Foodie Places (Inspired Traveller's Guides) Hardcover – 7 Mar. 2024

Introductions to some of the well known, and perhaps not so well known destinations for those who love to make food a feature of their holidays.It's a light quick read and an ideal gift for someone who is hoping to travel to a destination where they will be wowed by the food

What I like most about this book is that it's a print book worth having. It's not going to replace the endless information on your smartphone, but your smartphone can't do what this book does, which is give you a series of short essays about signature foods in cities around the world accompanied by 5.5"x8.5" original illustrations you can flip through at your leisure. If you appreciate illustrations on paper you can hold and if you appreciate essays (these won't make you forget Joan Didion, but they're also not aiming to) that are thoughtful, engaging, and focused (usually on a single food item) while also providing a larger historical and cultural context, then you will love this book.There are twenty-five chapter, with just over half (thirteen) set in Europe, of which all but two are in Western Europe. The other continents, sans Antartica, are all represented, though no cities in sub-Saharan Africa appear. You may quibble with the selections. There are many major foodie destinations not on the list, while many you wouldn't think of are. But that's part of the charm of the book—discovering through words and illustrations places you might not have thought have. It's a nice journey around the world. The illustrations are vibrant, well conceived, and well composed. They range from deeply saturated snapshots to impressionistic landscapes to more linear city shots. They are nice to look at and nice to return to. The essays to invite rereading.I have been to three of the cities represented in the book: Osaka, Montreal, and New Orleans, but am most familiar with Osaka. The author could have gone with more obvious choices, like Tokyo sushi or Kobe beef. Even the okonomiyaki or oysters of Hiroshima, given the historical attraction of the city for Westerners, would have been more obvious choices. But I spent a memorable night eating and drinking in Dotonbori, and it is FUN. It is also GOOD. And, for Japan, it's AFFORDABLE. A lot of Westerners doing a whirlwind of Japan will hit Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and back. And that's a nice trip. But this chapter gives them a very good reason to stop in Osaka in between.The point is that you can find everything you need and more these days instantly on your phone. Restaurants with ratings, menus, recipes, photographs, etc., for anywhere and everywhere on the globe. This gives you the sensual pleasure of a book you can hold in your hands, the aesthetic pleasure of well-done art (not AI or the same old photos), and the guidance of a skilled writer to take you on a worldwide culinary journey.

This book is a nice one to have as coffee table book and I say that with high regard as a fan. I did not expect this to be an extensive guide to each location by any means, but rather an introduction to them along with some history and what makes them special and good places to visit for the adventurous foodie. With that in mind, this book succeeds along with sharing some interesting history that I had not known about some of these areas and that in turn, made me dig in to research further. For me, I really like this style in being more of an introduction to whet your appetite (no pun intended) to want to explore more. The key is in the descriptive language that takes you to these locations and gives great reference to what the culture is like. I love that dishes known to the area are presented as highlights and would really have loved to have seen an authentic recipe for the featured dish(es) or perhaps a little spot at the end of the chapter that referenced resources. Very nice book overall and one I would recommend to my foodie friends. It is already living on my side table and will be out for any guest to peruse. I know the eye-catching cover will be sure to entice most everyone!

Good information about good places.

An absolute treat for any culinary enthusiast looking to explore the global tapestry of flavors and dishes that define cultures around the world. Sarah Baxter expertly guides readers through 25 global food capitals, from well-known culinary havens to unexpected gems, each brought to life with stunning, hand-illustrated visuals. The book is beautifully written, making each destination's history and food scene vividly accessible. Alongside mouthwatering descriptions of local specialties, the book offers practical travel tips, making it an indispensable guide for gastronomic adventurers. The charming illustrations and thoughtful writing make "Foodie Places" a delightful journey for the senses and a must-have for any food lover's library.

For a book that touches heavily on food, I would have expected it to contain more imagery and visuals about the food. I was rather surprised that throughout the book, it was so text heavy. While its not a hard read by any means, as the content is rather interesting and written in a more casual "voice", I would have appreciated a wee bit more pictures. While it DOES contain images, and rather cute with a unique flair, I wanted more of it! Nevertheless, its still a beautiful book...bounded wonderfully with small details here and there. Definitely something to pick up every now and then. I definitely would be picking this up the next time I start planning trips. While the book doesn't cover every major city, it does cover most around the world, especially the cities that's less travelled to.