Strategies for Eating Well in Culinary Wastelands

[Chris Amirault]

Every year I attend one convention with at least 20,000 other people. That means we meet in places that have massive convention centers (Dallas, Anaheim, Chicago...), megabuildings/microcities where I typically spend 10-14 hours per day.

If you've never been to one of these places, trust me, they are horrible: cavernous, poorly laid out cities of cement, high ceilings, and cubicle dividers, filled with precisely the sort of awful food you are imagining. In addition, due to their titanic size, they are often in a part of town that's either completely isolated from everything else (Dallas) or are in a tourist wasteland filled with mediocre to bad food (Anaheim). Finally, this being the US, the public transit systems range from ok to non-existent.

This coming fall, I'm heading to Orlando, and I can already feel the fear rising in my bones. (You can read more about Orlando, or chime in, here.) I have a few strategies that will still work -- Clif bars, nuts, and dried fruit in my bag; a sturdy bottle for water that I fill every chance I get; hunt down extra fruit and vegetables when "meeting food" is all that's available. But some, I fear, will not, especially the "one good meal a day" rule I live by, the dinner plan that gets me through the day, knowing that, while this "garden fresh salad" may be making me gag, I know I have a fine meal ahead.

So, assuming that Orlando is not going to be building a subway system that reaches into a wide variety of fascinating food destinations between now and November, I need your help. What strategies do you use when you're out at a conference dead zone?

[Chris Hennes]

The first strategy probably goes without saying: if you have a group of colleagues who share at least some of your desire to get some real food, splitting a cab between six people usually brings the price down into the mass-transit order of magnitude. Your meal will still be cheaper than eating at the conference center, land of the $5 apple and $10 hot dog. This works especially well in cities like Dallas, where traffic is not horrific and good food is usually within a few miles. I suggest that when dining out, you go out as late as practical, which also drives the cost of the cab ride down (minimized traffic), and has the added benefit of opening up some local places that are packed 6-8 but thin out around 9.

[MelissaH]

Sounds like you get sent to many of the same places I do.

Don't forget the power of the supermarket. Hotel concierges can generally tell you where to find one, although it's easier if you're in a city where people actually live (as opposed to one where people live outside the city and commute in to work). Even a mediocre supermarket (used in combination with ziplock bags, the hotel ice bucket or an insulated lunchbag, and ice from your hotel) can at least get you some decent food with which to propel yourself through the day.

I second Chris Hennes's comment about finding colleagues to eat a real meal with. Not to mention, it's always more pleasant to eat with good company.

MelissaH

[Toliver]

I used to attend a yearly convention in Las Vegas and was fortunate enough to live within driving distance. This meant we'd have a car for grocery shopping and be able to transport real food in coolers.

That being said, I found a big-ass water bottle to be indispensible. We'd be at the convention 8 hours a day for a couple of days and it was quite handy (I carried a sturdy tote bag to haul it in).

I also brought oranges, one a day for however long I was staying. Granted, if you're flying, this may not be possible. But if you're going through a buffet and see some fresh fruit, grab it and stock up for your hotel room.

As for non-food items, bring eye drops and some sort of chapstick in case the weather in the convention center city is drastically different than what you're used to.

[toolprincess]

I agree with the tip to grab a few colleagues or new acquaintances and get out of the hippodrome for dinners. I know there are suggestion threads on this board for Orlando and I would also use Chowhound and Yelp to find out the best "local" fare. I usually go armed with a list of names and addresses and a brief note on type of food. I drag my traveling companions around with promises of "real local fare" and "not to be missed local atmosphere".

[Shalmanese]

Nut it up. At these things, it's more important who you're eating with than what you're eating and often your colleagues will care more about convenience than gastronomy. 2 or 3 days of bad food won't kill you. If you really must, bring enough that you can snack during the day and only go for something light during lunch.

[rarerollingobject]

Oh god - I know this story well. I too get sent to alot of those mega US conventions, with the added delight of having to fly 20 or so hours from Sydney to get there. The one thing I have ended up doing is making my damn fine meal of the day breakfast. Either hot breakfast at the hotel if the food looks passable, or supplementing that with bircher muesli I occasionally bring with me and fruit and yoghurt I can scrounge from the hotel or nearby shops.

It's not normally a habit for me to eat a huge breakfast, but I do when I'm at conferences because it fills me up fairly well enough to be able to resist the majority of the crap conference food (weakest when hungry), and because it's one meal at least in the day over which I have some degree of control.

Other than that, you have my sympathies!

[lancastermike]

If it is possible I endores the supermarket trip. get some things to hold you over that you like and if your room is not fridge equipped see if they have any of those cheap foam coolers that you can fill with hotel ice machine ice to keep things cool. This worked well for me on my last conference trip.

Or see if you can get your outfit to book the San Diego CC. Some good food just a walk across the street or a trolley ride away

[Angela Knipple]

I have gotten away from this situation in the past few years, but I spent a week in a different city at least once a month for 3 years. I always hit a grocery store first. That sounds easy and boring, but you can find some really good regional things that you haven't run into before. Definitely splitting a cab with other people is a good way to get away from the tourist traps as long as you have people who are willing to take a chance with their dinner. I have had to spend a week with co-workers who were sure they would die of food poisoning if they wandered away from TGI Friday's and Applebee's. Chowhound and Yelp are really good sources for food that would be off the map. I especially use them when I travel now to find the ethnic enclaves in cities. And ask the people who work at the hotel or the convention center staff. If you ask a maid at a hotel where she likes to eat, she's more likely to steer you to the little places than the concierge or front desk staff.

I've done a week in Orlando a couple of times. If you can get away from the tourist strips, there is really good Jamaican and Cuban food hiding around town.

[MelissaH]

If you ask a maid at a hotel where she likes to eat, she's more likely to steer you to the little places than the concierge or front desk staff.

Very important point here. The question is not "Where should I eat?" but rather, "Where do you like to eat?"

MelissaH

[Chris Amirault]

I've done a week in Orlando a couple of times. If you can get away from the tourist strips, there is really good Jamaican and Cuban food hiding around town.

Where?!?