How important is food to your travels?

• luisdediego
• A pizza a day is part of the recommended diet in Italy.

I’ve had my fair share of moments when Taco Bell or one of its convection-oven brethren (I’m looking at you, rural Missouri) was the only thing open during a road trip. And there you pull your car over and just hope that the fire sauce doesn’t hit you until you’re done driving for the night.

So, I didn’t think of myself as picky when I found myself standing in front of a “Messican restaurant” in the coastal town of Lignano, Italy, last week. I held on to that notion right up until one of my traveling companions asked if I wanted to go in and eat. I realized that I look at restaurants on vacation the way most people see cultural destinations. I reason that I have only so many meals in a town that I’m never likely to revisit, so I’m loath to waste even a single meal. My travel happiness is directly tied into what I’m eating. Is yours?