The best travel food books are the ones that feed your wanderlust and culinary curiosity. Whether you’re planning your next adventure or just dreaming about it, reading about food and travel can be just as satisfying as the real thing.
From memoirs to cookbooks, these books will take you on a tasty journey to different cultures and cuisines.
So, are you ready to add some new titles to your reading menu? I’ve put together a list of books that are sure to whet your appetite for your food travel obsession. So, grab a snack, find a cozy spot, and let’s dive into the world of foodie travel literature.
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But first, Anthony Bourdain.
To me, any list of foodie travel books must begin with Anthony Bourdain
His extensive knowledge and passion for food and travel, combined with his storytelling abilities, inspired many to travel, taste new foods, and appreciate other cultures.
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide
By Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever
This book written as a guide and peppered with Anthony Bourdain’s thoughts and quotes was published posthumously. A must-read for all who love food travel books, and all who miss this man’s salty outlook on the world.
“A Cook’s Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal”
By Anthony Bourdain
This memoir-style book details Bourdain’s travels around the world in search of the perfect meal and the stories behind the food.
Travel Food Memoir
By Bill Buford
In this book, the author recounts his journey from a food writer to a kitchen apprentice in Italy and the lessons he learned about food and life.
American Food Culture
“The United States of Arugula: How We Became a Gourmet Nation“
By David Kamp
This book traces the history of America’s food culture and the evolution of the gourmet food industry.
“Roadfood”
By Jane and Michael Stern
This comprehensive guidebook to regional American cuisine highlights the country’s best local food establishments, including diners, drive-ins, and dives. This 2017 edition is the most updated and was published as a 40th-anniversary edition.
The American South
“The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook“
This cookbook showcases traditional Southern dishes, as well as the stories behind them, and was compiled by the Southern Foodways Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the study of food culture in the American South.
The Southern Foodways Alliance Guide to Cocktails
This cocktail recipe book bridges the gaps between the culture, history, and practice of drinking in the South. Nearly one hundred easy-to-follow recipes instruct the home bartender on how to create memorable drinks.
Read more about American Cocktail Culture
“The New Nashville Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes from Music City”
by Stephanie Stewart- Howard
This cookbook highlights recipes for the home cook from the city’s most celebrated eateries alongside beautiful photography.
“Eat Drink Delta: A Hungry Traveler’s Journey through the Soul of the South”
By Susan Puckett and Langdon Clay
Part travel guide, part cookbook, and part photo essay. Eat Drink Delta by veteran food journalist Susan Puckett (with photographs by Delta resident Langdon Clay) reveal a region shaped by slavery, civil rights, amazing wealth, abject deprivation, the Civil War, a flood of biblical proportions, and―above all―an overarching urge to get down and party with a full table and an open bar.
Global Travel Food Books
“Culinary Travels: Memories Made at the Table”
By Emily Szajda
In this narrative cookbook, you will encounter healthy adaptations of traditional recipes from her travels and life abroad along with stories and takeaways on how food, the simple act of breaking bread, creates an experience.
“Food Journeys of a Lifetime 2nd Edition: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe”
By National Geographic
Compiled from the expert travel writers at National Geographic, Food Journeys of a Lifetime scours the globe for the world’s best dishes, markets, and restaurants that are worth traveling far and wide to savor.
“Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide”
By Cecily Wong, Dylan Thuras, and Atlas Obscura
A New York Times, USA Today, and national indie bestseller.
Covering all seven continents, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders. Indeed a book for anyone who loves food stories.
“The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food“
By Dan Barber
This book explores the future of food, highlighting the importance of sustainability, tradition, and flavor in our diets.
Whether you’re looking for new recipes, inspiration for your next travel food adventure, or just a good book to read, these books are sure to fill your plate. Add them to your reading list, and get ready for a culinary journey like no other.
Do you prefer listening to audiobooks?
Listen to books anywhere, anytime—when commuting, exercising, running errands, or just washing dishes.
Why not try Audible Plus or Audible Premium Plus subscriptions from Amazon. Both plans offer a free trial period so you can take try it out first and then decide if you want it.
If you are shopping for gifts for your traveling foodie or looking to fill your reading needs when traveling then these articles will help you find what you need.
Traveling to the Sunshine State? Here’s a list of books about Florida that you may like.
Head to New Orleans with this book list in hand.
