The Backpack Foodie

You sit on the wooden bench of a sidewalk stall. The stall owner brings you an unfamiliar dish. He smiles and gestures for you to eat: you have no other common language. You pick up a piece of food; its texture, color and smell are unknown to you. Bringing the food to your lips is a deep, ancestral act of trust: in the instant when the food enters your body, you are placing your health, even your life, in the hands of your host. The flavor hits you: in that instant, you discover something new, something rich and unforgettable, a new taste. Cuisines evolve over centuries, reflecting the hardship and pride of the people who make it. The simple smells of food are the deepest memories of people everywhere. Fresh bread. Ripe olives. Steaming buns. Grilled meat. To taste someone else’s food is to know the flavor of their life. Food is the soul of civilization. My name is Daniel Roy. Together with my partner Helene Cormier, I have cast away the good life at home to wander the world. On September 8th, 2009, Helene and I landed in Japan on the first leg of a one-year journey through Asia, India and the Middle East. One year later, addicted to travel, we have left the comforts of home to visit Latin America.This website chronicles our encounters with people, food and cultures. I hope you enjoy sharing the road with us.