ALL of my travel recommendations
Plus, Dubai is open for tourism and a Q&A with Sapna Dalal of Veg Tourist
Hey everyone,
How are you holding up? We got news this week that starting July 7, tourism is open in the UAE. Even for Americans. I’m a little nervous about this, but happy with the safety precautions in place. Here’s what you’ll have to do if you visit:
Show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within four days of arrival
OR take a coronavirus test on arrival
Sign a waiver saying you’ll cover all quarantine and healthcare costs if you test positive or get the virus while in the country
Show proof of international health insurance/travel insurance. (I use World Nomads)
Once in, you’ll have to follow the rules we’re all abiding by–wear masks at all times (you can take them off once you sit down at a restaurant table or settle into your beach chair), maintain distance in lines and on beaches and elsewhere, and submit to temperature checks on entry to most attractions and stores.
I will say that there’s a lot of sterilization going on, which if you’re really worried about germs should make you feel better. Most malls have delegated and employee to just stand at the bottom of escalators and hold a sanitized rag on the handle as it glides along, for example, and some restaurants have sanitation portals that look like airport security scanners. They spray you as you walk through. It’s intense. (By the way, I wrote about life in Dubai vs. Chicago for New City Chicago last week).
Would I visit? To be honest, it’s hard for me to justify a flight all the way from the U.S. just to come to the UAE. I would normally not suggest visiting unless you can also go to Jordan or Lebanon or Oman or Turkey or somewhere else as well, to justify the cost, long flight, and to get a broader picture of the Middle East. It’s also extremely, extremely hot and humid here right now. The humidity is up to 80% and while it’s technically only a cool 102-degrees or so most days, the “feels like” temperature hovers around 125.
However, these are desperate times and if you’re reallllly itching for a trip, come and plan to spend around a week so you can visit Dubai, Sharjah, the main sights in Abu Dhabi, and spend a night or two in the desert–did you know the Empty Quarter is the largest uninterrupted sand mass in the entire world? It’s gorgeous.
And, lucky for you, I spent months of lockdown putting ALL of my travel recommendations in one place. Finally! I’ve been meaning to do this forever. So, here you can find everything I think you should do in the UAE, where and what you should eat in Dubai, and also tips for the rest of the Middle East, Italy, Midwest, and elsewhere. FYI, I’ll be going through the UAE destinations over the weekend on Instagram.
These are my (mostly food) recommendations for almost everywhere I’ve been in the world, barring travel back when I was young and backpacking and knew nothing and had no money and for some reason didn’t write anything down. People always ask me for tips so I thought it would be nice to have them all in one place, but of course I’m not an expert on everywhere.
I’m lucky to have food writer friends all over the world who have informed my travels and these lists. Where possible, I’ve linked to their websites so you can go deeper. I also do a ton of food research before each trip. Still, these are not, cannot be comprehensive, so I’m sorry if I missed something wonderful in your city. Send me a message so I can try it next time! These are simply foods and places I remember as being so good I had to share. I hope they’re useful to you as travel picks up again. (The one city I didn’t include is Chicago, because I have so many recommendations it got overwhelming, and I’m waiting to see what is still open post-coronavirus. In the meantime, you can buy my guidebook here).
For those of you who don’t know me personally, you can also use the site to learn about my background and the types of stories I’m interested in, and read my past published work.
Be a Better Eater
Welcome to the first of a monthly Q&A series with people in travel/food. Kicking us off is Sapna Dalal, the Chicago-based woman behind The Vegetarian Tourist with a mission to “prove veggie finds exist anywhere.”
Let's start with some background. Who are you? How long have you been blogging/Instagramming? Why are you passionate about vegetarian food?
I’m a first-generation Indian, born and brought up in the States, with a passion for all things travel and vegetarian related. I started my blog eight years ago as a way to share about my adventures around the world and to help anyone else that might find themselves in the same destinations. My passion for vegetarian food stems from my upbringing, as my entire extended family is vegetarian and it is a big part of our Gujarati culture. Vegetarian food used to get a bad rap. It was referred to as “rabbit food.” Anytime you mention you are vegetarian, you are faced with the question, “but where do you get your protein from?” I have always wanted debunk the idea that you can only eat salad as a vegetarian and let others know there are many delicious foods out there that are classified as vegetarian.
Your Instagram tagline says 'Proving veggie finds exist anywhere.' Let’s talk about that. Is there anywhere you've traveled where you think it's harder to find vegetarian options?
As a vegetarian, it can definitely be tough to find options to eat, especially while traveling. I wanted to be able to share some of my favorite eats I’ve come across during my travels and have a platform and way to share about it. As social media and vegetarianism have both really taken-off in the last 10-15 years, it’s so much easier to share information on where to find some of the best veggie eats, no matter where you are. As more people share their experiences, it is now so much more accessible to research and find spots that have options available.
In general, it can be tough to translate what vegetarian means in meat-heavy countries and/or if you are in more rural spots. I’m sure it is much different now, but when I was in Germany 20 years ago, I remember having a hard time translating that I did not eat meat and was met with a lot of blank stares. I recall consuming quite a bit of bread and cheese on that trip!
Do you think the availability of vegetarian options has changed over the years you've been traveling/posting about vegetarian food on Instagram?
Absolutely! I feel as more people around the world are becoming more health conscious and focusing less on eating meat and more on plant-based foods, this has only helped the vegetarian (and vegan and gluten-free) movements. One awesome change I have noticed in restaurants is that many now have separate vegetarian menus available, which is so helpful for someone like me. I love knowing exactly what I can order without having to try to change anything on a menu, especially if it might be hard to translate while in a foreign country. I definitely don’t recall many separate vegetarian menus 15 years ago. It was a rare find.
I think a lot of travelers (myself included) are sometimes worried about turning down food when traveling, especially when they're being hosted somewhere. Do you have a trick for turning down meat when traveling in other countries without being rude? Do you try to let your host know ahead of time that you're vegetarian?
Through trial and error, I’ve definitely learned to let a host know well in advance that I am vegetarian. And, because that term can mean different things to different people (I still get asked ALL the time if I eat fish…no, I’m not pescatarian!) I make sure to spell out my exact dietary restrictions. Meaning, I let someone know upfront that I do not eat meat or fish, but that I am ok with dairy and eggs in baked goods. The more specific you can be, the less probability there is for any sort of mix-up. I know it can be tough to turn down food and feel like you are offending someone or their culture, which is why I try to make sure to let others know in advance if possible.
Do you have a favorite destination for vegetarian travelers? What about your favorite vegetarian spots in Chicago?
To date, I still think the best place to travel in the world for anyone that is vegetarian or vegan is Southeast Asia. So much of the food is already prepared vegetarian and most meat dishes can have the meat omitted and still taste amazing without major substitutions. Of course I’m biased, but vegetarian food in India is next-level amazing.
As for my favorite spots in Chicago, there are not that many solely vegetarian spots, so here are a few options that have great vegetarian food available:
True Food Kitchen
Aba
Galit
Althea (upscale vegan)
Honest (Naperville, vegetarian)
Wine of the Week
Links I Love
To Break the Story You Must Break the Status Quo (One of the best things on journalism I’ve ever read, by the brilliant Rebecca Solnit)
The “Grateful To Be Here Generation” Has Some Apologizing To Do [aka Millennials]
More Than a Meal–Famous Writers On Memorable Restaurant Moments
One Bar. Twelve Weeks. Seventeen Lives In Lockdown. (This made me cry. A lot).
An Extinction Event for America’s Restaurants
Why Did It Take So Long to Set Aunt Jemima Free?
King Arthur Flour’s Baking Hotline Has Never Been Busier — and the Questions Are Getting Personal (This was such a good story idea Erin Berger!)
A Spritz Divided–France vs. Italy
Recommendations
Read: Just finished The Morning They Came For Us, which is devastating but essential for anyone who wants a close-up look at Syria from 2011-2015.
Eat: What I’m eating and missing.
Drink: I’m currently drinking a Negroni Sbagliato.
Do: Get your absentee ballot (if we’ve learned anything from Kentucky, it’s to prepare early).
Shop: If you’re coming to the UAE, you’ll need lots of linen (I live in these).
This was a long one. Thanks for reading. Stay safe and wear your masks!!
–Rebecca