5 best books about food and travel around Europe
Those with wanderlust and an appetite for gastronomy and life will love these books about food and travel around Europe.
An important part of travel is of course food. A country’s cuisine tells us as much about its people, history, customs and traditions as art and architecture do.
Through gastronomy and travel we experience life, we make memories and broaden our horizons and understanding of different cultures and their roots.
These five books about food and travel in Europe will awaken your senses, take you on journeys abroad from the comfort of your sofa…but don’t sit too comfortably, as you’ll want to book a gourmand holiday abroad as soon as you put them down.
The Portuguese Travel Cookbook by Nelson Carvalheiro
Award winning travel writer and filmmaker Nelson Carvalheiro grew up in a small fishing village in central Portugal and his book is a love letter to its country and people, through food and adventures.
Carvalheiro travels around Portugal to discover its rich history and culinary traditions, meeting plenty of knowledgeable and interesting characters along the way – from the farmers and fishermen to the chefs. Packed with recipes, photographs and tales, this beautiful and fascinating book takes the reader on a journey of Portugal and its gastronomy roots.
Porto old town from across the Douro River.
Cooked limpets served in a cast iron pan with lemon slices.
Left: Porto old town from across the Douro River.
Right: Cooked limpets served in a cast iron pan with lemon slices.
Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy’s Food Culture (Roads & Kingdoms Presents) by Matt Goulding
Matt Goulding travels through Italy’s regions from north to south to discover their rich and diverse culture, cuisine and produce and the people behind them – from a nonna (grandmother) cooking traditional ragù to the wine makers of Piedmont.
Goulding captures the essence of Italy with passion and humour, unveiling its rich tapestry and discovering old traditions and new culinary trends of Il Bel Paese.
Beautifully illustrated with photographs, you’ll want to book a trip to Italy as soon as you pick up this book.
Historic trattoria Papa Re in Rome.
Handmade fresh egg pasta with black truffle shavings.
Left: Historic trattoria Papa Re in Rome.
Right: Handmade fresh egg pasta with black truffle shavings.
One More Croissant for the Road by Felicity Cloake
Hop on The Guardian and New Statesman‘s journalist Felicity Cloake’s bike and let her take you on a 2,300 km journey around France in search of the country’s best food.
Peppered with stories and hilarious anecdotes, Cloake’s book is packed with adventures and memories of gastronomic delicacies.
Colmar in Alsace, France.
Freshly baked bread in a French boulangerie.
Left: Colmar in Alsace, France.
Right: Freshly baked bread in a French boulangerie.
A Late Dinner: Discovering the Food of Spain by Paul Richardson
Paul Richardson takes the reader on a road trip of Spain, unveiling local traditions, discovering authentic and modern dishes and making friends along the way.
The Spanish coast, countryside and cities with their fashionable restaurants (including the famous El Bulli) all feature in this excellent food and travel book.
Spain’s vibrant colours and characters jump out of these pages, and you’ll feel like you’ve been travelling with Richardson, made new friends and feasted on the food too.
Valencia, Spain.
Churros with hot chocolate and powdered sugar.
Left: Valencia, Spain.
Right: Churros with hot chocolate and powdered sugar.
Nordic By Nature: Nordic Cuisine and Culinary Excursions
In this beautiful coffee table book, some of Denmark‘s renowned chefs, including Kamilla Seidler, Rasmus Munk, Nicolai Nørregaard and Claus Meyer take the reader on a discovery of Danish culture and gastronomy, sharing 70 traditional and contemporary recipes and recounting the stories behind them.
Copenhagen, Denmark, Nyhavn quarter.
Fine food with a modern twist on the island of Møn in Denmark.
Left: Copenhagen, Denmark, Nyhavn quarter.
Right: Fine food with a modern twist on the island of Møn in Denmark.
