Food Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe

When I have the privilege to travel to exotic places abroad, I've generally made it a point to find an opportunity to take a cooking lesson in the local cuisine. I figured out a while back that the most intimate way to get to know a culture is through the food they grow, create, cook and eat. Now comes a book from the editors of one of my favorite magazines,  National Geographic Traveler , that focuses on the culinary adventures to be had around the globe. As expected, it's a handsome coffee-table book that takes full advantage of the vast catalog of images and articles long featured in the magazine. It's divided into nine beguiling chapters:-- "Specialties & Ingredients" focuses on foods which are unique to specific locales, ranging from Vermont maple syrup to the fresh sushi found at dawn in Tokyo's Tsukiji Market to the vanilla bean that originated on the island of Réunion.-- "Outstanding Markets" spotlights the world's great bazaars such as Thailand's floating markets, Venice's Rialto Fish Market, and in my own backyard, San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace.-- "Seasonal Delights" runs the gamut from French truffles to Finnish crayfish to Maryland's soft-shell crabs.-- "In the Kitchen" brings to the fore the intimate secrets of the world's cuisines through classic technique and unique ingredients. Recipes are plentiful in this section's sidebars.-- "Favorite Street Foods" is the section with which I have the most affinity since it highlights exactly the type of food that I would eat as a traveler, the local eats found on mobile food carts, at street kiosks, and in expansive night markets.-- "Great Food Towns" travels far and wide to identify the culinary capitals from Bologna to Goa to Hong Kong to the inevitable destination, Paris.-- "Ultimate Luxuries" identifies the rare treats to be discovered by those with deep pockets, for example, kaiseki feasting in Kyoto and luxuriant dining at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.-- "The Best Wine, Beer, & More" focuses on some unusual beverages such as Peruvian pisco and Greenland's glacier beer, as well as more predictable choices like Oregon's microbreweries and Sonoma wines.-- "Just Desserts" looks at the world's confectionary delights such as Belgian chocolates and Florida's key lime pie.For each entry, the editors provide critical information on when to go, how to plan a particular culinary adventure, and what relevant websites can help with the planning. There are entertaining top ten lists throughout the book in categories as diverse as Extreme Restaurants and Monastic Tipples. My only complaints about the book are that certain areas (Western Europe, Japan) seem to be favored at the expense of more exotic locales and that there aren't as many "a-ha" moments as I would have hoped from a list as comprehensive as this one. Still, the photography is mostly spectacular, and the editors recognize the most important discovery for the reader - that what and where we eat becomes as much a part of our travel as what we see - and the book successfully delivers an exercise in cultural immersion through our individual palates.

Update: currently living in the UK and a good amount of suggestions for the UK are no longer open so this book would be much improved with an updated edition but the places we did visit from the UK in the book were magical!I expected more. I often feel that NYC gets way to much attention in books possibly because so many writers and publishers live there? I realize NYC has good food, I have eaten at many great places there but I really felt like half of the US food places were listed as NYC. I definitely noticed a lack of places listed from Africa. Overall, I liked what was listed but I really had hoped for more balance in locations. I also wished that there were 2-3 options listed for US cities (Kansas City BBQ only gave info for one location but most other books would list 2-3 major players on their BBQ scene). I guess for the title "Food Journeys" I expected there to be enough information to plan a 2-4 day trip somewhere focusing on foods of that region (not just one listed restaurant). Beautiful pictures and some festivals were listed I had not thought about before (Michigan Cherry and Kentucky's Bourbon Trail). I was disappointed with the lack of history and cultural significance written about Modena, Italy and Balsamic Vinegar, the quote that did me in was "it's becoming common for newlyweds in this region to ask for barrels" was a rather flippant way to describe a regional food where the family business of balsamic vinegar goes back 5+ generations at most estates (and a lot of barrels are over 30 years old)! I would recommend this book at used prices but I do not think I would feel that this books value was worth its new or MRSP price.

Food Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe © National Geographic Society 2009By Nan C. That travel bug you were sure airport hassle, terrorists, or a current stay on Poverty Row had killed, comes right back to haunt you as soon as you open this book. Supersized 12"L x 9.5"W and 1" Deep (not counting sturdy hard cover), this five-pounder is no takalong guide. But what a beautiful way to browse and dream! Be sure to take notes - in case. National Geographic never shys away from sending contributors to wild parts of the world. Foodie destinations in most corners of the globe are covered, as though grim State Department Travel Warnings do not exist. Wonderful index of 313 non-gushy pages, beautiful photos (of course), suggestions for international hotel chains, bed & breakfasts, campgrounds to stay near the goal - from gourmet cooking schools to street food vendor-specialists in world capitals and villages, including the USA, plus the occasional sidelined recipe. Those Preserved Lemons somehow inspired me to get to Morocco ASAP! ###

If you have the least bit of interest in learning about new cultures and foods, you'll take delight in this book. Through its pages, you'll discover magnificent new geographic areas, meet lots of very interesting people, and discover foods that are common to the areas highlighted. This is a very heavy book, loaded with gorgeous photographs and treasured food journeys and the people behind the great food. This would make a superb holiday or birthday gift for the person interested in food and travel, which includes just about everyone I know. It would also be a great gift for the armchair traveler, as the contents are thoroughly enjoyable from your own living room. This is one of the most beautiful books on the subject of food and travel that I've ever seen.

the book has the same covering as the bookcover. I really like that. all of them are informative for travel or armchair travel. big beautiful clear pics. love them well worth the price. mine were all used. no prob there

I bought this book as a gift for Christmas and after browsing through it, was then desperate not to gift it. I will now be ordering my own copy of the book. It is brilliant quality, hardcover, with pictures, places and information that you can just keep going back to as you plan your next trips away. It does also have places and food in the UK, so if you can't wait to get away to see what the book discusses, it does involve UK eateries in it's pages. It's a book you will look at and use time and again. Beautiful to look at and filled with places you want to visit.

Excellent book and amazing value for money. It’s not a recipe book but more of an informative travel eating guide

Perfect present for anyone who loves to combine travel & food. Learn and see new places, cultures and food. Perfect present as a coffee table book that also allows you to sit for 5 minutes or an hour as you enjoy the images and become inspired about new locations.

Great book if you like good and travel.

Xmas present