The Traveling Professor has been on hundreds of small group tours to Europe, Canada, and Peru. Known for his adventurous palate, he eagerly tries many local specialties. However, even the most daring traveler has boundaries — here are some foods he absolutely avoids when abroad.
As many times as the Professor has been to Italy, he has not dared to try this dish. Tripe, defined as edible offal from the stomachs of farm animals, is a staple in many Italian dishes. Cooked for hours, sometimes days, it is served in soups and sandwiches across Italy. While Italian cuisine is famously delicious, tripe is one dish The Traveling Professor just can’t stomach.
Beef heart is a popular Peruvian dish and, though not a favorite, The Traveling Professor prefers it over tripe. Peru’s cuisine also features cuy (guinea pig), which he surprisingly finds more palatable. Come to Peru and see Machu Picchu with the Professor, but skip the beef heart.
Andouille sausage appears frequently on Paris menus, known for its intensely gamey flavor — often considered stronger than any meat you've tasted. Similarly, tête de veau (calf’s head) can be unsettling for those who prefer their meals less “eye-contact.” There is a lot to love about Paris, but Andouille sausage and tête de veau are not any of them.
Despite its popularity in Scandinavian cuisine, pickled herring reminds The Traveling Professor of his childhood when his Norwegian grandmother would force-feed it to him. The smell alone can turn his stomach. Let's go to Norway and eat their delicious hot dogs, but we can skip the pickled herring.
Hákarl is Iceland’s traditional cured shark, prepared by burying the meat for months and then drying it. Known for its strong ammonia smell and pungent taste, it’s one delicacy The Traveling Professor avoids at all costs on every trip to Iceland.
On his first visit to London two decades ago, The Traveling Professor found much of the food unappealing. Although British cuisine has improved dramatically, black pudding (blood sausage) and jellied eels remain off-limits.
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Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.
Each article is written or reviewed from the perspective of a working tour operator who plans real itineraries, works with local guides and hotels, and helps travelers prepare for successful small group trips.