TOKYO — Some of my most treasured travel memories involve food.
This includes the time my husband and I went to what was billed as New Delhi’s best rumali roti stall, where we turned the hood of a car into a table so that the extravagantly thin,d succulent flatbread could be wolfed down before it cooled. And the time I introduced my in-laws to a Johannesburg street vendor’s vetkoeks, slightly sweet, slightly sour dollops of fried dough.
So when we were planning a trip to Japan, and my husband heard about EatWith.com, we knew we had to try it.
EatWith links travelers to chefs and talented home cooks around the world to share a meal. It’s one of several sites, including EatFeastly.com, VizEat.com and PlateCulture.com, offering opportunities to dine informally with locals. The price is set by the chef and typically comparable to a midrange restaurant meal.
We used EatWith to book a date with Shino Fukuyama, a marketing manager who shares her country’s cuisine and culture. I, my husband, our tween daughter, my father-in-law and his wife experienced what felt like a homestay for an evening.