Profile

Name: Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Occupation: Daryl works in the restaurant industry. Mindi works in the insurance industry. Together, they are culinary travel writers.

Hometown: Philadelphia (Daryl) & Atlanta (Mindi)

Residence: Philadelphia

Daryl and Mindi Hirsch are a married couple currently based in Philadelphia. With day jobs to support their food and travel passions, they have been photographing and writing about their culinary adventures for the past two years.

Travel Style

How would you describe your travel style?

We are independent travelers who enjoy trying new foods and discovering hidden gems.

When choosing travel destinations, how important are food/drink choices and experiences to your overall decision-making process?

Very. In fact, we have been known to pick travel destinations solely based on the food.

Culinary traveler or food explorer? Which do you identify more closely with?

It depends on the situation. We consider ourselves to be culinary travelers when we’re eating at a three star Michelin restaurant and food explorers when we’re grazing our way through a market.

Scene while hiking in China

If we ask your best friends if you’re a foodie, what would they say?

Although our friends consider us to be the ultimate foodies, we argue that love of food is just one aspect of our lives.

What’s in your carry-on? Any essential food or kitchen tools you won’t leave home without?

Our carry-on bags tend to be full of electronics and related accessories. That being said, we have lost more than our fair share of corkscrews at airports around the world.

What’s the most unusual food you’ve eaten?

Escamoles, i.e. ant eggs, in Mexico City. FYI, they’re surprisingly tasty.

If we handed you a ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Japan. We tipped the country’s iceberg by visiting Tokyo and Kyoto, and now we’re dying to eat our way through Osaka.

fried tiger prawns

What’s the best culinary travel experience you’ve ever had?

Some of our favorite travel experiences involve shopping at food markets for picnics. One experience that stands out is a picnic at the Parc Güell in Barcelona with food that we had procured earlier that day at the Boqueria.

Any great travel tips to share?

Always have room in your luggage for culinary souvenirs from bottles of wine to local foods. Be sure to request that the meats and cheeses be cryovaced.

Pizza in Naples

Daryl & Mindi’s Picks

Favorite Culinary Destination: Italy (the entire country)

Favorite Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese & Italian

Favorite Restaurant: Picking a favorite restaurant is like picking a favorite child. Some recent favorites are Dirty French in New York and Serpico in Philadelphia.

Favorite Street Food: Anything on a stick

Favorite Food Market: Tie between the Nishiki Market in Kyoto and Les Halles de Lyon

Favorite Gourmet Shop: Eataly in Chicago

Favorite Winery: Preston Vineyards in Healdsburg

Favorite Brewery: Unibroue in Quebec

Favorite Travel App: Via Michelin

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