WanderFood Wednesday: Do You Follow the Crowd, or Find Your Own Food Adventures?
When a restaurant is hyped from Bon Appetit to the blogsphere, do you want to try it?
Or do you need to discover new deliciousness on your own?
When I was planning my recent trip to Portland, the restaurant I kept reading about was actually one of the city’s most highly praised food carts: Nong’s Khao Man Gai. And they make only one dish: khao man gai—Thai chicken and rice.
I was intensely curious about Nong’s—how could such a simple dish have such a devoted following?
I arrived at Nong’s shortly after their 10 am opening and left with a butcher paper-wrapped package of flavorful rice, unbelievably tender poached chicken, and a mildly spicy “soybean sauce,” flavored with garlic, ginger, and chilies.
Am I glad that the reviews sent me to Nong’s? Absolutely! I loved the khao man gai, too. (Although next time, I’d ask for my sauce extra spicy…)
What do you think? Do you want to try others’ food finds? Or strike out on your own? Discuss!
And since it’s WanderFood Wednesday, please share your own food discoveries. Here’s how:
- Post a food photo on your site.
- Add a brief description about the photo and include a link to WanderFood Wednesday.
- Add your blog name and post title to the “Mr. Linky” form below, with a link directly to your post (not to your main blog). That’s it!
If you go…
Nong’s Khao Man Gai is in the food court “pod” at SW 10th and Alder, in downtown Portland, Oregon. They’re open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, unless the food runs out sooner.
For more Portland food adventures, check out The WanderFoodie Eats Portland, reviews of the $25 three-course Portland Dining Month menus at Clyde Common and Aviary, and a Mexican food cart find.
Tasty Travels!
Carolyn
Photo credits:
Photos © Carolyn B. Heller 5 comments
I like trying both methods. Reviews are great when I’m in a new city. It’s best to ask around and then pick a place.
I recently discovered a cupcake place near my place that won Cupcake wars. I would have never gone there if it weren’t for my mom. I bought a few cupcakes and now I have a place to go to for my sweet cravings.
There are other times when I like discovering spots on my own. Like looking for hidden treasure. It’s quite exciting.
You never know where a recommendation will lead, whether from published sources, and just as often by word-of-mouth. I happily accept both.
Write-ups and recommendations from friends have gotten me to great seasonal restaurants I’d not otherwise have known about,just across the Swiss border from here, in southern Germany.
For more about these seasonal restaurants, called Straussi,check my blog post, Straussi Time in Baden.
Oooh khao man gai is such a comfort-food staple, and yummy for breakfast
I like going to places I’ve heard about but I am always up for stumbling across a place – I normally won’t go out of my way to find a specific place – usually the smaller and less expected, the better!
Oh, I definitely like to follow my own food adventures first, then I like to follow up on published reviews or friends’ recommendations.
I’d have to agree with most of your comments. I do read lots of reviews, plenty of other blogs, and sites like Chowhound.com, but it’s a particular thrill when you come across an excellent place on your own!