Some of my most treasured travel memories involve food. Like the time my husband and I went to what was billed as New Delhi's best rumali roti stall, where we turned the hood of a car into a table so that the extravagantly thin and succulent flatbread could be wolfed down before it cooled. Or the time I introduced my in-laws to a Johannesburg street vendor's vetkoeks, slightly sweet, slightly sour dollops of fried dough.

So when we were planning a trip to Japan and my husband heard about EatWith.com, we knew we had to try it.

EatWith links travelers to chefs and talented home cooks around the world to share a meal. It's one of several sites, including EatFeastly, VizEat and PlateCulture, offering opportunities to dine informally with locals. The price is set by the chef, typically comparable to a mid-range restaurant meal.