Grape, Olive, Pig - by Matt Goulding (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Winner of the 2017 IACP Award: Literary or Historical Food Writing

Gourmand World Cookbook Award Winner: Culinary Travel

Amazon Best Book of November (2016): Cookbooks, Food and Wine

Financial Times Best Books of 2017: Food and Travel

"Goulding is pioneering a new type of writing about food. His last book, Rice, Noodle, Fish, took an immersive approach to Japan that combined travel, social observation and food lore. His new book on Spain offers little cooking advice but an inquisitive foodie intellectual's experience." (Financial Times)

Crafted in the same "refreshing" (AP), "inspirational" (Publishers Weekly) and "impeccably observed" (Eater.com) style that drove Rice, Noodle, Fish, Roads & Kingdoms again presents a book that will change the way readers eat and travel abroad. The second in their series of unexpected and delightful gastro-tourism books, Grape, Olive, Pig is a deeply personal exploration of a country where eating and living are inextricably linked. As Anthony Bourdain said: "Any reasonable, sentient person who looks to Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain, they're gonna fall in love. Otherwise, there's something deeply wrong with you."

Matt Goulding introduces you to the sprawling culinary and geographical landscape of his adoptive home, and offers an intimate portrait of this multifaceted country, its remarkable people, and its complex history. Fall in love with Barcelona's tiny tapas bars and modernist culinary temples. Explore the movable feast of small plates and late nights in Madrid. Join the three-thousand-year-old hunt for Bluefin tuna off the coast of Cadiz, then continue your seafood journey north to meet three sisters who risk their lives foraging the gooseneck barnacle, one of Spain's most treasured ingredients. Delight in some of the world's most innovative and avant-garde edible creations in San Sebastian, and then wash them down with cider from neighboring Asturias. Sample the world's finest acorn-fed ham in Salamanca, share in the traditions of cave-dwelling shepherds in the mountains beyond Granada, and debate what constitutes truly authentic paella in Valencia.

Grape, Olive, Pig reveals hidden gems and enduring delicacies from across this extraordinary country, contextualizing each meal with the stories behind the food in a cultural narrative complemented by stunning color photography. Whether you've visited Spain or have only dreamed of bellying up to its tapas bars, Grape, Olive, Pig will wake your imagination, rouse your hunger, and capture your heart.

From the Back Cover

The author of the critically acclaimed Rice, Noodle, Fish ("If this is the future of food writing, I love it" --Tim Hayward, Financial Times) now celebrates the delectable and sensuous culture and cuisine of Spain with this beautifully illustrated, masterfully narrated travel guide.

Written with the same evocative voice of the award-winning magazine Roads & Kingdoms, Grape, Olive, Pig takes you through the key regions of Spain as you've never before seen them. Matt Goulding offers an intimate portrait of his adoptive home--from the barnacle hunters of Galicia to the shepherds of Andalusia, Spain's remarkable people and its incomparable cuisine are gloriously
introduced for all to experience. Fall in love with Barcelona's tiny tapas bars and modernist culinary temples. Explore the movable feast of small plates and late nights in Madrid. Join the three-thousand-year-old hunt for bluefin tuna off the coast of Cádiz. Delight in the avant-garde creations of the Basque Country, and then wash them down with cider from neighboring Asturias. Sample the world's finest acorn-fed ham in Salamanca, share in the traditions of cave-dwelling shepherds in the mountains beyond Granada, and debate what constitutes truly authentic paella in Valencia.

Review Quotes

"Goulding honours the fascinating food of Spain with an anthropological approach. This combination of food and travel writing and photography couldn't have come from anywhere except the "Roads and Kingdoms" series, which continues to push out the definition of food publishing. Brilliant." -- Financial Times Best Books of 2017

"Matt Goulding sees, smells, and hears the whispers of the invisible spirits of Spain like no one has ever done before. The Spanish soul runs all through his veins. This is not a book, but a secret passage to a better world." -- José Andrés

"Think of this as a travel guide that's supremely unhelpful in telling you where to eat... in the best possible way. After reading this book, you will want the following: a giant pan of paella, a big bowl of fabada, and as many cured meats as your stomach can take." -- Bon Appétit

"Goulding's presentation of the myriad Spanish gastronomic delights from across the culturally diverse country is deliciously enticing and thoughtfully introspective." -- Booklist (starred review)

"Part narrative, part how-to guide to eating in Spain (without this book you are doing it wrong), Goulding weaves stories and observations into an organic mosaic. Deeply satisfying for the armchair traveler, this can't-miss book should be required reading prior to visiting Spain." -- Library Journal

"Goulding adeptly exposes the fabric of modern Spanish cuisine and whets the appetites for both food and travel, daring readers to explore unadvertised adventures of Spain. This book should be savored." -- Los Angeles Review of Books

"Goulding's book leaves the reader with a pretty good idea of why Spain deserves to be taken very seriously as a gastronomic paradise." -- Wall Street Journal

"Matt Goudling has written a magnificent love letter to his adopted home. It has all the beautiful details--the things you need to experience, must experience--to love Spain the way it deserves to be loved." -- Anthony Bourdain

"An enthusiastic journey through some of Spain's culinary hot spots." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Grape, Olive, Pig employs an impressive literary toolkit in appreciating and savoring Spanish cuisine, with descriptions of meals, translations of uniquely Spanish culinary vocabulary, spirals through relevant history, depictions of current food productions, and narratives of Goulding's food-focused travels across Spain." -- Smithsonian

"This book is the perfect gift or souvenir for everyone interested in Spain. It reads like an adventure novel." -- Edouard Cointreau, President of the Jury: Gourmand World Cookbook Awards