★ 07/20/2015
A veteran food writer, cofounder of the Roads & Kingdoms blog, and coauthor of the bestselling Eat This, Not That series, Goulding presents this glorious account of his culinary travels throughout Japan. He manages to be entertaining, informative and inspirational as he recounts his many meals in one of the world’s most popular food destinations. Goulding’s deep appreciation for the food, country and culture shines through as he offers advice on how to get the most from a visit, profiling chefs and influential bloggers, as well as must-visit restaurants for sushi or ramen (including one that has had the same stock simmering since 1955), in addition to steering readers toward (and away from) dining experiences that may or may be worthwhile. This combination of must-sees and recommendations for day trips outside the major cities offers an immersive experience, giving readers an initiate’s sense of the country and personalities that make up the food culture. Goulding’s gift for phrasing and razor-sharp prose elevate what could have been yet another rote travelogue into something much better. Agent: Kim Witherspoon, Inkwell. (Oct.)
Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture
Narrated by Will Damron
Matt GouldingUnabridged — 7 hours, 49 minutes
Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture
Narrated by Will Damron
Matt GouldingUnabridged — 7 hours, 49 minutes
Audiobook (Digital)
Free with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime
Already Subscribed?
Sign in to Your BN.com Account
Related collections and offers
FREE
with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription
Overview
Written in the same evocative voice that drives the award-winning magazine Roads & Kingdoms, Rice, Noodle, Fish explores Japan's most intriguing culinary disciplines in seven key regions, from the kaiseki tradition of Kyoto and the sushi masters of Tokyo to the street food of Osaka and the ramen culture of Fukuoka. You won't find hotel recommendations or bus schedules; you will find a brilliant narrative that interweaves immersive food journalism with intimate portraits of the cities and the people who shape Japan's food culture.
Rice, Noodle, Fish is a rare blend of inspiration and information, perfect for the intrepid and armchair traveler alike. Combining literary storytelling and indispensable insider information, the end result is the first ever guidebook for the new age of culinary tourism.
Editorial Reviews
[Goulding] manages to be entertaining, informative and inspirational as he recounts his many meals in one of the world’s most popular food destinations….[his] gift for phrasing and razor-sharp prose elevate what could have been yet another rote travelogue into something much better.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Rice, Noodle, Fish isn’t just a travel document…it’s a literary exploration of just what makes Japan the place that food lovers lay awake at night and dream of.” — Men’s Journal
“Whether you’re the sort of person who brakes for a new ramen-ya or a neophyte who still thinks that a California roll is an acceptable sushi bar order, you’ll have fun, learn some things—and probably start looking up flights to Narita on Kayak after reading a few pages.” — Los Angeles Times
“The world needs Roads & Kingdoms. It needs this book.” — Anthony Bourdain
“A food connoisseur expertly unravels the intricate dance surrounding food in Japan” — Kirkus Reviews
“Goulding successfully illuminates the vast and deep yet acute and precise palatal scale that is Japanese cuisine—using words. Encompassing Japan’s seven key regions, the author peels back the layers of access and entry, tradition, and history through the lens of food [in] this new breed of travel book.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Refusing to claim either expert or insider status makes Goulding both a fantastic and relatable narrator,...and his unique, impeccably observed meals make the book a page turner.” — Eater.com Eater.com
“The book reads like more of a travelogue than a true travel guide. And that’s what makes it so refreshing. Goulding leaves you not just thoroughly informed about Japan’s culinary culture, but craving it. The result is enjoyable to read whether or not you have any travel planned.” — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers
“If this is the future of food writing, I love it.” — Tim Hayward, Financial Times
Rice, Noodle, Fish isn’t just a travel document…it’s a literary exploration of just what makes Japan the place that food lovers lay awake at night and dream of.
Refusing to claim either expert or insider status makes Goulding both a fantastic and relatable narrator,...and his unique, impeccably observed meals make the book a page turner.
Whether you’re the sort of person who brakes for a new ramen-ya or a neophyte who still thinks that a California roll is an acceptable sushi bar order, you’ll have fun, learn some things—and probably start looking up flights to Narita on Kayak after reading a few pages.
The world needs Roads & Kingdoms. It needs this book.
The book reads like more of a travelogue than a true travel guide. And that’s what makes it so refreshing. Goulding leaves you not just thoroughly informed about Japan’s culinary culture, but craving it. The result is enjoyable to read whether or not you have any travel planned.
If this is the future of food writing, I love it.
Whether you’re the sort of person who brakes for a new ramen-ya or a neophyte who still thinks that a California roll is an acceptable sushi bar order, you’ll have fun, learn some things—and probably start looking up flights to Narita on Kayak after reading a few pages.
Rice, Noodle, Fish isn’t just a travel document…it’s a literary exploration of just what makes Japan the place that food lovers lay awake at night and dream of.
Whether you’re the sort of person who brakes for a new ramen-ya or a neophyte who still thinks that a California roll is an acceptable sushi bar order, you’ll have fun, learn some things—and probably start looking up flights to Narita on Kayak after reading a few pages.
The book reads like more of a travelogue than a true travel guide. And that’s what makes it so refreshing. Goulding leaves you not just thoroughly informed about Japan’s culinary culture, but craving it. The result is enjoyable to read whether or not you have any travel planned.
Refusing to claim either expert or insider status makes Goulding both a fantastic and relatable narrator,...and his unique, impeccably observed meals make the book a page turner.
A good travel book makes you want to change your plans; a great one makes you want to change your life. Rice, Noodle, Fish falls into the latter category through its deft and delectable combination of gorgeous photography, compelling writing and cunning usability. Matt Goulding knows Japan and the importance of the “shokunin” to Japanese cooking, the artisan’s “quiet pursuit of perfection” in all things edible. This story is about more than just food; it’s about devotion.
★ 08/01/2015
With Anthony Bourdain's blessing (the foreword reveals the correspondence that amounted to the book's conception), Goulding, editor and cofounder of Roads & Kingdoms, successfully illuminates the vast and deep yet acute and precise palatal scale that is Japanese cuisine—using words. Encompassing Japan's seven key regions and focusing on their various shokunin (deeply, singularly dedicated culinary artisans), the author peels back the layers of access and entry (he doesn't speak a lick of Japanese), tradition, and history through the lens of food. Transcending the deceptive simplicity of its title, this book explores a cuisine and culture so rich and refined as to feel 3-D in a flat world. And while both the task and universe are immense (mind-bendingly so: New York has 30,000 restaurants; Tokyo has 300,000, and holds the world per-city Michelin star crown), he navigates its dimensions with ease, oscillating seamlessly between surface and intensity, long thoughts and cheat sheets. Goulding, who coauthored Eat This, Not That! with David Zincozenko, has a knack for the bullet, and such graphic nutshells are optimally portioned throughout: "The Rules of Sushi," "Wagyu 101," "Art of Gift Giving," "Vending Machine Survival Guide," "One Night with the Salarymen," "The Beauty of Bento," etc. VERDICT This new breed of travel book is highly recommended.—Benjamin Malczewski, Toledo-Lucas Cty. P.L., MI
2015-06-23
A gourmand's tour through Japan. Roads & Kingdoms editor and co-founder Goulding, who co-authored the bestselling Eat This, Not That! series, takes readers to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and Noto, chronicling his wanderings through the streets, bars, teahouses, and restaurants of each locale. Throughout the book, the author brings to light the food found in these cities. In Japan, eating, cooking, preparing, and even selecting the food products to cook are near-sacred tasks. The Japanese transform what many might consider mundane chores into sublime acts of devotion, where time slows down and reverence is as much a key ingredient as the freshness of the food. Through Goulding's eyes, ears, and especially his mouth, readers can sense the perfection that each shokunin ("an artisan deeply and singularly dedicated to his or her craft") strives for as he or she dedicates his or her life to cooking just one item—e.g., grilled beef intestines or buckwheat noodles—constantly tweaking ingredients, heat, and timing to reach a transcendent state of food ecstasy. Thanks to Goulding's obvious love of the exotic and his ability to write mouthwatering descriptions of food, readers will appreciate the smells and tastes of gizzard shad, cod sperm, dried sea cucumber ovaries, and numerous other animal and seafood parts many would never consider eating. The author munches and crunches his way through bite-sized portions of sushi, soups, dumplings, and noodles, washed down by rounds of sake, to bring readers an epicurean bonanza in addition to insights into the men and women who have devoted their lives to the perfection of certain dishes. Though it does not contain recipes, the book will whet readers' appetites for fresh, flavorful foods and inspire them to travel to Japan to taste the country's main delicacies. A food connoisseur expertly unravels the intricate dance surrounding food in Japan.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940177543277 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tantor Audio |
| Publication date: | 10/20/2020 |
| Series: | Roads & Kingdoms Presents , #1 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
Videos
