Those may not make the top-10 lists of bookstores, famous food blogs or culinary magazines. But are books for the foodie traveler, the lover of gourmet or street food found after serious exploration. One thing is certain: if you love to eat and love to travel, those are definitely the books for you.
Amor y Tacos by Deborah Schneider (author) and Sara Remington (photographer) will invite you to a tasteful journey of Mexican flavors, starting with a refreshing Sangrita paired with mouthwatering Panucho (corn empanada with cheese and zucchini flowers), moving to a Tequila Diabolito with a Chipotle Duck Taco and finishing it off with a Iced Mexican Coffee. The book is cleverly divided into thematic chapters: Cocktails/Drinks, Antojitos, Tacos and Salsas. You will also find a glossary to brush up your Spanish culinary vocabulary and a conversion chart so you know that a 1 Tbsp is 15ml!
Street Food, Authentic Snacks from Around the World by Carla Diamanti and Fabrizio Esposito (is translated from Italian and published by h.f. ullmann) is a fast-paced world street food guide supported by spectacular photographic material and cultural and historic content. This colorful publication is not a recipe book, you will only find a few. But you will walk through the alleys of Naples to eat pizza al portafoglio and shish kebabs in Instabul. In Cairo, you will buy the fried falafel served in khobz and churros with hot chocolate in a square in Madrid. If this not enough, grab a pretzel from a huge wooden basket hawked in the street in Munich, frites andalouse from a French fries stand in Brussels or a “gaufre” (waffles) if you are a sweet tooth. In Paris, sit at a side café and indulge on a Croque Monsieur and if in Tokyo, try the okonomiyaki, the traditional Japanese pancake. In India, samosas, the vegetable-filled pastries fried in oil are offered from all cart vendors and dhaltjies in South Africa. Street Food should definitely be on your bookshelf or by your night stand if you plan your next trip. Keep it safe and read it with love.
An invitation to the world table comes from Allegra McEvedy’s Bought, Borrowed and Stolen. Chef Allegra, was keep a culinary journal from a very young age but it was when she started to travel as an adult that this book became reality. Allegra will travel you in Turkey where will taste Milk Jelly with Figs, from Brazil Panquecas de Queizo, Caldo Verde from Portugal and from Malawi Lemon Iced Tea Lollies. Seared Beef, Shaved Onion and Miso from Japan and from France a dessert of Roasted Raspberries. Surprisingly, from New York will get a Peanut Butter Protein Shake and Oaty Buttermilk Pancakes. The book is a masterpiece of a publication: outstanding photos, personal notes, even copies of passports, numerous recipes and descriptions with pictures of Allegra’s impressive collection of knives. Because some women collect shoes but Allegra collects knives, because each knife illustrates the foodie character of a place. Published by Conran Octopus, 2011)
Mighty Spice, the cookbook by John Gregory-Smith published by Duncan Baird Publishers is a unique book presenting fast and fresh dishes that use no more than 5 spices for each recipe. The spice directory is at the back next to a colorful description of all spices used in the recipes. From wasabi to allspice to cloves and cumin, the book will enlarge your knowledge of spices, give you ideas of how to cook in a simple way dishes from around the world. For the Szechuan Chicken and Cucumber Salad will only need Szechuan Pepper and Chili Flakes but if you want to make the Lebanese Pizza you need chili powder, ground all spice and ground cumin. For the Chili and Basil Scallops, a Hong Kong specialty use only ground black pepper, garlic cloves and red chilies. A pleasant addition are the cocktails at the end so for the Lemongrass and Ginger Rum Cocktail only lemongrass stalks and gingerroot are needed! This cookbook is definitely for the advanced cook or chef but it can be used by amateurs or inspired cooks who would like to use spices as well.
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