Once it was said that the way to enjoy a city like the locals is through their food –I personally can’t agree more with the statement. There are many ways that you could enjoy being in a new city for holiday; sightseeing, tourist attractions, taking as many photos as possible or maybe just lazing around in your hotel room doing simply nothing. But one way to turn it into one memorable trip is to eat like the locals.

Being a Pastry Chef that have been roaming about globally, I found that many of the good foods are not found on the Lonely Planet guide. When I was in Paris, I had the best Asparagus Risotto in a small bistro called “Café de Rendez-Vous” just around the corner of Metro “Denfert-Rochereau” station. Not in Le Jules Verne where the Michelin Star is glorified and the view is breathtaking as you dine on the highest part of Tour de Eiffel.

Not forgetting the tastiest Onion Bagel that I’ve had in the corner of Central Park, New York with one of the creamiest Cream Cheese to go with and of course a Pork & Fennel Sausage Roll at Bourke Street Bakery, Sydney that never made the cut into The Lonely Planet lists of places to eat.

Even in our beloved Jakarta, we all agree that none of those high-end “Indonesian” restaurants that cater for foreigners could ever beat the ‘real’ food like the Satay right outside RSPP and of course the ever so famous Bubur Barito with its glorified crisp cheese sticks. And who knows that Nasi Pedas Ibu Ani just right outside Pasar Kuta 1, actually tasted 10 times better than Nasi Pedas Ibu Andika that are famous among domestic Jakarta tourists in Bali.

There are seriously no experiences better than to blend in with the local to indulge in their favorite dishes. So on this summer break of yours, whenever you are heading –domestic or International, follow these few simple steps:

- Spare all the urge to peek into your travel guidebook and just let it go!
- Drop by the bistro right outside your hotel doors and ask for their specialty
- Take a train or bus ride somewhere
- Go down to your hotel concierge and ask them where to get the best local food in the town
- Ask the Taxi driver! They know the best!
- Lower down your expectation, lower expectation means higher satisfaction –especially when the food is really good.
- If it turns out to be disappointing, don’t give up! Ask more locals to recommend you another places.

So this holiday of yours, spare the hotel breakfast and get down and dirty with the native and eat your meal: their style!