Vacation Rental Kitchens Are a Battleground for Cooks. But I Come Armed With a Secret Weapon.

"For years, I made the same mistake. I'd book a place with a 'fully equipped kitchen,' expecting to find a fully equipped kitchen. But in my past few holiday rentals, I haven't come across even a single salt or pepper shaker, not to mention anything so exotic as, you know, garlic powder."

"Grocery stores are always cellular dead zones, meaning Google Translate can't save me. I wanted cumin? I'd inevitably end up with a year's supply of cinnamon."

Cooking in vacation rental kitchens can be frustrating due to the lack of essential spices. Many travelers expect fully equipped kitchens but often find them lacking basic items like salt and pepper. This leads to unnecessary trips to grocery stores, where language barriers complicate the search for specific spices. The experience can result in purchasing the wrong items and feeling wasteful, highlighting the challenges of cooking while traveling.

Read at Slate Magazine