by Deirdre Marlowe

Sometimes I’ve wondered whether I travel for the sights or the tastes of new places. Both make for memories.  It has been said that smell is the most powerful driver of memory. Perhaps for you it is the smell of street food as you walk along, or spices in a Moroccan Sukh, or enticing aromas wafting through an Asian market. What prompts you to travel?

Over the years, some of the best gifts I’ve received from Servas travelers is learning to cook their national cuisine or traditional family dish. One Christmas we made a gingerbread house with a cycling family from India; they showed us how to make roti, saag paneer, and curried potatoes with chickpeas. Another family visited from Germany – the mother was from India, the father German. She offered to cook for us; we got all excited about having homemade Indian food. She cooked their children’s favorite meal – knockwurst and fried potatoes!

It is easy to pack small knickknacks as host gifts when traveling – fridge magnets, bandanas, etc. More recently, I’ve found that in addition to offering to cook for my hosts, I should include the main seasoning ingredient(s) as their gift. Old Bay brings with it the flavors of Chesapeake, while Jerk spice recalls the flavors of the Caribbean. Barbecue rub, depending on the blend, brings a taste of Texas or Kansas or the Carolinas. Dried sourdough starter brings a taste of San Francisco. You can purchase these prepackaged or make your own. If you’re planning to cook, you might also want to bring a photo of your kitchen. Please share your cooking for hosts or travelers cooking for you stories with Open Doors; I’m sure others would like to enjoy your experiences.