A World of Flavor
The Eat Smart Book Series
For a food lover on the road, eating local specialties isn't just what you fit in between visits to museums and memorials, it's often the whole point of the trip. Sure, strolling along the Champs-Elysées or snorkeling on the Yucatán peninsula may be pleasant, but to a culinary adventurer, downing a crumbly pain au chocolate (chocolate filled pastry) is the primary purpose of travel.
Take Joan Peterson, for instance. To this Madison resident and world-wide traveler, eating on the road means tasting — and learning about — regional crops, products and traditions. She's author and publisher of the "Eat Smart" travel guide series (Gingko Press), a collection that takes you on roads less-traveled, to such exotic places as Indonesia, Brazil, Morocco, Poland and Turkey.
For Peterson, dining on local specialties in a foreign country is a kind of food activism. Eating regional — as opposed to hotel or chain — fare supports local economies and engenders international understanding.
"It gives you an insight into the soul of people," she says. "It's a glimpse of their customs, their likes and dislikes, their foibles, their accomplishments. It puts you in contact with local culture."
Peterson's books — several of them co-authored by her husband David, and the newest one ("Eat Smart in India") by her friend Indu Menon — explore the history and regional variations of a country's cuisine and include authentic recipes. The appealing, easy-to-pack guides also offer sizable glossaries that translate everything from well-known dishes to obscure ingredients.
Chock-full of travel tips and wisdom for eating around the world, the guides do more than make you feel comfortable in a foreign restaurant — they help you connect to a location in a deeper way.
Peterson, a retired biochemist, had parents who were adventurous eaters, so she grew up enjoying a wide variety of foods. Her addiction to international travel began when she and her husband, a music professor at the time, did U.S.O. stints during the Vietnam War.
"During our free time, we would wander in fascination through all the outdoor markets. That increased my curiosity about the food ways of other cultures."
And she knows that others are curious about her country's cuisine, too. Before she leaves Wisconsin for a trip, Peterson packs heartland foods like dried cranberries and wild rice to give as gifts and conversation starters.
Peterson tries to eat in homes when she's touring. "Some families thrive on inviting foreigners to share a meal with them." She recommends joining groups like Servas, a non-profit organization that hooks its members up with overseas hosts for home stays or day visits.
She also encourages tourists to dine in small, family establishments that exist to feed the locals. The dishes are authentic, and the people are real, she says.
"Food is the best way to get to know them. Food is a topic that draws everyone into spontaneous, animated conversation. Strangers are friends in no time at all."
—Peterson is currently working on a book about the foods of Peru. For information about the Eat Smart books, visit http://www.ginkgopress.com.