Doubutsu Donuts at Shin Kyogoku Market in Kyoto
One of the best ways to experience a new culture is to try its food. Doing so affords you the valuable opportunity to enjoy the flavors of a particular place as well as the history that surrounds their dishes. For years, Melissa Hie of Girl Eat World has done just this. As she traverses locales across the globe, she pairs tasty treats with compelling landscape photography—from bustling markets to desolate mountains. Each photo follows the same format: Hie holds the small morsel in her hand against the backdrop of her travels. Included in the caption are details about the historical and cultural context of her food and destination.
Since we last checked in on Hie’s travel photography, she has continued to keep up with Girl Eat World. While it’s not her full-time gig, she uses it as a unique way to share the local experience when she travels. “It’s always been about authentic food from wherever I go, like sushi in Japan, or a Hello Kitty donut in Japan, just because Hello Kitty is so famous from Japan,” Hie explains. “It’s kind of like food that has a story about the place as well, so I can tell more interesting trivia along with the image.”
So, where does Hie want to go next? South America is definitely on her bucket list. Since she’s based in Singapore, however, it’s very far away, and she hopes to make it there within the next year. But in the meantime, Hie will continue to share her adventures and local fare with her followers, setting an example for them. “I hope people will be more inspired to travel,” she states, “and be more open-minded to try more local food and just be more adventurous.”
Melissa Hie chronicles her travels through food in an Instagram series called Girl Eat World.
Fuzhou Pork Pepper Bun (Hu Jiao Bing 胡椒餅) at Raohe Night Market in Taipei
Strawberry Almond Paris-Brest (Paris-Brest Fraise Amande) from La Pâtisserie des Rêves in Paris, France
Lollipop in Lviv, Ukraine
From sweet treats to savory dishes, each picture features a gorgeous backdrop and delectable eats.
Pretzel in Potsdam, Germany
Trdelník with Whipped Cream and Strawberries in Old Town Prague, Czech Republic
Macarons in Paris, France
Animal Macarons in Seoul, South Korea
Hong Kong Egg Waffle in Seoul, South Korea
“32cm Ice Cream” in Myeongdong in Seoul, South Korea
Halo-halo in Boracay, Philippines
Hanami Dango in Arashiyama, Kyoto
Portuguese Egg Tart in Macau, China
Grilled Corn at La Brisa in Canggu, Bali
Taro Rice Balls dessert at JiuFen Old Street (九份老街), aka the Spirited Away village in Taiwan
Breakfast from Mount Bromo in Indonesia
Kumamon-Shaped Red Bean Snack in Kumamoto, Japan
Girl Eat World: Website | Instagram | Facebook
My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Melissa Hie.
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