This combination travel log and memoir of a foodie's journey through Japan was excellent. The pacing kept you moving right along with author as he experienced restaurants from an intimate perspective. Anybody interested in traveling specifically for food encounters should read this before heading to Japan. Even homebodies can find enjoyment in Booth's account, eating vicariously through in-depth discussions with chefs, home cooks, and cultural masters. Highly recommended.

This is on me, but I didn't realise this would be SO food heavy in the content - I was really looking for a travel book about Japan. I'm not interested in food whatsoever so it started to get on my nerves when other things were glossed over in favour of more description of food, history of food, philosophy of food, eating etc - 100% my issue though. Book is well written and some parts were very entertaining.

This is a fun food memoir, as chef and cuisine writer Michael Booth takes his wife and two small children (4 and 6) on a three month tour of Japan--the yakuza controlled alleys of perfect skewer shops, the celebrity J-Pop boy band who've made men in the kitchen acceptable, the Tokyo fish market, the right way to grow wasabi, meeting with the PR people from MSG Central, sumo stables and the giant bonito flake factory.

It was interesting, I could see myself getting this for my friend who has taught in Japan.

If you are looking for a comprehensive way to start understanding the Japanese culture, this book can be the beginning of a long story with a relatively mysterious world. Michael Booth is reading Japan through its dishes and food stories, without sharing recipes or place restaurant reviews. Food is more than a meal, but a collection of cultural habits and histories. Strongly recommended to anyone curious to better understand Japan or preparing a trip in this country!

I got an ARC of this book but got behind on my giant piles of ARCs and never got around to it. That's ok, because after [book:The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia|18104725], I knew I would put this one on my to-read pile and get to it sooner or later. Recent excessive cravings for Japanese food and the need for a travel memoir for the Book Riot challenge were perfect incentive! Well, I learned a lot about Japan, its people, its culture, and especially its food as Booth regaled me of his trip like a buddy would. Every now and then I questioned his choice of organization or thought that he assumed knowledge the reader may not have, but for the most part it was great. And I wanted more - including a trip to Japan with Booth as a culinary guide!