Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide

This unique book takes you all over the world as it covers historical information as well as interesting food recommendations in many different countries. The book is divided into sections by geographic region: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Canada, The United States, Latin America, and Antarctica. The regions are further divided into areas, and then specific chapters on places in that area. ( ie – The US has a subsection for New England, which contains chapters on Connecticut and Maine etc.) Most chapters are focused on a specific food from a specific place in the world. The authors write a few paragraphs explaining the history of that food in that area, and then there is a “How to try it” section where they give suggestions on where to go if you want to sample this food yourself. There are also extra chapters that deal with more general information; like “Table etiquette in the Victorian Age”, which describes specialized utensils like ice-cream forks and mustache cups. There are also plenty of beautiful pictures; showing images of the foods, pictures of the historical places, old photos, advertisements, and more. There are mini chapters about “Food Pioneers” like Tom Carvel and Sina Gerard, and even some recipes included throughout the book. Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I'm sure I will be referring to it in the future if it ever becomes easier to travel again to some of these places. There is a ton of interesting information here, and great suggestions for the adventurous food aficionado. This is a great combination of history book and food/travel guide, and I appreciate the authors collecting all of this obscure information in one place.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I'm always on the lookout for unique and off-the-beaten-path culinary experiences. That's why I was thrilled to come across Gastro Obscura, a food adventurer's guide that takes you on a journey around the world to discover the most bizarre, fascinating, and delicious foods you've never heard of. This book is an absolute treasure trove of gastronomic wonders, from the fermented shark of Iceland to the chocolate-coated ants of Colombia. Each entry is filled with captivating anecdotes, historical context, and mouthwatering descriptions that will leave your taste buds begging for more. But what truly sets Gastro Obscura apart is its sense of adventure. The authors are not content to simply list strange foods; they want you to experience them for yourself. They provide detailed instructions for preparing each dish, as well as recommendations for where to find them around the world. Reading this book is like embarking on a culinary odyssey, and I can't wait to try out some of the recipes for myself.

I always love Atlas Obscura publications - they're well-researched, well-written, and entertaining. I noted another review stating that this is not a cookbook; that's true! This definitely is not. I'd also say that it's not the type of book you read page-by-page per se, but rather one you pick up and go through bit by bit. I dove in the second mine arrived in the mail and have already found a lot of really interesting tidbits (and a familiar local favorite appeared in one section, tickling me pink). The book itself is a nice size if you like having interesting coffeet table books out that people will actually want to pick up and leaf through. What I appreciate most about Atlas Obscura is that it's so reader-guided; readers submit locations to the site, and readers give suggestions ultimately used as part of the book as well. You feel a little more connected to what's listed because of that; these are delicacies and locations someone has gone to, enjoyed, and cared about enough to mention those to others. I also feel that you can trust that what is mentioned for locations feels truly authentic to the area, and all of what's there is folded in well with informative and interesting research into local culture. I'll be enjoying this book for a while to come.

I am LOVING this book!! I've always enjoyed learning about history, how things work, different cultures, etc, and this book just satisfies all those things and more!! There are so many countries that I've accepted I'll never visit, and even among those that I've been to (and will go to some day), what I saw and experienced is a drop in the bucket compared to what all they offer. This book has photos, funny historical tidbits, advice about restaurants, quirky facts, and is just so much better than I'd hoped it would be. Worth every penny!!

Pull up a chair and get yourself something to drink as you learn about the food cultures around the world. Very interesting stories and wonderful photos. Could be organized a bit better for reading, but a great table book.

Gave as gift. I should have bought one for myself!

Love the book. The photos are great, sometimes wish for more-lol. Needs some editorial fixes before next edition (ie: pg 49 NOT 6 centuries, but 6 millenia) . All in all I am very happy. Long time fan of website and later the podcast. Recommend.

When I saw this for sale, I knew it was a good gift for my foodie friends. They travel to go to exotic restaurants, farm to table, etc. they really enjoyed reading the descriptions and added some Destinations to their trips.

Lovely print..great content!

correcto

O livro não é adequado para e-book. Eu gostaria de trocar pela edição em papel e pagar a diferença de preço.

Love having it around to have a short break "traveling" to another country and flavor ;-).

Great insightful read, lovely pictures. If your a foodie this is a great coffee table book