Localvore Eating (And Yes, I Did Spell It Right)

August is the time for vacations,of going away and trying all sorts of new foods at exotic and fun locations. Yet what happens when a foodie is strapped for cash? Going away even for a weekend seems like a major expense. The answers lies literally around the corner. Eat locally. discover your neighborhood. You'd be surprised at what's there,waiting for you.

Luckily we live in the age of apps. There are all sorts of free restaurant apps that can be downloaded onto your phone. Many of these not only have ratings and pricings but thorough descriptions of their best dishes and desserts. You can type in or even ask about what's the best Chinese restaurant withing a five mile radius and the odds are good that four or five really good ones will be listed. Another way is to just ask. Old fashioned but it works. I recently went to a pizzeria that was always recommended to me by various locals. Turns out that what was said about the place was true. It really does make the best pizza in the area.

Another method is just hit or miss. I've been doing this recently on day trips, just stopping into eateries that intrigued me. I've found my new favorite, The Shoal Harbor Lobster House in Port Monmouth this way(although I did some follow up research on the web before a second visit just to see their full menu.) It's just fun being on the open road and picking a quaint little cafe to stop at. These are usually big on yummy homemade foods from biscuits to meat loaf. Almost every town has one and they're worth at least one visit. Stay away from major highways that are chock full of chain restaurants. Go to the town's heart where there are more privately owned eateries.

If you can't afford to go away this August, don't despair. There are plenty of local places, probably a block away, that can satisfy your foodie's culinary wanderlust. You'd be surprised at what's around the corner.