I can network or catch up on work. I'm there for business. If I really want something local I'll probably come before the conference starts or stay a day or two after it ends.

Vrindavan, and staying at the Radisson.

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I’m in Austin for a conference and most of my coworkers never ventured out to explore the local flavors and ate whatever BS was catered to them. Similar to Europe, people eat at the town center restaurants with the Indian/arab dudes hustling you in.

What is wrong with yall lol?

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I think your scenario is flawed because the food is probably free (or included in the conference fee).

In the mid 1980s, I spent 5 weeks in Taiwan helping a joint venture partner start up a factory building digital switching equipment.

The company put us up in the J Howard Plaza hotel in downtown Taipei. Really nice place. Had a great complimentary buffet breakfast that I ate every morning.

The factory was in Hsinchu, which was 55 miles from Taipei. The Chinese workers had box lunches delivered every day, so I would go and eat with them rather than with my American colleagues. They thought it was great, because it gave them an opportunity to practice their English, and I loved the food.

They took me out almost every night and even on weekends. I ate food at some hole-in-the-wall places with very questionable hygiene practices, but I survived and I got to sample all kinds of Chinese cuisine that you don't find in the US. It was great.

Meanwhile, one of my American colleagues ate nothing but Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut for 5 straight weeks.

I've been to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the Caribbean, and I'm all about eating as much local stuff as possible.

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You’re in Austin, what are the “local flavors”

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Could start with green pepper enchiladas just pick a spot on César Chávez.

Mcdonalds in Europe is so much better.

But I'm personally big on street food even if i have to take Immodium the next day.

I like testing out "cajun" restaurants in areas outside Louisiana just to see how near or far from the mark they hit.

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people decided to eat the food delivered specifically for them at an industry conference 

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You can still get out an about. Im not hanging with those dorks for every meal. Dinner? I'm going out, alone or with whoever might want to come along.

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and several people wanted McDonald's for lunch.

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I've seen coworkers travel to pretty solid U.S. cities and the expense receipts are all like.. Burger King.

I mean, better financially for the company I suppose! We don't do a per diem model, so I don't see why you wouldn't take advantage of our spending allowances and have a decent meal, but I guess some people just want to veg out in the room.

I'm not much of a homebody and don't like being cooped up in a hotel room, though, so maybe that's the difference. Hotel meals from styrofoam always feel sad to me.