Far Afield: Rare Food Encounters from Around the World by Shane Mitchell

Far Afield: Rare Food Encounters from Around the World by Shane Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I couldn't put this one down once I started it. Easily my favorite cookbook of the year so far. MUST read this yourself!

This is much less a cookbook as it's billed and far more a delicious look at the interplay of food, culture and the pull of our universal humanity. Mitchell takes us from India to the northern wildes of Scandinavia, through the everyday life of the Masai and the heart of the infamous refugee camp of Calais then off again to scour the globe. The title is very honest as you'll see all four corners of our crazy world. The photography is lush and honest, emotional without trying to be so. There's no pretense here as most art/photography books tend to lean towards, just raw honesty and curiousity. There is no appeal from the author to see things the way she wants you to see them: rather she allows you to see for yourself and gleen what you like.

Very honest, interesting and raw with a beautiful layout and stunning views in to other people's lives and surroundings. The food and recipes take a back seat at most times but not in a neglectful way, not at all. Rather, I found myself getting caught up learning about the subjects and their lives that I forget it's also a piece on food, the flow allowing me to go from one aspect to the other without a mental break.

Usually I far prefer ebooks because of the convenience but in this case I'd HIGHLY suggest getting the hardcover. The expense is worth it and this is one of the few books that really NEEDS to not be digital in order to fully experience it.

That's the word I'm looking for: Experience.

This wasn't just a book, it was an experience.

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