How would you like your smalahove served?

It is widely accepted that food is a core component of the tourist experience (Abel Duarte, 2011; Beer, 2008; Cohen and Avieli, 2004; du Rand et al., 2003; Magnini et al. 2011; Molz, 2007; Tikkanen, 2007 Mkono, 2011) and that contemporary travellers search for unique food experiences (Bjork & Kauppinen-Raisanen, 2016). Whilst, all travellers need to eat (Henderson, 2009), motivation for travel has an impact upon dietary choices. Reflective of this Sung (2004) identified that adventure travellers have specific needs and wants. Therefore, this paper explores whether the typology of the adventure tourist means that they are more likely to consume those local foods that are considered ‘exotic’, ‘scary’ or even ‘disgusting’. As such the paper will examine the linkage between adventure tourism, conspicuous consumption, competitive consumption and social capital and will consider if and how the adventure tourist chooses to seek ‘food thrills’.