Try This: Traveling the Globe Without Leaving the Table

by Danyelle Freeman

Try This is a fresh and saucy beginner’s guide to eating out in the new American food scene. The creator of the popular “Restaurant Girl” blog, Danyelle Freeman is our guide on a delectable Cook’s Tour through a multicultural landscape of delights. Hip, wise, and adventurous, this renowned restaurant world insider encourages us to revel in untried culinary experiences, from Bocadillos to Spotted Dick. After all, as Danyelle herself says, “Life is one long feast. Devour it.”

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Food and Drink, Cookbooks, Travel, Foodie, Cultural

292 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2011

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but after reading the Mexican food chapter, I doubted the author's opinion on other cuisines.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall it’s a nice, quick overview of various types of cuisine. Too bad I don’t live in New York, though, since the bulk of this book featured plugs for [expensive] New York restaurants. Even if I did live in New York I couldn’t afford to visit many of the places mentioned. A more appropriate subtitle might have been: Traveling the Globe Without Leaving New York (and Maybe L.A.).

[Valerie Brett]

I bet I would’ve loved this in 2011 when it came out but more than a decade later it’s super annoying

[Sherilyn Siy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danyelle definitely writes like a foodie and for the first couple of chapters, I wanted to visit new restaurants and try new foods. Unfortunately, when I got to the chapter on Japan and saw how she got izakaya wrong (she called it "inakaya") and how she claimed that Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that does not use chopsticks and instead use a spoon and fork (Honey, I come from the Philippines where we use a spoon and fork instead of chopsticks and last I checked, the Philippines is a Southeast Asian country), it got me wondering what else she got wrong in the previous chapters I enjoyed. This led me questioning her anecdotes as well (they're probably made up?).

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very enjoyable non-fiction book with a unique perspective - dining out at restaurants from different cultures. It includes information on what different dishes are, common ingredients, general level of spiciness, what the author herself loves (and dislikes) best and why, and what she recommends and why. She gives tips for how to know a restaurant is good or bad for that particular culture. There is also general information on cultural etiquette, and small sections on dining in general. A great book to give a potential foodie - but be sure to include some cash for a dining experience, as the book makes you want to run out and try some new food! I didn't always agree with the author's tastes, but she allows that food is a subjective experience, explains why she likes or dislikes something, so you still have an idea if you may agree or disagree with her choices. Her biggest purpose seems to be to push people a little out of their comfort zone so as not to miss some great new flavour they just may love. So "Try This" book, and try something new! Just beware, the book may indirectly harm your wallet!

[BookBec · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish the author had kept her focus on her main idea about explaining the various foods from different countries, instead of going on and on about particular restaurants in NYC and LA. Most of us don't live in NYC or LA, but we probably have local ethnic restaurants to try! Making this a more generalist book would have greatly increased its appeal. When she described recipes in general (rather than Chef So-and-So's version at Restaurant X), I was intrigued ... and hungry.

I was pained by the grammatical errors, in particular the use of "there's" with plural nouns. "There's piles of eggplant" = NO! And the paragraphs would sometimes leap between ideas and leave me wondering where the transitions had gone. Not the smoothest read.

[May-Ling · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was drawn into this book because of the cover, of course. freeman gives a pretty nice tour of global cuisine, although she certainly favors more with content over others (italy, for sure). towards the end, the writing comes across more rushed to finish the book up. at times, descriptive and adjective heavy text becomes overbearing. either way, it was a fairly good tour for someone unfamiliar with international food.

[Michele J · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I am a picky eater I like to know what is in restaurant dishes. Also, because I am a picky eater some of the food descriptions made me want to hurl. I don't think there is anything this woman won't eat (octopus, sea urchins, hearts). I was a little disappointed that almost all of the restaurants mentioned were in either NYC or LA but that is where the author lived. At least I now know which cuisines I would like to eat more of and which ones I will avoid at all costs.

[Andrea Wahle · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I wanted to read about all the great restaurants in New York, I'd buy a Zagat's.

I was really hoping for more instruction on the cuisine of different countries. While there is some great information in here, it wasn't as much as I expected and was lost in the descriptions of how good each dish was at such and such place. My favorite parts were actually the fillers between the chapters - how to get a reservation, the importance of manners, diner's rights...

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a book that takes me to a place or time that I don't live in. This was a great escape from my boring dinner table and allowed me to enter restaurants all over the globe.

I especially liked the manners/etiquette section for each country.

The most delicious foods I read about was Greek cuisine. Can't wait to actually travel to some of these places myself some day.

[Jennifer Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a GREAT book! Ms. Freeman has a wonderful style that makes you want to go straight out and eat all the food she talks about. I consider myself an amateur "foodie" and was really excited to read this book. I have nothing but great things to say and would recommend this to anyone looking to expand their culinary horizons.

[Diane C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danyelle Freeman takes us around the world in this very accessibly organized book, with a different country's cuisine comprising each chapter. If you are already a foodie, most of her info about what types of food will be something you already know, but her descriptions of various restaurants will be a nice guide for next time you are in NYC.

Defintely food for thought, enjoyably written.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book. If you want to know about the food of other countries, if you are a foodie, or if you have some sort of travel (big city or abroad)this is a book you should read first!

The chapters on each country/cuisine are short and entertaining.

Look for this book, it's great for a multicultural experience without travel abroad!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great handbook if you want an overview of various cuisines before you try them. Consult the chapter on Korean food, for instance, and you'll soon know the difference between guk and jigae, and what those little bowls of pickles and other sides that arrive with the bulgogi. A handy reference!

[Nancy Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious read for any food lover. It brought back wonderful memories of restaurant exploring in cities like San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles. Not sure why I haven't done as much of that in Dallas - are my friends not as adventurous or does the city not have as much to offer?

[Keena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food. Porn.

Seriously, this was a great book: well-written and informative. It makes you feel like a more adventurous eater, even if there's not much adventurous eating to be had in your area.

Also, I tried mole and pho thanks to this book, which is recommendation enough :)

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book so much I bought a copy. That speaks volumes, because a) I work in a library and b) never ever buy books.

[Monica]

Getting so hungry while touring some favorite places, some visited and some that will need to be.

[Danie P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to run out and try kimchee. Danyelle does a great job of making EVERTHING sound appetizing.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited about on my list of restaurants to try in Philly and discovering that I know the owner (they buy local foods)

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting guide to almost ny kind of international cuisine you can think of. Concentrates on explaining unusual foods in each culture.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice book,but no recipes.

[Dawn Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The author is obsessed with food at every sensory level. I totally relate. I want to use it as a reference to eat around NYC.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I found someone who loves to try all kinds of new foods. This makes me want to try all kinds of cuisines, even some I initially wrote off.