Far Afield

“‘Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are,’ goes the famous quote from Brillat-Savarin. Cookbooks have always been a means to discover and more fully understand other cultures, and it’s hard to believe there exists a more beautiful example of that genre than Shane Mitchell’s book Far Afield, a collection of stories from meals shared in ten relatively remote communities, in places as diverse as Hawai’i, Iceland, and Kenya. . . .It’s as engrossing a tour as you can imagine without leaving your chair.”
– Laura Sant, Departures

“Recipes are secondary in Far Afield—you’ll get lost in the lives of Tima and Ali, fishermen in Kenya, or Christine and Jean-Jacques, ranchers in Uruguay. Their lives are dedicated to keeping a distinct culinary tradition alive, and Shane Mitchell’s first-person recounting and James Fisher’s photography capture those far flung corners of the world with vivid detail.”
– Food52

“From taro farmers in Hawaii to Maasai warriors in Kenya, Far Afield by Shane Mitchell spotlights fascinating people who are keeping some of the world’s oldest food traditions alive.”
– Food and Wine

“For the past decade, Mitchell and the photographer James Fisher have traversed the globe, seeking out and documenting food traditions. As she writes in the introduction to her new book, Far Afield, each of its ten chapters chronicles her interactions with ‘people who are firmly rooted in their culture and landscape, in some of our most isolated or marginal communities, where keeping the food chain vital remains a daily chore.’ . . . While international travel is inaccessible to many people, Mitchell hopes that the recipes and stories in her book can act as a guide to being open and curious about other cultures. ‘Experiencing other cultures and other places helps you grow as a person,’ she adds, ‘and it doesn’t hurt if there’s a tasty meal along the way.'”
– The Atlantic‘s CityLab

“Shane Mitchell gets a taste of the world in Far Afield.”
– Vanity Fair

“When most people hear about eating bizarre food around the globe, they think of Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain shocking television viewers with their showmanship antics. For journalist Shane Mitchell, eating unfamiliar food has been part of her job for the last eight years as she traveled the world researching her new book . . . .For Mitchell — who is also a contributing editor at Saveur — observing how people in other places keep the food chain vital was an immersive cultural experience.”
– Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com

“Do you suffer from chronic wanderlust? Good news! There’s a book for that. . . and it’s packed with stunning photographs, vibrant recipes, and remarkable stories of food and humanity. . . .The book will make you want to eat with her at the ends of the earth.”
– FoodandWine.com

“Come for the photography and stories, but stay for the recipes.”
– TheKitchn

“. . . a fascinating, evocative account of the people [Shane Mitchell] and photographer James Fisher have met while on assignments across the globe. . . these deeply personal tales serve as a reminder of how food traditions can bridge cultural gaps and transcend language barriers. Readers can lose themselves in the pair’s adventures — perfect for lingering over on a drizzly Sunday afternoon.”
– Jamie

“The year’s best epicurean travelogue.”
– Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Their passion for their subjects comes through on every page, through colorful photographs of people at work and play, and through Mitchell’s informal writing style. I felt like I was along for the trip at each juncture. And each recipe gives us insight into the lives of people centered in their places. . . One of the most important ways we learn about ourselves is by looking into other cultures, other rituals, other places, and seeing how we fit in. Appreciating differences we find helps us to appreciate our own place in the world, and to remember to be humble: we are only part of the whole. Far Afield helps us get there.”
—Celia Sack, Edible San Francisco

“. . .simply stunning. Repeatedly I have written that food brings people together and this brilliant work chronicles the different ways people join together and prepare food across the globe. Profiles of farmers, fishermen and herders (the stewards of the world) are shared along with 40 recipes. You will get lost in this lovely book, as I have, and will find yourself longing to wander to far away lands. I am totally in love with Far Afield and I think you will be as well. I plan on reading it with my son in an effort to bring the world a little closer to us.”
– EatYourBooks.com

“Feast with your eyes! This is one for the coffee table.”
– T. Susan Chang, The Level Teaspoon

“If passports could speak, culinary writer Shane Mitchell and photographer James Fisher’s would have a lot to say. Their travels have spanned several continents and hundreds of cultures, all in an effort to document the customary ways in which global communities feed themselves. . . .while thumbing through beautiful glossy images and getting lost in absorbing stories of their time abroad, you can also try your hand at dishes and sides like red snapper curry, spiced okra, cardamom doughnuts, lomo saltado, farmhouse spice cake, and caramelized potatoes.”
– Jetsetter.com

Advance praise for Far Afield:

“This is a spectacular book. It gives you an inside look at so many amazing places across the globe and makes me wish I could have been along for the ride with Shane and James on their journeys. Just magical.”
– Gunnar Karl Gíslason, chef and author of North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland
 
“Far Afield makes me want to quit my job and travel the world eating. For now, I think I’ll just cook these amazing recipes that Shane has captured on her adventures to hold me over.”
– Sean Brock, chef and author of Heritage
 
“The enveloping narratives by Shane Mitchell threaded with James Fisher’s arresting photographs in Far Afield is a potent mix. A combination of adventure, memoir, and insight–this is a beautifully provocative volume.”
– Heidi Swanson, author of Near & Far