About Grape, Olive, Pig
• Hardcover: 368 pages • Publisher: Harper Wave/Anthony Bourdain (November 15, 2016)The author of Rice, Noodle, Fish now celebrates the delectable and sensuous culture and cuisine of Spain with this beautifully illustrated food-driven travel guide filled with masterful narration, insider advice, and nearly 200 full-color photos. Grape, Olive, Pig is a deeply personal exploration of Spain, a country where eating and living are inextricably linked. Crafted in the "refreshing" (Associated Press), "inspirational" (Publishers Weekly) and "impeccably observed" (Eater.com) style of the acclaimed Rice, Noodle, Fish, and written with the same evocative voice of the award-winning magazine Roads & Kingdoms, this magnificent gastronomic travel companion takes you through the key regions of Spain as you’ve never seen them before. Matt Goulding introduces you to the sprawling culinary and geographical landscape of his adoptive home, and offers an intimate portrait of this multifaceted country, its remarkable people, and its complex history. Fall in love with Barcelona’s tiny tapas bars and modernist culinary temples. Explore the movable feast of small plates and late nights in Madrid. Join the three-thousand-year-old hunt for Bluefin tuna off the coast of Cadiz, then continue your seafood journey north to meet three sisters who risk their lives foraging the gooseneck barnacle, one of Spain’s most treasured ingredients. Delight in some of the world’s most innovative and avant-garde edible creations in San Sebastian, and then wash them down with cider from neighboring Asturias. Sample the world’s finest acorn-fed ham in Salamanca, share in the traditions of cave-dwelling shepherds in the mountains beyond Granada, and debate what constitutes truly authentic paella in Valencia. Grape, Olive, Pig reveals hidden gems and enduring delicacies from across this extraordinary country, contextualizing each meal with the stories behind the food in a cultural narrative complemented by stunning color photography. Whether you’ve visited Spain or have only dreamed of bellying up to its tapas bars, Grape, Olive, Pig will wake your imagination, rouse your hunger, and capture your heart.
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My Thoughts:
I have yet to visit Spain but I feel a little like I've had a fly over visit after reading Grape, Olive, Pig and I really feel like the food and the people behind it came alive in these pages. While Spain has been rising rapidly on the list of my Places I Must Visit list I don't think I ever really had a clear idea about the food or the difference between the regions.
The book is divided by geographical regions and Goulding throws himself into each chapter showing the wonder and unique culture of each cuisine. Goulding's love of Spain itself comes through clearly in the pages and I enjoyed the insight into the Spanish attitudes on food. The photographs are gorgeous and many made my mouth water. This is the perfect book if you're going to Spain soon, have been to Spain and want to relive it, or just really want to go. It's a whirlwind tour of food and wine and fascinating stories put forth in a well organized and engaging format. I thoroughly enjoyed it and this will be a book that lives on the shelf ready for the occasional flip through for quite some time - in between hunting down some excellent Spanish cookbooks so I can get a taste of what Goulding describes.
About Matt Goulding
Until reading Nonfiction November posts, I didn't even know that foodie nonfiction was even a thing, other than cookbooks of course. There seems to be a large fan base for these books and I would like to try one and see what the buzz is about. This sounds like a promising book to try. Thank you for the introduction and your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI love foodie non-fiction so this one is definitely going on my TBR list. I love when books can make you feel as if you've visited a place without actually going there.
ReplyDeleteMmm mouth watering. One of my sisters visited Italy and other countries last year and had a wonderful time with all the food. She was in her element. I love seeing Spain on those TV shows where people go to see if they want to buy a house there!
ReplyDeleteI like books that really dig down into distinct regions when they explore countries, and I think that's especially true with cuisine books. Since there are so many regional differences. Spain sounds fascinating and when I think of Mediterranean countries sometimes I overlook it for France or Italy or Greece, but this sounds like a great culinary book.
ReplyDeleteI also overlook Spain when thinking of European destinations, or even recipes. This sounds like a marvelous introduction to the food of that country!
ReplyDeleteOK, that's got my mouth watering. Like Debbie, I tend to forget Spain when I'm thinking of cuisines, but it has a rich history, particularly because of all the cultures that have called the peninsula home. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds wonderful and I'd love to check out the recipes. I recently picked up a Spanish cookbook from the Library which provides lots of new flavors and recipes. This review is so fantastic! Hugs...
ReplyDeleteThe photos are that extra bit that really make this book amazing. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for being on the tour.
ReplyDeleteI love travel cookbooks. Thanks for sharing your review. :)
ReplyDeleteI love foodie everything..lol I would love to visit Spain. This sounds delightful.
ReplyDeleteOh, silly me! I read the title and thought it was acronyms for the first letters of the words, which would make it a book about the GOP. So much better the right way!
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