One of the best things about travelling (at least what I can still remember from the days when we were allowed to travel internationally) is trying the different cuisines on offer.
What was always difficult, however, was trying to find an experience that was authentic.
Travel publisher Lonely Planet seems to have recognised this need and has recently released a series of culinary companions called Eat for its popular guidebooks.
Read more: Top NSW towns
Launching simultaneously with Eat Italy, Eat Japan and Eat Vietnam, this series is a primer for the food scene of that destination and promises to take readers on a delicious journey regardless of whether they are intending to travel there or not.
“With each volume in the Eat series we’ll cover all aspects of that country’s vibrant food and drink culture,” a Lonely Planet release stated. “From must-try regional specialities to etiquette and essential phrases, we’ve created a companion to equip the reader on a culinary journey … whether that’s on the road or from the comfort of your living room.”
Showcasing a food obsessed culture, Eat Japan profiles the best of Japanese regional cuisine styles as izakaya, yakatori, tempura, soba, udon and okonomiyaki among others.
Read more: Does flight mode really matter when you are flying?
There’s also an abundance of rich information on the staples within Japanese cuisine, from the varieties of rice, beans and noodles to breaking down Japanese drinks such as sake, biru (beer) and ume-she (plum wine).
Everyone loves Italian food, but how did the Italians come to eat so well?
With the release of Eat Italy the travel publisher attempts to answer this question.
Read more: The best places to see the southern lights
Eat Italy includes a cheese lexicon, a coffee decoder, an essential wine primer and a breakdown of the most popular fresh and dried pasta.
There is a showcase of various salumi (cured meats), a deep dive into Italy’s popular aperitifs and digestifs and an analysis of regional cooking styles and specialities.
Highlights within Eat Vietnam include a showcase of Vietnamese fusion food, an easy-to-use guide to must-try street food, an outline of the host of different cooking methods used in Vietnamese cuisine and a comprehensive breakdown of the types of Vietnamese tea.
Have you travelled to Vietnam, Japan or Italy? What are some of your favourite food experiences from those countries? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
If you enjoy our content, don’t keep it to yourself. Share our free eNews with your friends and encourage them to sign up.
