8 Things to Know Before Trying a New Cuisine

Julio Neves
November 5, 2024

Trying a new cuisine can be an exciting adventure, allowing you to experience unique flavors, textures, and aromas from around the world. It’s an opportunity to broaden your palate, learn about different cultures, and discover ingredients and techniques you might never have encountered otherwise. However, diving into an unfamiliar cuisine isn’t as simple as just ordering something off the menu. Here are eight key things to keep in mind to make the experience enjoyable and enriching.

1. Embrace the Culture Behind the Cuisine

Every cuisine reflects the culture from which it originates. Food is one of the most accessible windows into a society’s traditions, history, and values. When you try a new cuisine, you’re not just tasting food; you’re experiencing the culmination of centuries of culinary practices shaped by the unique environment, beliefs, and people of that region.

For example, Japanese cuisine, with its emphasis on seasonality, balance, and minimalism, mirrors aspects of Japanese culture such as respect for nature and attention to detail. Similarly, Indian cuisine, with its rich spices and complex flavors, reflects the subcontinent’s vast diversity and deep-rooted traditions around food and hospitality.

Before you dine at a restaurant or start cooking, consider doing a little research. Watch a documentary, read an article about the cuisine, or chat with people from that culture to gain some context. Knowing the stories, festivals, or religious beliefs that influence a dish will deepen your appreciation and add another layer to your dining experience.

2. Prepare Your Palate for New Flavors and Ingredients

Different cuisines often rely on specific ingredients, spices, and flavor profiles that might be unfamiliar or challenging if you’ve never tasted them before. Some cuisines, like Thai or Mexican, are known for their spiciness, while others, such as Korean or Ethiopian, may incorporate more fermented flavors.

Understanding the basic flavor components can help you set expectations and avoid surprises. For example, if you’re trying Korean cuisine, knowing that kimchi—a tangy, spicy, fermented cabbage—is a staple might help you approach it with an open mind. In Indian food, spices like cumin, turmeric, and cardamom create deep layers of flavor that may be intense at first but can quickly become addictive.

If you’re apprehensive about certain ingredients, start with dishes that balance unfamiliar flavors with more familiar ones. You could also sample a small amount of a particular spice or ingredient beforehand to get used to it.

3. Start with a Balanced Sampling of Dishes

When trying a new cuisine, it’s tempting to dive straight into the most popular dishes. However, to gain a fuller understanding, try sampling a range of dishes that highlight the variety within the cuisine. Many cuisines have a balanced approach to meal composition, incorporating dishes that complement each other in taste and texture.

For instance, a traditional Italian meal includes antipasto (appetizer), primo (first course), secondo (main course), contorno (side dish), and dolce (dessert), creating a journey through diverse flavors and textures. In an Indian thali, a variety of dishes—spicy curries, creamy dals, crispy papadums, sweet chutneys—allow you to sample multiple tastes in one meal.

Ordering a variety of dishes will give you a comprehensive experience and provide a contrast of flavors that enhances each dish. Don’t hesitate to ask restaurant staff or a local for recommendations on creating a balanced meal.

4. Be Open to Different Dining Etiquettes

Dining etiquette varies widely across cultures, and being aware of these differences can help you feel more comfortable and show respect to the cuisine’s traditions. In many Asian cultures, eating with chopsticks is common, while in India, people often eat with their hands, particularly when enjoying traditional dishes like curries and rice.

Understanding these dining customs can prevent awkward moments and deepen your experience. For example, Ethiopian cuisine uses injera, a spongy flatbread, to scoop up the food rather than utensils. In Middle Eastern cultures, meals are often served family-style, with everyone sharing from large platters, symbolizing hospitality and unity.

While learning these customs isn’t mandatory, showing an effort can enhance your experience. If you’re in a restaurant specializing in a specific cuisine, ask the staff about dining etiquette or observe how others are enjoying their meal.

5. Appreciate the Art of Presentation

In many cultures, food presentation is an art form. It’s not just about taste but also about how the food looks, smells, and even sounds. Japanese cuisine, for instance, places a heavy emphasis on presentation, arranging sushi, sashimi, and bento boxes with contrasting colors and textures to create a visually pleasing experience.

Similarly, Moroccan dishes like tagine are often garnished with colorful ingredients such as pomegranate seeds, almonds, or herbs. Mediterranean mezze platters and Turkish breakfast spreads are vibrant with bright tomatoes, green cucumbers, and golden olives.

Presentation can give you clues about the flavor profile and ingredients of a dish. Take a moment to appreciate the aesthetic appeal before diving in, adding another layer of enjoyment to the experience.

6. Don’t Shy Away from Street Food

If you want to truly know a cuisine, street food is often a fantastic place to start. Street vendors usually serve dishes that are representative of local flavors, affordable, quick, and incredibly flavorful. You’ll find local favorites and regional specialties that may not be on restaurant menus.

For example, Mexican street food offers tacos, tamales, elote (grilled corn), and churros, each with regional variations. In Thailand, street food culture includes pad thai, mango sticky rice, and som tam (green papaya salad), available on nearly every corner.

Trying street food also gives you a chance to interact with locals, learn traditional preparation methods, and watch the food being made fresh. Choose vendors with good hygiene practices, and frequent places locals recommend for quality and authenticity.

7. Learn Basic Words for Key Ingredients and Allergies

If you’re traveling or visiting a restaurant specializing in an unfamiliar cuisine, it helps to know a few basic words, especially if you have dietary restrictions or allergies. Some ingredients, like peanut or shrimp paste in Southeast Asian cuisines, may not be explicitly listed on the menu.

If you have allergies to nuts, dairy, gluten, or shellfish, learning key terms in the local language can save you a lot of trouble. For example, knowing “cacahuate” (peanut) in Spanish, “gluten” in Italian, or “huasheng” (peanut) in Mandarin can help you avoid allergens.

It’s also helpful to carry a translation card with key phrases about your dietary needs. This allows you to communicate restrictions to the chef or server, ensuring a safe and enjoyable meal.

8. Keep an Open Mind and Don’t Expect It to Taste Like “Home”

When trying a new cuisine, it’s essential to keep an open mind and avoid comparing it to flavors you’re used to. One of the most rewarding aspects of exploring a new cuisine is embracing the unknown. Each bite is a chance to discover something new, and it’s okay if it doesn’t taste like “home.”

Sometimes, we may want to tweak dishes to suit our tastes, adding salt, hot sauce, or other condiments to make them feel familiar. While adjusting a dish is fine, try it as the chef intended first. Often, these flavors are carefully balanced and reflect the chef’s understanding of their ingredients, seasoning, and cooking methods.

By keeping an open mind and resisting the urge to alter a dish immediately, you allow yourself to experience authentic flavors and appreciate the culinary expertise behind it. You may even develop a new craving or favorite dish you’ll want to return to again.

Conclusion

Trying a new cuisine is about more than just eating different food; it’s an adventure in taste, culture, and experience. With these tips, you can approach a new culinary experience with curiosity, respect, and openness, making each bite an enriching journey. Whether you’re savoring street food, admiring presentation, or learning local dining etiquette, each aspect adds depth to your experience, transforming a simple meal into a memorable exploration of culture and cuisine.