Around the World in Food Writing

Here at abcreads we are voracious readers.  & sometimes our readings literally spice up our lives, because we love to read about food!  Here are several of our favorite food-related books that are not cookbooks (although sometimes we like to peruse those as well).
Books we like for the pictures:

Take Away: 500 Photographs of Street Food Around the World  text and photographs by Jean-François Mallet

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats photographed by Peter Menzel ; written by Faith D'Aluisio

Gastroanomalies: Questionable Culinary Creations from the Golden Age of American Cookery by James Lileks


Books that entertain us without pictures:

Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America by Gustavo Arellano

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food  by Jennifer 8. Lee

America Eats!: On the Road with the WPA - The Fish Fries, Box Supper Socials, and Chitlin Feasts that Define Real American Food by Pat Willard

Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger by Nigel Slater

A Cook's Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal by Anthony Bourdain

The Year of Eating Dangerously: A Global Adventure in Search of Culinary Extremes by Tom Parker Bowles

Blood, Bones, & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton

Bento Box in the Heartland: My Japanese Girlhood in Whitebread America by Linda Furiya

Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey through China by Jen Lin-Liu

The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl


Philosophy of cooking:

An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler

Home Cooking : A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin

The Art of Eating by M. F. K. Fisher


The only culinary audiobook I've ever recommended:

Hallelujah! The Welcome Table by Maya Angelou

Also check out the James Beard Foundation's 14 Great Reads for Food Lovers!