Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide (Atlas Obscura)
It’s truly a feast of wonder: Created by the ever-curious minds behind Atlas Obscura, this breathtaking guide transforms our sense of what people around the world eat and drink. Covering all seven continents, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders. Ready for a beer made from fog in Chile? Sardinia’s “Threads of God” pasta? Egypt’s 2000-year-old egg ovens? But far more than a menu of curious minds delicacies and unexpected dishes, Gastro Obscura reveals food’s central place in our lives as well as our bellies, touching on history–trace the network of ancient Roman fish sauce factories. Culture–picture four million women gathering to make rice pudding. Travel–scale China’s sacred Mount Hua to reach a tea house. Festivals–feed wild macaques pyramid of fruit at Thailand’s Monkey Buffet Festival. And hidden gems that might be right around the corner, like the vending machine in Texas dispensing full sized pecan pies. Dig in and feed your sense of wonder.
“Like a great tapas meal, Gastro Obscura is deep yet snackable, and full of surprises. This is the book for anyone interested in eating, adventure and the human condition.” –Tom Colicchio, chef and activist
“This exquisite guide kept me at the breakfast table until dinner time.” –Kyle Maclachlan, actor and vintner
Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide (Atlas Obscura) by Dylan Thuras takes readers on a culinary adventure around the world, exploring the weird, wonderful, and downright bizarre foods that different cultures have to offer.
From the Icelandic delicacy of fermented shark to the Japanese street food of deep-fried octopus balls, Thuras introduces readers to a diverse array of dishes that are sure to challenge their preconceptions about what is considered "normal" food.
Combining stunning photography with informative and engaging text, Gastro Obscura is the perfect book for anyone who loves to explore new cultures through their stomachs. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or simply a curious foodie, Thuras's book is sure to leave you hungry for more.
Here are just a few of the many food adventures that Thuras takes readers on:
- Eating fried tarantulas in Cambodia
- Trying century eggs in China
- Sampling bull testicles in Serbia
- Drinking snake wine in Vietnam
- Feasting on a traditional Icelandic Christmas dinner, including fermented shark and sheep's head
Thuras's writing is both informative and entertaining, and he manages to convey his passion for food and travel in a way that is both engaging and accessible. Gastro Obscura is a must-read for anyone who loves to explore the world through their taste buds.
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