Journeys of a Lifetime, 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips is National Geographic’s recently published lush and colorful temptation to travelers. Even sitting in a cozy armchair, one can almost smell the aromas of ripe melons emanating from a market photo which introduces the ‘In Gourmet Heaven’ section. True to their high standards, the National Geographic books team has orchestrated words and images evoking places, people, flavors and discoveries. Organized in sections, such as Across Water, By Road, In Search of Culture, this round-the-world whirl takes the reader to distant mountains and market places with the flip of a page. It was a pleasure write five of the destinations for this comprehensive travel book, and the VagabondGourmand is busily preparing more chapters for another in the series, to be published in 2008. Add Journeys of a Lifetime to your Christmas list - for giving, or drop a hint to Santa.

The New York Times listed Journeys of a Lifetime  on it “best sellers” list for three weeks in January 2008.

Cook-it is a fat file, an ever-expanding collection of new variations on old themes - both in my laptop and, well, as paper clippings.  Our office/library will never win prizes in a paperless office competition.  Nor will the shelves hold any more cookbooks, but here we are with another little stack for the groaning boards.  On a theme of Chill-it, this time I popped for fresh ideas on sorbets and ice creams in a tidy volume by Shona Crawford Poole, simply:

ice cream, published by Conran Octopus in a revised edition, 2001. This indispensible guide to simple ices, frozen yogurt and fruit gelatos also includes basic sauces and crisp tuiles to serve on the side.  I found this treasure while browsing in a Volos bookstore, and keep it close at hand.

Crazy Water Pickled Lemons, a rich collection of Mediterranean recipes by Diana Henry, is another recent addition to the shelf - though it is more often on the kitchen counter. Published by Mitchel Beazley in 2002, this well organized tour of Mediterranean specialties offers a fresh look at culinary traditions surrounding the “Middle Earth Sea”. Seemingly complex dishes become approachable, quotations enrich recipe pages, and Jason Lowe’s photos seem to call out: bon appétit!

eggs by the master chef, Michel Roux, is an elegantly photographed and practical book that inspires one to whip up an eggy Easter soufflé of cheddar, tangy spring sorrel and savory anchovies.  The range of recipes doesn’t stop at the brunch menu, but takes you right through to cinnamon ice cream for dessert.

The Illustrated Greek Wine Book by Nico Manessis, second edition, deserves a place in the wine-lover’s collection of references.  Published by Olive Press Publications (in Corfu), it is a compact, stiff paperback book to update travelers on progress in Greek wine making.  In fact, use it as a guide to Greek geography: the terrain, products and people in profile - to read on the way, or on the way back to Greece.

…will appear in this space through upcoming seasons in Europe’s colorful markets. Meanwhile, vagabondgourmand recommends:

Paris in a Basket –Markets, The Food and the People
By Nicolle A.Meyer and Amanda Pilar Smith
Published in 2000 by Könneman in Cologne, Germany

A masterpiece on the markets of Paris, this comprehensive tome takes the reader through all of the arrondissements into corners (and to metro stops, la vagabonde says from recent experience) one would never otherwise discover. As a travel book it is a bit heavy, but as a cookbook it entices one out to the market before stirring up a chicken in Riesling or quince poached in cassis.

Barefoot in Paris
By Ina Garten
Published in 2004 by Clarkson Potter, New York

With her flair and instincts for synthesizing the spirit and flavors of Paris, Ina Garten sets forth into the markets and cafés of the city of light. What she brings back is not only the ambiance, but the essence of French dishes, en toute simplicité. A book to devour at any hour –when in the mood for a very French treat: a croque-monsieur perhaps?

Italy Sea to Sky
By Ursula Ferrigno
Published in 2003 by Mitchell Beazley, London

This gorgeous, delectable book skims the coasts and rivers, valleys and plains of Italy for the most authentic flavours. Bring her oven-baked sole with olives to the table –it prompts one to consider checking on flights to Apulia, or other tempting coasts and corners of Italy.