Food: True Stories of Life on the Road

by Richard Sterling

Many people admit that they travel, in large part, to eat, to break bread with strangers and leave the table with friends, to discover the world through the medium of cuisine. Here is a collection of stories which further the proposition that humanity is revealed through cuisine is just as surely as it is through any other art or social activity. Notable authors found in the book include P.J. O'Rourke, M.F.K. Fisher, Peter Mayle, Colin Thubron, and Rory Nugent.

Genres: Travel, Food, Nonfiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[kb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am happy to report I have found the book that did not only set more fuel to my fire for travelling, but also stirred some more taste buds on my tongue alive. I have yet to come across one that has been written like this anthology—detailed, vivid and full of heart. And lest I forget, full of secrets in the kitchen, too! I am better in the dining area than in the kitchen but after I read this, I woke up to kind of wanting to cook, cook, cook.

[Shantiwallah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the books in this series. I'm not usually a short-stories reader, but I like to be able to dip into these at time when I am too busy to read a full novel. Rather than be about the food itself persay, the stories in this book tend to be about people's relationships with food and with other people when they are eating or preparing food.

[Vampire Who Baked · Rating 3 out of 5]

food writing works best when "food" is used as a window into a culture or a way of life-- it doesn't have to be ethnic, even "living with diabetes" or "being a vegetarian in a meat-loving country" is a "way of life" the way im using the phrase.

in that respect, the book delivers more often than not. quite a nice collection, with plenty of highlights and a few lows that you'll know to skip (the lows are mostly patronising writing by Brits stuck with a colonial mindset-- seriously, British people should not be allowed to write about the nations they formerly occupied).

like any anthology, read the introduction to hey inside the mind of the editor who compiled the collection-- it will enrich your reading experience so much more.

[Edie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over a period of few months I used this as my “travel book” for airports and plane rides, etc. I can’t remember all the stories, but neither do I recall not liking any of them.

The entries ranged from good to fantastic. You traveled all over the world savoring (and be repelled) by all kinds of dishes.

It was a wonderful anthology. Recommended.

[Prima Seadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book for me to pick up and read a few essays at a time. As the title denotes the unifying theme is food and travel. Overall I enjoyed almost all of them. There were a few I did not care for, only one so annoying I did not finish. Not bad out of 49 essays.
A few I particularly liked were Hungry Ghosts by Patrick Pfister; Eating Up the Mekong by Sherdyl (Charlie) Motz, Even Their Eyes Were Hungry by Zhang Xianliang and Dumpster Diving by Lars Eighner. Interspersed among the essays are short notes and quotes.

[Vivian Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite travel stories of all time is in this book. The one about the guy trying to find authentic cuisine in Morocco. The intensity with which he describes a fairly mundane situation is hilarious.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection. Surprisingly diverse.

[Délice · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some fascinating stories but also some major triggers for me. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who struggles with suicidal ideation as there are several suicides and traumatic stories.

[keith koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the really good ones in the TT series.