Frugal Foodie: Why I Don't Eat at Expensive Places

Updated August 10, 2020. Frugal foodie? ME?!?! The woman who once read endless restaurant reviews at destinations and dreamed of savoring the cuisine of Michelin-starred chefs? Yep…it happened.

If anyone had told me a few years ago that I’d be walking right past famous, classic, or trendy restaurants, I’d have laughed out loud. Impossible! Ridiculous! Isn’t the whole point of travel to experience the best food that a city or country has to offer? Shouldn’t I research the leading restaurants and make my reservations months in advance?

Perfect Grilled Cheese-Beecher's-Seattle — *The perfect grilled cheese: Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Shop at Seattle’s Pike Place. Take your $6 sandwich across the street for a perfect lunch venue.*

Here’s my story…

In 2008, the market crashed, taking over one-third of my retirement funds with it. I wasn’t the only one, but I thought I was still safe. I had a good job and a bit of time to recover some of the losses. Until two years later, when I got laid off. At age 62. It was the worst time of my life as I tried to get another job. If you’ve ever sought meaningful employment as a “mature” worker, you know what I mean.

Eventually, I did land a job…but it paid half of what I’d been earning and required an expensive move. I took it. Three years later, that gig ended, too. That’s when I started my full-time freelance career. I was tired of working for someone else. Freelancing is unpredictable, with more valleys than peaks. But, I had no more energy for a futile job search.

*Hang out in Athens and enjoy inexpensive Greek food. A gyro sandwich costs about 2 Euros! Greece is a Frugal Foodie’s Paradise!!*

The Frugal Foodie is born

Travel is essential to me. I wasn’t able to set out until I was fifty years old. Carving out precious vacation time, I managed to get to France, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, and Holland. I walked the Camino de Santiago on my first work leave-of-absence. Loved every minute of each journey.

Once I was “liberated” from the work force, I had time…but no money. The age-old problem. Single women understand this–there is no second income to pay the mortgage. Basic expenses come first. After utilities and insurance are paid, and groceries are bought, there isn’t much left for jet-setting.

I had to choose: Travel or Gourmet. It was an easy decision. I’d rather explore the world than spend my hard-earned cash at Alain Ducasse’s Plaza Athénée (Lunch menu: 210 Euros) or Thomas Keller’s French Laundry, where the tasting menu price isn’t even listed, but you can add charcoal-grilled Japanese Waygu for only $100 more. Take a look at this list of the world’s most expensive restaurants. After your heart stops racing, think of how far that amount could really take you.

In a heartbeat, I became a Frugal Foodie.

Czech dumplings: Try as I might, I couldn't love them. — *Czech dumplings: Cheap and included with every meal. They weren’t my favorite–but who can refuse a national food?*

Why I’ll never go back

It’s been an amazing experience to cast aside pretentious food and eat like a local. I ask taxi drivers and maids where they like to eat, and I go there. The food is delicious and the wine is affordable. And it’s REAL. So much more fun than oohing and aahing over a plate with two scallops and three asparagus spears, washed down with a $30 glass of Chateau Whatever.

People are friendly and helpful. Waiters point at what others are eating, or they just deliver the daily special, assuming that if you’re there, you’re up for what’s been cooked.

Customers sometimes try to practice their English when they hear your pitiful accent. It’s an authentic experience that will never exist in the rarefied air of a place where “the same ingredient is never repeated during the meal.” No one is taking photos of their food. No one.

Need examples? Here are some regional dishes from around the world that aren’t expensive. In fact, they will usually set you back less than $10. Nomadic Matt has a fun list of “How to Eat Cheap When You Travel the World.”

A gardener sells his bounty in Spain — *If you’re lucky, a local farmer or gardener–this was In Spain–will happily sell you some of his bountiful harvest.*

Groceries & Markets: The Frugal Foodie’s Friends

Then there are the grocery stores. How I love to go and find something for lunch or dinner! Again, this is where everyday people go to find ingredients for their meals. Wander the aisles and discover what’s important to them. In Italy, there is an aisle devoted to pasta. In France, not so much…but the boulangeries and patisseries? Ooh-la-la! Which brings me to the little specialty stores: cheese, vegetables, meat, or seafood. Shoppers happily traipse to each vendor for what they need.

If there’s a Market, make a beeline to join the housewives who are inspecting the fresh produce. Follow them as they buy sardines, olives, nuts, honey, chocolate…all keep well for later eating. Cheesemongers and salumieres (sausage makers) will let you sample before you get a slab for your dinner. Because eating a meal as a picnic or in your hotel is a huge money-saver. Read my article on the Magnificent Markets of Sicily to see what I mean…

Gallo Pinto is the national food of Costa Rica. More than just rice and beans! (Photo by Suzanne Ball. All rights reserved.) — *Every country has its own version of fast food. In Costa Rica, Pico de Gallo is nutritious–and cheap!*

Fast Food Feasting

Never pass up street food or fast food found at markets. This is often traditional food, cooked and served quickly. Whether it’s a Lucky Dog in New Orleans or a bowl of pho in Vietnam, it’s a typical food that locals enjoy. Choose a place with lots of customers and get in line.

I find that university students know a good value, so I watch for their favorite spots. Whatever it is, give it a try. (As a smart traveler, you’ve received a Hepatitis A vaccination, right? It protects against the infection, which is passed by food and drink.) Fast foods are always affordable and interesting. If you don’t like it, throw it away. But they can be tasty!

A picnic with a deli sandwich — *Little markets and grocery store delis can make your picnic. This was the best sandwich I’ve ever had. Fresh bread, rubbed with olive oil and a ripe tomato, with a few slices of Serrano ham.*

Solos Over Sixty make the best Frugal Foodies

We’re honest. We travel to have authentic experiences; cost isn’t always a factor. A slice of New York pizza gets us closer to the pulse of the city than dinner at an uppity restaurant where locals will never go.
We’re independent. Not relying on what others think, sometimes we prefer to take a sandwich to a park or garden. Much better people watching opportunities!
We’re smart. Fancy cuisine requires fancy clothes. Because we pack light, we aren’t willing to sacrifice precious luggage space for sparkly garments. And high heels? Fuhgeddaboudit. Pretty scarves are the way to go!
We’re responsible. We like our travel dollars to support local vendors and small businesses. That means the agua fresca vendor who puts in 18-hour days gets our business. Maybe we’ll make a contribution to a local school or charity.
We’re healthy. Some of us have medical conditions that require a special diet. We’ll use the grocers and markets to find simple and fresh food to stay on track.

Now you understand why I’m content to eat as I do when I travel. Giving up expensive restaurants is not a hardship. And guess what I learned? Those “leading restaurants” with the “best food” I wrote about earlier? They don’t even require reservations. I was looking in the wrong places.

If you have a Frugal Foodie tip, I’d love to hear it! Share it in the comment section, so we can all learn. Bon appetit, fellow travelers!