The World Is a Kitchen (aka Shameful Self-Promotion)

The long-awaited publication of my book, The World Is a Kitchen (co-edited with Sonoma County resident and cookbook author Michele Anna Jordan) has arrived. Sample copies shipped directly from the printer were waiting for me propped, very aptly, on my kitchen table. They are, in my most humble opinion, gorgeous. But I do hope that you will all check them out for yourselves when they hit the bookstores. (I hear Amazon is selling them already!)

From the casual cook to the seasoned traveler, and for the serious gourmand, The World Is a Kitchen is meant to inspire its readers to pursue food in a new way, exploring new lands, new cultures, and new cuisines. Chefs, travel writers, and dedicated foodies share their unique experiences, transporting readers into kitchens in Morocco, Italy, Belize, Cyprus, Kenya, Vietnam, among others, revealing the diverse traditions of other countries through their cuisine. Explore the gastronomic side of travel through their experiences, trying the hard-won and treasured recipes as you go along, and then get ready to plan your own adventure. We have even included a large resource and reference section to help get you started. Can’t you just imagine jetting over to Vietnam and munching your way through miles of street vendors? Or helping Katrina-ravaged Louisiana by visiting New Orleans in all its revised splendor and gastronomic glory?

The World Is a Kitchen would not be possible without the support of family, friends, my trusty sidekick Emilia, the writers themselves, and the food blogging community, all of whom contributed and supported this project in a multitude of ways. (Two notable food bloggers have stories in the book as well.) Alas this five-year labor of love does not end with the printer shipping the books. Now comes the marketing and publicity and bookstore events. Advance notice has gone out through an online source, books will be mailed to reviewers, posters are being made, and postcards will be sent to event locations.

In addition, a website will soon be up and running so that you can see the Table of Contents, read the Introduction, and get a sample of the stories that are included. We will rotate recipes for you to try and the Resource and Reference section will be available online (as well as web links). We will have blog posts about culinary travel, news from the food world, recaps from the tour, as well as feedback from our readers. There will be a press center with praise (oh how I love that!), reviews, the event schedule, press release, and jpeg of the book. I will alert you when the site is finished (www.worldisakitchen.com).

So mark your calendars and come out to an event! Many venues will feature contributors and something tasty from the book. And if you have any suggestions for additional events, please let me know. To date, the following cities and bookstores are lined up:

Sunday, Oct. 8 Third Place Books Ravenna, Seattle
Tuesday, Oct 10 Wide World Books & Maps, Seattle
Wednesday, Oct 11 Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park (WA)
Monday, Oct 16 Distant Lands, Pasadena
Thursday, Oct 19 Book Passage, Ferry Building, San Francisco
Wednesday, Oct 25 Get Lost Travel Books, San Francisco
Thursday, Oct 26 Copperfields Books, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa
Monday, Dec 4 Capitola Book Café, Capitola (CA)

As things progress I will keep you posted. And if you do buy a book, please let me know what you think. I would appreciate feedback of any nature.

Thanks for tagging along on my journey!