on vacation what's a must to take with you if self catering?

[bughut]

I know there is an abundance of herbs and spices in the US, but, not knowing where to look, we stick to the supermarkets which dont seem to cater too well for curry enthusiasts (unless you know different)
We take whole cumim, coriander,black mustard, Nigella and my favourite curry powder.Also, a bottle of Linghams malaysian chilli sauce.

On the return journey we always take home Instant grits, Corn syrup, A whole range of dried and smoked chillies and Kaluha especial...

...And fabulous memories

[MaryB]

I carry my knife set. My sisters knives are horrible and so are most other peoples.

[KYHeirloomer]

I thought I liked you Bughut. But instant grits? Omigod! You a powerful disappointment to me.

Your question is a rough one, on many levels. It's one thing for somebody driving from point A to point B; quite another for somebody crossing an ocean and being very limited in what they can carry.

What and where you'll be cooking can affect it too. For instance, visiting somebody's house, they should have basic tools like can openers and spatulas and the like. Renting an efficiency cottage, they may not.

In my own case, I never trust that anybody or any place will have the things I need. So I have a travel kit---a plastic tool box---with a basic set of knives and other kitchen tools. This gets supplemented by what we expect to be cooking. On a recent trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, for instance, crab picks got added to the kit.

I also include herbs and spices that are less common; the sorts of things supermarkets are not likely to carry. And I always include my basic seasoning salt. In a pinch, that's all the seasoning I need.

[phatch]

I've got a smallish tool box I've got outfitted for camp cooking equipment minus pots/pans. I took it with me the past vacation to a condo in AZ and used it extensively over the junk the condo provided. My friend gets a condo at Snowbird ski resort every fall for Octoberfest. Their knives aren't any good but they've got some good pans.

If you're flying, you've got other problems, but you can ship ahead some critical equipment like knives. Work it out when you book your lodging so they'll receive and hold your package of non-flyables. And insure it.

Phil

[DC Sunshine]

I always take my spices/seasonings wherever I go for a vacation. Couldn't be without them, things like paprika, oregano, garlic, cayenne, chicken and beef stock powder, curry powder (I toast,grind and make a mix), S&P. Also my best knife - we don't fly so its not a problem. Always sharpen it before we leave.

I also pack foil and plastic wrap, believe it or not, never know if the place will have them, and they are indispensible.

And....the Vegemite!

[sheffy]

We always take a teapot because we hate tea made straight in the cup and my sharp knives.

[KYHeirloomer]

One thing you can count on the destination not having is a deep kettle for pasta, rice, anything else that needs boiling or steaming in a deep pot.

At a minimum I include a pasta kettle, plus a number of skillets and saucepans. I've never yet found a place that had decent cookware.

I don't really blame them. After all, the owners don't know who's going to be using the stuff. So they provide a minimal amount of inexpensive, usually non-stick, cookware. Maybe one skillet and a couple of pots---which may or may not have covers.

There's also a summer-people syndrome involved. I don't think the owners expect that visitors will be doing any serious cooking. After all, the reasoning goes, they're on vacation, and will eat-out for real meals.

[kuan]

Coffee, definitely coffee.

[bughut]

It's not me KY HONEST! Cant stand the gooey, sloppy stuff. But my youngest loves them with everything...even omlettes. We have the Waffle house to thank for that.

We'll be arriving at Lake murray SC on monday and I have no idea how well equiped the house is.

We'll make a list of things we need when we get there and buy cheap stuff in one of those discount stores. Even a knife. It only has to last 2 weeks and is bound to be better that the used and abused one in situ.
I know we'll have a bbq and theres a fish prep area

We always need to buy a collinder

Eating out for us in the US is usually breakfast/brunch/lunch

Dinner is mostly at home. Even if it's just boiling up a load of shrimp with a bagged salad
Cant wait

Hope i've risen in your estimations once more.

[KYHeirloomer]

I'm not objecting to grits, you understand. It's the instant part that got me. Those are even worse than instant oatmeal, IMO. And it only takes about 20 minutes to make real grits.

Hope you have a really great time. When you go shopping, check if there's a Harris Teeter supermarket anywhere in the area. If so, shop there. They'll have anything you want, in terms of foodstuffs, herbs and spices.

Only thing I dislike about them is that there isn't one near me.

[tessa]

when we went to India i took marmite and peanutbutter
some of the meals were a little hot, their defination of hot was slightly different from mine and peanut butter and chappatis was an instant meal
if we were travelling in nz , i would take my knife set and a chopping board
if we were travelling overseas, we would take a knife, fork, spoon, and a plastic bowl ,and cup each, marmite, peanut butter, wet wipes and sanitiser gel,