Recently someone asked me what my dream job would be. After just a few moments of thought, I replied, “A restaurant critic!” How great to be able to try all kinds of cuisine and not have to pay for it! Almost as soon as the words were out of my mouth, though, I thought of another potential ideal job: travel writer. What could be better than wandering the world and sharing your discoveries with others — and getting paid for it? Well, how about combining both of those occupations for the ultimate in dream jobs? Perusing the offerings on at least two cable networks, it seems that there are a lucky few out there who are doing just that. Most travelers would probably agree that one of the aspects of their journeys they most enjoy is the exposure to new foods and libations of the regions they visit. For those who can’t frequently explore new places and foods, however, they must be satisfied with whatever local ethnic restaurants can provide in the way of variety. Certainly in our largest cities, those options can be quite extensive, and as the globe effectually shrinks, even small towns often boast an assortment of “foreign” cuisines. That may not really suffice for those who long to enjoy a truly authentic experience served up in culture-rich surroundings or who are tired of the same old offerings at home. Perhaps the next best thing to hopping a plane for parts yet unexplored is spending some time with the well-traveled hosts of some of cable TV’s food-focused shows. Two that my husband and I watch on a fairly regular basis are Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food with Adam Richman. Both shows focus primarily on offerings on American soil, but often they present the quirky, the unusual and truly fantastic that a visitor to a city or region might easily miss. A visit to either show’s website provides one with recipes and addresses and links to the websites of restaurants previously visited. For travelers who are looking for a unique and perhaps regionally authentic dining experience in a strange city, these are sources which reach beyond the typical concierge’s list or tourist guidebook. Giada DeLaurentiis’ Weekend Getaways and Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt (and this season’s Feasting on Waves) on the Food Network also allow one to take part in vicarious road trips with food as the focus.  The Travel Channel also produces several shows in which foods and recipes are prominently featured in their country or city of origin. A number of these (such as Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods) tend to have a more international bent than those mentioned above. Websites for these programs include a “Travel Guides” component which provides lists of the cities, restaurants, hotels and other sites visited in each. These make it especially easy to quickly review whether a spot on your next itinerary has appeared on one of the shows and have all the contact information at your fingertips.  For those who enjoy seeing new places and indulging in good food, these programs and others like them provide a chance to learn a little more about both without ever leaving home . . . and wonderful incentives to hit the road again! Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader