One of the great things about travelling to different parts of the world and experiencing different
cultures is that you get to try different foods. Food is an essential part of the travel experience -
the smells, the tastes, shopping in the local produce market or even just wandering the
supermarket shelves comparing different products and seeing what is familiar to you and what is
something that you haven’t seen before. To get the most out of your food travel experience, it’s a
great idea to do a bit of research or reading before you go. While a lot of guide book information is
available online now (so restaurant reviews or suggestions are easily accessible on your
smartphone as you are wandering the street) a bit of research before your trip can give you a much
deeper understanding and appreciation of the food that you will be experiencing in your chosen
destination. In this article we wanted to share with you three of our favourite food books for
travellers from Bookworld. Bon Appetit!!

The Basque Region!

One of my all-time favourite food books also has one of the all-time longest titles: “A Food Lover’s
Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela – Food, wine and walking along the Camino through
Southern France and the North of Spain”, written by Dee Nolan. This is the Basque region and the
Camino is one of the world’s most famous and popular pilgrim walks. Tackling the trail is a stunning
experience but if you ever needed a bit of inspiration then this book is it – gorgeous photos
interwoven with details of the trail and recipes of some of the food that you can experience as you
walk through this region.

France!

Julia Child was an intriguing person and helped to bring European cooking to American homes.
Her book “My Life in France” tracks her culinary adventures that were so brilliantly brought to life
my Meryl Street in the movie Julia & Julia that was released a few years ago. This is a personal
and amusing memoir from a different time but it will ignite your passion for French cuisine. You
may not be ready to tackle the Cordon Bleu recipes that Julia Child had to master, but your mouth
will be watering for the creations that she writes so beautifully about.

China!

“Riding the Iron Rooster” is Paul Theroux’s account of a year spent in China travelling the country by
train. It was first published in the late 1980s, so some of the political commentary feels a little
dated, but his food experiences are extraordinary and really capture what life is like for ordinary
Chinese people a long way from the bright lights of Shanghai.

Wherever you are travelling to, make sure you embrace the local food culture – whether that is
burgers in the United States or Sushi in Japan. Travel is about so much more than just posting
selfies that you’ve taken in front of famous monuments around the world. Tuck in to the food of
your chosen destination and you not only get a great meal but also a deeper understanding of the
world around you.

This post was written in partnership with Bookworld.

Photo Credit: David Boeke under Creative Commons license. Julia Child’s kitchen at the the Smithsonian, Washington DC.