Sue, I've often wondered about this. So many foreign cuisines rely on chilis and hot spices, which I can't tolerate at all. How do I not offend the locals when avoiding spicy traditional foods? Will they understand if I explain?
Some will, some won't understand. Doesn't matter. Just remember the translation of "I can't eat spicy food. Could you make it without peppers?" in the local language and most will happily do it. I found just starting in the local language, even a "Hello how are you" and then continue in English vastly improves how locals view and treat you.
Deborah, in a restaurant they'll understand and if it's streetfood just ask if you can taste a little. In 99% they'll understand if you keep it easy: "not spicy" or "european spicy". And it's not like anybody will be offended, they know europeans and US are p@#sies when it comes to spicy :D
In larger restaurants they'll even have 'european spicy' and 'local spicy' or some kind of way to choose on the menu.
Hell I put chilli on everything and even I beg them to go easy on me in some countries, it's not like you mistreat their culture or anything just because you don't want to die from pain when eating their food, they usually know that ;)
#5 Careful with this one. Want to eat at the most expensive restaurant? Tour the most expensive attraction? The concierge will be happy to direct you to his friend's place.
Have lots of different pills for different things with you because your country is the only one with medicines, so the rules on what you can have can't possibly be different where you're going and no customs officer anywhere would ever decide to check.
Sue, I've often wondered about this. So many foreign cuisines rely on chilis and hot spices, which I can't tolerate at all. How do I not offend the locals when avoiding spicy traditional foods? Will they understand if I explain?
Some will, some won't understand. Doesn't matter. Just remember the translation of "I can't eat spicy food. Could you make it without peppers?" in the local language and most will happily do it. I found just starting in the local language, even a "Hello how are you" and then continue in English vastly improves how locals view and treat you.
Deborah, in a restaurant they'll understand and if it's streetfood just ask if you can taste a little. In 99% they'll understand if you keep it easy: "not spicy" or "european spicy". And it's not like anybody will be offended, they know europeans and US are p@#sies when it comes to spicy :D
In larger restaurants they'll even have 'european spicy' and 'local spicy' or some kind of way to choose on the menu.
Hell I put chilli on everything and even I beg them to go easy on me in some countries, it's not like you mistreat their culture or anything just because you don't want to die from pain when eating their food, they usually know that ;)
#5 Careful with this one. Want to eat at the most expensive restaurant? Tour the most expensive attraction? The concierge will be happy to direct you to his friend's place.
Have lots of different pills for different things with you because your country is the only one with medicines, so the rules on what you can have can't possibly be different where you're going and no customs officer anywhere would ever decide to check.
Some will, some won't understand. Doesn't matter. Just remember the translation of "I can't eat spicy food. Could you make it without peppers?" in the local language and most will happily do it.
I found just starting in the local language, even a "Hello how are you" and then continue in English vastly improves how locals view and treat you.
in a restaurant they'll understand and if it's streetfood just ask if you can taste a little. In 99% they'll understand if you keep it easy: "not spicy" or "european spicy". And it's not like anybody will be offended, they know europeans and US are p@#sies when it comes to spicy :D
In larger restaurants they'll even have 'european spicy' and 'local spicy' or some kind of way to choose on the menu.
Hell I put chilli on everything and even I beg them to go easy on me in some countries, it's not like you mistreat their culture or anything just because you don't want to die from pain when eating their food, they usually know that ;)
Have lots of different pills for different things with you because your country is the only one with medicines, so the rules on what you can have can't possibly be different where you're going and no customs officer anywhere would ever decide to check.