Far Afield: Rare Food Encounters from Around the World

by Shane Mitchell

A vividly photographed culinary travel book featuring profiles of the stewards of the world's traditional foodways--farming, hunting, foraging, and fishing--along with 40 recipes.

Journalist Shane Mitchell and photographer James Fisher have traveled the world on assignment for publications such as Travel + Leisure and Saveur. Along the way, they have encountered fascinating people who are rooted in their culture and landscape, keeping their food traditions vital, such as taro farmers in Hawaii who have never left the islands, fisherman on the Swahili coast, and Icelandic shepherds who still use the techniques of their Viking ancestors. Full of vibrant photography from far-flung locations all over the globe, Far Afield profiles these people, sharing their unique and captivating stories and recipes.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Food, Travel, Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking, Art, Foodie

405 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

SHANE MITCHELL is a James Beard Foundation Award winner, a Saveur Magazine editor at large, and also writes about food and culture for The Bitter Southerner, The New York Times, and other publications. She lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author and the photographer for this book have traveled the world on assignments for food and travel publications, they decided to branch off and do a book of their own thing. I'm so glad they did. This book is flipping amazing.

(Fair warning: My camera on my phone totally sucks and does these images no justice-but I wanted to give everyone an idea of how gorgeous this book is)



This book made my foodie heart beat faster, but food is only part of the journey. You get stories that go along with where you are in the world and tidbits of another life.

Like how refugees are sharing their last coffee or tea..because they believe everyone should have something.


This is a huge gorgeous book that is going to look so pretty on my coffee table.





PS. Sometimes I really do cook some of the recipes in the cookbooks that I drool over. Here is some spiced okra (I added squash too...because)
*also taken with my crappy phone*


Booksource: I received a copy of this book in exchange for review from the publisher.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader and an avid cook, this book hit the spot perfectly. Gorgeous photographs and fascinating stories from the farthest corners of the world. Wonderful travel/cooking journey.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beautiful photografies, mostly featuring individuals in their specific cultural and geographical environment are added a culinary dimension, at the end of poignant personal histories. My favourite section is representing Uruguay, for the dramatism of the photographies and the interesting recipes. Talking about recipes, the focus is on the culinary individuality of dishes introduces through the particular travel story. Food is, in fact, a companion during the telling and listening of stories and I was particulary impressed by the refugees stories from Pas de Calais, France. It is a book about more than impressions, going deep into the texture of places.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange of an honest review

[Please Pass the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God, what a book. Seriously. Exquisite photography and engaging commentary surround a sampling of recipes from the most remote corners of the world. I believe my life will be forever changed by the introduction of Kahawa coffee and pineapple pie. I wasn't expecting such a contemporary perspective, but the inclusion of The Jungle—a refugee camp in Calais—just pushed an already extraordinary food and travel journal into a class of its own.

Truly, truly exceptional.

I'd like to thank Net Galley and the publisher, Ten Speed Press, who furnished an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, which this certainly is.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with gorgeous photos of people around the world and their traditional foods, it makes a great coffee table book and conversation piece. I like that it includes some cultures that I wouldn't necessarily be familiar with their normal diet, such as Iceland or Kenya.

[Zora O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous book and a sensitive documentation of so many interesting food traditions. I especially appreciated the chapter on the refugee settlement in Calais: a great record of human ingenuity in many realms, including food, and I'm especially glad there's a record of it, as the camp has since been cleared.

There are recipes included, but TBH I haven't tried any yet. Probably my first go-to will be the chimichurri -- I didn't realize until I read the section on the Argentine pampas that the sauce was made in such enormous quantities and meant to keep for a while. Overall, I appreciate that the recipes do not seem to have been "adapted" for my kitchen -- I much prefer when they're recorded as is, because that knowledge should be retained.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Far Afield here for just $15!

Equal parts amazing cookbook and beautiful photo collection from Mitchell and photographer James Fisher's travels, collecting stories and recipes from far flung corners of the world. Learn of traditional Hawaiian, Kenyan and Icelandic cooking techniques, just to name a few. Perfect for travellers and culinary whizzes alike.

Anastasia - The Book Grocer

[Angie Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part travelogue, part cookbook, part photographic journal - this book was so fun to read and look at! This book takes a look at how unexpected people groups around the world grow their food, make their food, live together and share through food. Refugee camp in France? Masaii warriors in Kenya? Not your typical Italian cookbook, but feels like you’re traveling with them to places far and wide. The cardamom doughnuts are delicious!

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Filled with stunning pictures of breathtaking scenery and authentic people, this book is a real culinary journey all around the world. Not only does the book have many interesting recipes, but we also get a taste of the culture of a given country as well.

[Beth Ann Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come on this fantastic journey to unknown lands and their tasty foods!! I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the stories of the lives of the everyday working people of the world written by Shane Mitchell. James Fisher documents these travels and stories so well with his photos. Better yet - it's a cookbook of these great, home grown recipes.

[Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this combination of food and travel and stories of personal connection in far-flung places, and I loved how the recipes felt truly sourced in the moments she describes, rather than more generalised 'and here is something some people in this place cook'. I hope she writes more books like this one.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this beautiful book which is a mix of recipes, insights and lovely photographs from different countries around the world, India, Uruguay, Kenya, Mexico, Hawaii, Iceland, Peru, France & Japan, it truly will make you an armchair traveler

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, awesome photography and journalistic presentation of very rare gastronomic encounters from immigrants in Calais, to Iceland´s shepherds, Gauchos from Uruguay, Maasai warriors, Potato farmer in Peru, etc. It includes very interesting recipes too.

[Ambur Taft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures & interesting recipes that tell a story of how people eat around the world...really puts a day of eating in America into a different light.

[David DeBacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite ... cookbook readers want to be taken away on an adventure ... Shane Mitchell and photographer, James Fischer do just that! While it's fun to read... where do I find the ingredients?

[Molly L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, fun, mysterious, and beautiful photography. Loved it and still pick it up to browse!

[Dray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a photography book with a few recipes. The photography is stunning and captures the cultures well. The recipes are an add on.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

from the library

This is a gorgeous picture book....coffee-table big

Contents: Introduction -- Rabari tribeswoman, Godwar Province, Rajasthan, India -- Gauchos, Salto, Uruguay -- Fishermen, Lamu Archipelago, Kenya -- Departed spirit, Mixquic, Mexico -- Taro farmers, Waipi'o Hawai'i -- Shepherd, Fornihvammur, Iceland -- Maasai warrior, Loita Hills, Great Rift Valley, Kenya -- Potato farmer, Qullqi Cruz, Peru -- Refugee, the jungle, Calais, France -- Shinto priest, Kyoto, Japan.

[Sandy D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big coffee-table book of exquisite National Geographic style photographs of Native peoples and traditional foods, with some recipes and essays.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't really interested in the recipes found throughout, though a good many sounded delicious! I was more interested in seeing these different people and their ways of life!

[BAC · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a glorious book, from the photos, the recipes and the stories, are a feast for the eyes and everything else. I just could not put it down. The pictures distract you from the recipes, the recipes draw you into the stories. It's a book that every time you pick it up, something else assaults your senses and you spend hours following the trail. The stories are intriguing and the pictures are so full of life and joy. I love this book.
This book was provided to me in return for an honest and unbiased review

[roxi Net]

Absolutely amazing

The photos alone are incredibly beautiful and I think this book really serves a travel guide purpose! Or at least travel-inspiring. A love of the cultures/people and food really shines through and I’d love to have this not only as a coffee table book but a cookbook and ‘bucket-list-reminder!

[Gooshe · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are 40 exotic recipes in the book from India, Uruguay, Kenya, Mexico, Hawaii, Iceland, Peru, France and japan. The recipes are are approachable with ingredients from almost any superstore. "Far Afield" is much more than a collection of high-quality photos and recipes; Most of the images are documentary style showing where the food is produced.

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far Afield: Rare Food Encounters from Around the World by Shane Mitchell (author) and James Fisher (photographer) both satiates and triggers my wanderlust. This book combines some of my favorite things – books, food, travel, and people around the world composed with amazing photography. In going through this book, Maya Angelou's words come to mind. "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike." In today's world, we need this reminder more and more. The commonalities in this wonderful book - food, food traditions, and hospitality.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016....

Reviewed for the Blogging for Books program.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

such a beautiful book - part travel log, part cook book - although there are limited recipies.
mostly the people groups in the books are those that are small isolated communites that are not well celebrated in the world of cook books. I was also very interested in the section on a refugee camp in Calais.
I wished there were more recipies - but in reality it was just a taste.