Pringles for Breakfast
If you are like me, one of the biggest perks of traveling is getting to try local, authentic cuisine. And sometimes, the food and drinks you find on-the-go are the most tempting. Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice in Istanbul. Steaming hot empanadas from a street vendor in Bogotá. Flaky, creamy pastizzi in Valletta. And whatever the hell that lovely, fried stuff on a stick was in Chengdu (I probably don’t want to know). It’s always delicious — the food and the opportunity to stop for a moment and appreciate the landscape around you.
But my son? Not always so keen on the local foodstuffs. (Exception: shwarma from the most unhygienic looking stand in Egypt).
A few weeks ago, we spent a long weekend in Jerusalem. Our hotel put on a fabulous shabbas breakfast full of local fare. It was delicious. But do you think Chet appreciated it? He wouldn’t eat a bite. Then he asked the waiter for bacon. We really couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
We had a full day ahead of us and I knew we couldn’t do it with a hungry boy. So when Chet noticed the Pringles in a shop on King David Street, this mother-of-the-year-contender only hesitated for a moment before buying them.
No, the chips weren’t healthy. And they weren’t exactly local (although they were kosher!). But as we sat on a stoop along King David Street, I think we had the best breakfast seat in town. As my son stuffed his face, we watched the shopkeepers open for the day, greeting each other with hugs and cups of strong coffee, the faithful, of all religions and sects, on their way to prayer, and our fellow tourists wandering amok with their backpacks and guidebooks. It was a wonderful way to get to a glimpse inside this glorious and enigmatic city. Even if I’m not sure to which of the four food groups Pringles actually belong.
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Need a family friendly hotel in Jerusalem? Kayt loved the historic King David Hotel.
We’re participating in Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday series with this post. Head on over there and check it out.
November 13th, 2008 | by Kayt Sukel 15 comments
1. DeliciousBaby on November 13th, 2008
What a great shot & story.
Your title made me laugh too… my favorite gimmick when we’re traveling is to let the kids eat pancakes and waffles for lunch or dinner. In Jerusalem that would be disaster, because pancakes and waffles are dessert items and usually come with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and maybe some ice cream or a sparkler for good measure. Ask my parents, they found out the hard way on a family trip when I was 13.
2. Elizabeth on November 14th, 2008
The photo is awesome and the story that goes along with it is great. The only thing that made me uneasy is the fact that I recognized the three blurs next to the pringles as Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks and The King. I think that means my son watches Cars too much. And Pringles are potatoes, right? So, they’re good for you! (Right?)
3. Gudrun from Uptake on November 14th, 2008
oh, that is funny! In Australia, all my kids wanted to eat was peanut butter, and unlike the U.S., peanut butter comes in really small jars and is a little hard to find. Our hosts found it hysterical!
4. Dominique on November 14th, 2008
Yup, I’m thinking they’re potatoes…maybe. Nice you were able to make it a little break to slow down and get a little “flavor” of the local street life there.
5. CanCan (Mom Most Traveled) on November 14th, 2008
I really miss the big alley off of the Wan Fu Jing shopping area in Beijing that is full of any kind of food on a stick that you can imagine!
So delicious!
Our kids just don’t know how good they have it!
6. Mara on November 14th, 2008
As someone whose child ate McDonald’s French fries in the train station in Florence, Italy, I absolutely do not judge you at all.
Boy do I love it that he asked for bacon. That is just priceless.
7. Beth Blair on November 14th, 2008
I can relate to this one. lol! Actually, I can totally justify it for you, too. Hash browns are a common breakfast food, Pringles are also made of potatoes – common denominator. ;-)
8. Angela Nickerson on November 14th, 2008
Oh, he is such a cutie!
9. kat calvin on November 14th, 2008
This is too cute! I have definitely sometimes just felt like eating something packaged and American while on the road. He’s adorable too!
10. TravelswithBaby on November 14th, 2008
Traveling with a picky eater can be painful. Still worse: paying 7 Euros for a bowl of plain pasta. Hooray for Pringles. ;-)
11. Jen on November 14th, 2008
I can totally relate to this and to all the comments! My children ate nothing but gummy worms in Germany (they were Haribo…does that count?), McDonald’s in London, and the list goes on. What a great moment to observe the activities around you though!
12. Jessie V on November 15th, 2008
SUCH a great story! asking for bacon. i am still laughing. but you had the best deal of all, with such wonderful views and slowing down to take it all in. bravo, chet!
13. heatheronhertravels on November 15th, 2008
Kids do have a different perspective on things, but they can still enjoy it in a different way. In Rome my son said that his favourite thing was the shower in our hotel!
14. soultravelers3 on November 17th, 2008
Great shot! We have not been desperate enough to do Pringles for breakfast yet, but I do understand.
We love healthy picnics watching the locals!! He looks like he has the best seat in town! ;)
15. Travel Packages India on January 12th, 2009
Well it gets hard when kids cant take the local food, even hard when they stick on something they badly need.
Well the pic is awesome.
15 Responses to “Pringles for Breakfast”