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Lonely Planet under its imprint Lonely Planet Food has just released Food Trails — Plan 52 Perfect Weekends In The World’s Tastiest Destinations. This is a culinary adventure for all armchair travelers or an intriguing group of recommendations for those about to plan a trip somewhere. The book starts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the meat capital of the world, and ends in Hanoi, Vietnam whose cuisine is shaped by centuries of foreign domination. In between there are 35 additional destinations, many of which have multiple city suggestions like the US, Italy, Australia and Japan. Though Food Trails covers expected cities like London, Paris Venice and Tokyo, true to the Lonely Planet mission it also takes you to out of the way treasures – Mahe, Seychelles; Patagonia, Chile; Muscat, Oman and Bratislava, Slovakia among many other surprises.
The section on each destination is short just 3 to 5 pages. It will remind you of the travel sections of major newspapers but it offers more tempting photos. Each city section offers a brief introduction followed by descriptions of 6 to 10 food adventures worth experiencing. Food Trails notes food markets, restaurants, ice cream shops, cooking classes, bars, carnivals and much more. Each entry provides contact information – web address, physical address, telephone number, and hours of operation. Some sections have a Need to Know bubble with important tips such as most restaurants, shops and markets are closed on Sunday, Each section ends with an Essential Information section providing ideas on Where To Stay, What To Do, and Celebrations, once again with contact information.
If you are foodie or know one, Food Trails makes an interesting and fun read.
Food Trails by Lonely Planet, 304 pages, hardcover, full-color photos, $24.99.
