If you enjoyed Eating Your Way Around USA and are ready for more, join us as we make our way around the world. Be as adventuresome as you like. You may choose…..

Daytripper

3 months: Complete tasks for Africa, Asia, and Australia

The Grand Tour

6 months: Complete all tasks for Europe

The Wanderer

9 months: Choose any 36 cities and complete those tasks

The Globetrotter 

12 months: Complete all tasks

Europe

1. Lyon, France is known for its stellar cuisine and has a spud dish named to honor the city. Lyonnaise potatoes are sliced and pan-browned, then sautéed with onions and parsley.

♦Read a book with a character who “lives the high life” OR read a book that takes place in France OR read a book where one of the main character’s first name starts with a letter in LYONNAISE. – Beastly by Alex Flinn

2. Bologna, Italy is home to Pasta Bolognese. Many different versions exist and in 1982 Bologna had an official cook-off to establish the best recipe. The “standard” recipe calls for the use of flat tagliatelle to serve as the base.

♦Read a book that takes place in Italy OR read a book in which some kind of competition occurs OR read a book whose author’s first AND last initials may be found in TAGLIATELLE. – Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll (the Lion and the Unicorn)

3. Edam has remained one of the most popular cheeses for centuries now. This creamy cheese is named after the harbor in the Netherlands from which it was originally sold.

♦Read a book that takes place in the Netherlands OR read a book with a yellow or light orange cover OR read a book that takes place along any harbor. – Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

4. Sadly, you won’t find any Belgian waffles in Belgium. Why this waffle appellation is applied to the “deep” waffles is unknown. Probably small recompense, but Brussels Sprouts really did originate in Brussels.

♦Read a book that takes place in Belgium OR read a book with a green cover OR read a book that disappoints you. – Wicked by Gregory Maguire

5. The epicenter of haute cuisine is, of course, Paris. From foie gras to escargot, baguettes to croissants, and macarons to ganache, the French take great pleasure and pride in preparing excellent food.

♦Read a book that takes place in Paris OR read a book featuring a chef or baker OR read a book with a main character who considers themselves a “gourmand” or “foodie.” – Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan

6. Swiss chocolate! Need I say more? Actually, it’s a bit surprising that Switzerland is renowned for its chocolate since it is obviously not tropical, nor did they ever have any tropical colonies where cocoa is grown. However, the Swiss invented a mixer that would blend cocoa powder and sugar, and used a tempering process that would allow the mixture to be creamy without hard crystal formations. The Swiss were also the first to create “filled” chocolates.

♦Read a book that takes place in Switzerland OR read a book with chocolate candy or a chocolate dessert on the cover OR read a “filled” series book (a book in a series which is neither the first or the last in the series). – The Blood by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda

7. Ah Venice, home to so many outstanding dishes – gnocchi, risotto, tiramisu. Carpaccio is a famous treat created at Harry’s Bar in Venice that consists of raw/ultra-rare beef from the filet cut, sliced wafer-thin, coated with peppercorns or capers and served with Parmesan cheese and radicchio. The famous bellini (prosecco and white peach juice) also originated at Harry’s Bar.

♦Read a book that takes place in Venice OR read a book that features a chef who specializes in cooking Italian OR read a book with a peach-colored cover. – Ocean Light by Nalini Singh

8. Oslo, like its other northern neighbors, relies on curing foods. Dine on lutefish, dried and lye-soaked cod, or perhaps some reindeer sausage. Make sure to try the brunost – caramelized cheese chunks.

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in Norway OR read a book whose author’s first AND last initials may be found in LUTEFISH OR read a book with a caramel-colored cover. – The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

9. The dark mahogany walls and roaring fire always set a cozy atmosphere in the many pubs dotting Edinburgh’s cityscape. Along with the fine “real” ales, have some bridie (meat pastry) or tattie scones (potato cakes). Then, of course there’s always fine Scotch whiskey and haggis to imbibe. What’s haggis you ask? You don’t want to know! If you really do, click here. (view spoiler)

♦Read a book that takes place in Scotland OR read a book whose title contains at least a three-letter word that may be derived from either HAGGIS, BRIDIE, or TATTIE (i.e. HAGGIS – gag or his) OR read a book whose cover features a cozy scene. – After Midnight by Fiona Brand

10. Chocoholics head to Barcelona! Barcelonians are serious about their chocolate. They have chocolate cafés called granjas where the specialty for breakfast is the “churro y chocolate,” a sweet, deep-fried cake served with a cup of very thick hot chocolate dipping sauce.

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in Spain OR read a book with a chocolate-brown cover OR read a book where a main character loves sweets. – Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

11. Residents of Moscow, Russia, are said to eat pickled everything. Though not pickled, blinis are very popular for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These paper-thin crepe-like pancakes are stuffed with fish, mushrooms, cheese, or chocolate.

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in Russia OR read a book with a “pickle green” cover OR read a thin book (150-200pp.). – Awakening by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda (192 pp.)

12. Berlin’s cuisine has stayed true to its working class roots; dishes are simple and hearty. Have the cheese-topped spaetzle noodles or the revered currywurst – a Berlin sausage smothered in ketchup and curry powder.

♦Read a book that takes place in Germany OR read a book with a main character who is a blue-collar worker or solidly middle class OR read a book whose location starts with a letter in SPAETZLE. – Moon Called Volume 1 by Patricia Briggs & David Lawrence (mechanic in the Tri Cities)

13. Stuffed grape leaves, spanakoepita (Spinach pie) and baklava remain perennial favorites in Athens. If you’re feeling more adventurous try the grilled octopus or lamb chops.

♦Read a book that takes place in Athens OR read a book with a green or purple cover (think grapes) OR read a book with an 8 in its publication year. – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)

14. When in Rome indulge in carciofi, artichokes fried in oil, popular since ancient times. You can’t go wrong with the thin, crispy, oblong-shaped pizza el taglio. And top off your meal with some of the thickest, creamiest gelato on the planet.

♦Read a book that takes place in Rome OR read a book whose cover shows an oblong-shaped object OR read a book with any sweet treat on the cover. – Sekret by Lindsay Smith

15. Per capita, the Portuguese eat more fish than any other nationality. In Lisbon, try at least one of the 125 varieties of sardines including sardine-egg caviar. Throughout the city, you’ll find bacalhau, or salted and dried cod, as well as pasteis de bacalhau which are balls of deep fried codfish.

♦Read a book that takes place in Portugal OR read book #125 on your TBR OR read a book with a fish on its cover or in its title. – The Britlingens Go to Hell by Charlaine Harris

16. Comfort food awaits you in Budapest. The famous deep red paprika makes it into all kinds of goulashes and stews. Make sure to stop in the Great Market Hall where you can shop for six varieties of paprika to try at home.

♦Read a book that takes place in Budapest or Hungary OR read a book with a deep red-colored cover OR read the sixth book in a series. – Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan

17. The Viennese coffee house is described as a place “where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.” At the turn of the nineteenth century, Vienna coffeehouses were the gathering spots for writers, artists, philosophers, and politicians. Patrons are encouraged to stay for long hours reading the newspaper or talking with friends. After hanging out at the coffeehouse all day, have the Viennese national dish – wiener schnitzel, which is a veal cutlet pounded thin, covered in breadcrumbs, and fried until crisp.

♦Read a book that takes place in Austria OR read a book that revolves around a coffee house OR read a book whose author’s last name starts with a letter in SCHNITZEL. – Dark and Stormy Knights edited by P.N. Elrod

18. Florence Italy serves the fabled steak “bistecca alla fiorentino,” which is a two-fingers thick steak always served very rare. Enjoy brunello red wine, made from the surrounding Tuscan vineyards and end dinner with the Negroni aperitif. Named after Count Negroni, this cocktail contains Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water garnished with orange slices.

♦Read a book that takes place in Florence or Tuscany OR read a book with a fabulous dinner scene OR read a book with any type of royal character. – Falling for Anthony by Meljean Brook

19. Short summers and long winters are cause for curing and pickling of foods in Stockholm, Sweden. Try the gravlax – salmon cured with sugar, salt and dill, or try the skagen – prawns with lemon, dill and mayonnaise served atop toast. If you’re not a fan of fish, try a moose steak or some smoked reindeer.

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in Sweden OR read a book with a snowy/winter scene on its cover OR read a book that mentions a moose or a reindeer (tell us how). – The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan

20. The national dish of Prague (Czech Republic) is vepro-knedlo-zelo. Try to say that three times fast! Or better yet, go ahead and dig into the roasted pork with dumplings and sauerkraut. While the Czechs love their pork, they also like duck, wild boar, and veal.

♦Read a book that takes place in the Czech Republic (or the former Czechoslovakia) OR read a book whose author’s first or last name end with an “O” OR read a book in which P-O-R-K can be found in the book’s title (letters do NOT have to be in order). – Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

21. Brown cafes still exist in Amersterdam; these drinking hideaways have dark walls from years of nicotine staining. Sit down and relax with a foamy beer and some diced gouda before heading out to the “Red-Light District.”

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in the Netherlands/Holland OR read a book in which a character is engaging in some secret activity OR read a book with a primarily red cover. – Veiled Menace by Deborah Blake

22. Kebabs (chunks of meat, veggies, or fruit threaded onto a skewer and grilled) are wildly popular in Istanbul. While there, also try the Turkish Ravioli which are meat dumplings served in a garlic yogurt sauce.

♦Read a book that takes place in Turkey OR read a book whose cover shows items strung together (i.e. lights, beads) OR read a book whose cover shows smoke or fire. – Jodie’s Journey by Colin Thiele

The Americas and the Caribbean

1. The donair is a quintessential Haligonian gastronomic experience, best enjoyed late at night and on the street. This sweet and savory “sammie,” derived from the Mediterranean kebab, is improved by replacing traditional lamb with beef, diced onion, and tomatoes piled onto a pita. Since Halifax is an up-and-comer in the vineyard business, make sure to enjoy some rustic wine with your donair.

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in Nova Scotia, Canada OR read a book that features a vineyard or winery OR read a book in which someone improves upon something (tell us what). – Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan (Tyson with his cancer treatment)

2. Be prepared to get your hands a little messy while visiting Toronto. The city is proud of its butter tarts, which are delicious little sugar pies studded with raisins. Balance this with peameal bacon – cured porkloin edged in corn meal. A perfect union of sweet and savory!

♦Read a book that takes place in Toronto, CN, OR read a book where the first letter of every word in the title (exclude a, an, the; three word minimum) can be found in PEAMEALBACON OR read a book whose cover shows a pie or tart. – Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. Montreal is home to all things maple, whether you’re consuming appetizer, entrée or dessert. Montreal makes a serious claim when they say their bagels are better than New York City’s! Their bagels are thinner and boiled in honey-water.

♦Read a book that takes place in Montreal OR read a book with a red and white cover OR read a book with a boastful character. – Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

4. In 1958, the Ensenada Market opened in Mexico and sold seafood, and eventually Ensenada became the birthplace of the fish taco. The original fish taco contains fried mako-shark and shrimp topped with mayo, salsa, and cabbage.

♦Read a book that takes place in Mexico OR read a book with a fish or other sea-creature on the cover (i.e. crab, lobster, mermaid) OR read a book in which someone goes fishing. – Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal by Emily Rodda

5. Mexico City is known for their tlacoyos, which are oval-shaped corn masa patties topped with sliced cactus, sour cream, onion, cheese, cilantro and/or salsa.

♦Read a book with an oval-shaped object on the cover OR read a book that takes place in a desert OR read a book with an X anywhere in its title. – Cress by Marissa Meyer

6. With half of its population coming from Italy, it’s no surprise that excellent Italian cuisine remains popular in Buenos Aires; the last known count for Italian restaurants in the city was 159. If not in the mood for Italian, go with one of the thick and juicy Brazilian steaks!

♦Read a book in which a character leaves one country and goes to another for any reason OR read a book with a 1, 5, or 9 in the total page count OR read a book whose location starts with a letter in STEAK. – The Alchemist’s Key by Traci Harding

7. With its long coastline, Santiago, Chile, is another great city in which seafood rules. A popular dish, ceviche, is raw fish “cooked” with lemon. Enjoy a cup of the national drink – pisco, which is derived from brandy.

♦Read a book that takes place in Chile OR read a book with a lemon yellow cover OR read a book where a character’s LAST name starts with a letter in PISCO. – Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse)

8. Cigars and rum rule in Havana! If you’re hungry, try the cajitas which are little boxes filled with rice, salad, and your choice of protein. And make sure to have comida criolla which is a cuisine that blends Spanish and Carribbean spices and cooking methods – one of the most popular dishes in this style is roasted pork with yucca.

♦Read a book that takes place in Cuba OR read a book in which a character smokes cigars OR read a book with a box of some kind on its cover.

Australia

1. Meat pies, a leftover from British rule, are Sydney’s national dish, with the favorite being a steak and kidney pie. Try the tiger pie, which doesn’t really contain tiger, but rather beef covered with mashed potatoes, mashed peas, and a thick gravy. Make sure to sample the fun-sounding sweets – Tim Tums, Lolly Gobbles, Bliss Bombs, Freddie Frogs, or Minties.

♦Read a book that takes place in Sydney (Australia) OR read a book with “tiger” in the title or a tiger on the cover OR read a book with any type of candy shown on the cover. – White Tiger by Kylie Chan

2. Hey mates, Melbourne’s the place to find steak and shrimp grilling on the barbie! Enjoy a cold beer from Melbourne’s many fine artisanal brews.

♦Read a book that takes place in Melbourne OR read a book that has a grill or campfire on its cover OR read a book with a character who likes beer. – Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

Africa

1. Cape Town is the land of “Rainbow Eats,” as there have been many and varied cultural and culinary influences on its cuisine. Try the braai (South African BBQ) or the bobotie which is curried mincemeat.

♦Read a book that takes place in Cape Town OR read a book that could be classified in at least two different genres OR read a book whose cover shows a rainbow or a rainbow colored item. – Lover Beware by Christine Feehan, Katherine Sutcliffe, Fiona Brand & Eileen Wilks

2. Nairobians are all about meat. Their Kenyan BBQ (nayama choma) features char-grilled meats rubbed with various curry powders or marinated in spicy sauces. All meat is fair game – you may get ostrich, crocodile, or camel.

♦Read a book that takes place in Nairobi OR read a book with any type of non-domesticated animal on its cover OR read a book whose title starts with a letter in NAYAMA (exclude a, an, the). – Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan

3. Exotic Marrakech favors couscous in all forms. Tagine stew is named after the pot in which it is cooked; a flat bottomed clay pot with a cone-shaped top brews all kinds of soups from sweet (lamb & dates) to savory (chicken with chickpeas and preserved lemon or olives). When in Morocco, eat with your hands.

♦Read a book that takes place in Morocco OR a book whose cover shows a prominent set of hands OR read a book whose subtitle begins with a letter in TAGINE (a,an,the DO count). – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

The Middle East

1. As one might expect of this Middle Eastern city, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates has a heavy Lebanese influence. Silky hummus and eggplant take center stage in dishes such as mountabbal and tabbouleh. Pair these dishes with some fresh fish, and I do mean fresh! Most eating establishments let you choose your fish from an aquarium or water pool and then you can watch it being prepared. Or not.

♦Read a book that takes place anywhere in the UAE OR read a book with a deep purple cover OR read a book in which something living is killed. – Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks

2. Jerusalem offers a combination of Mediterranean and Italian cuisines featuring seafood. Kosher delicacies – chopped liver, gefilte fish, and chicken soup are staples, as are artichokes, which are historical favorites of the Jews and the Romans.

♦Read a book that takes place in Israel OR read a book in which faith is important to one of the main characters OR read book whose genre starts with a letter in ARTICHOKE (i.e. adventure, romance, history; your judgment will define the genre). – Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs

Asia

1. Street food in Osaka, Japan is very popular, with takoyaki being a hands-down favorite. This dish is grilled balls of octopus batter topped with seaweed flakes and served with sweet teriyaki sauce.

♦Read a book that takes place in Japan OR read book #8 in a series OR read a book with a main character who is regarded as being sweet. – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

2. Chicken 65 is India’s answer to America’s Buffalo wings. Created at the Chennai Butari Hotel, this dish is a spicy, deep-fried chicken appetizer. The 65 represents the number of ingredients reputed to be used in the original sauce.

♦Read a book that takes place in India OR read book #65 on your TBR OR read any book with a “spicy” plot. – Etched in Silver by Yasmine Galenorn

3. The hot spot for eating the banh mi, a crispy-baguette sandwich, is Saigon, Vietnam (formerly Ho Chi Minh City). Banh mi, literally translated means bread, but after French colonization ended, the baguettes were stuffed with all kinds of fillings, and the sandwich became known as the banh mi.

♦Read a book that takes place in Vietnam OR read a book with “sandwiched” letters in the title OR read a book whose title changed from its original title. – The Awakening by Christine Feehan

4. Shanghai is said to sell some of the world’s finest teas, usually packaged in unique aqua blue tins. Why not try xiaolongbao with your tea? These are delicately steamed dumplings filled with pork or crabmeat and simmered in a rich broth.

♦Read a book that takes place in China OR read a book with an aqua blue cover OR read a book with a pet whose name begins with a letter in DUMPLING. – Armor of Roses by Marjorie Liu

5. Since it’s largely surrounded by water, Hong Kong (Fragrant Harbour) serves up fresh seafood and other sea delicacies in the Cantonese-style of China. And with its many years under British rule, one can readily find authentic, spicy Indian curries.

♦Read a book that takes place in Hong Kong OR read a book that takes place in anyplace formerly ruled by Britain list OR read a book with a picture of the ocean on the cover. – Red Hot Fury by Kasey MacKenzie

6. Jakarta’s go-to cuisine is Padang rendang which is slow-cooked meat in coconut milk with a pungent mix of ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, chilies, and galangal.

♦Read a book that takes place in Indonesia OR read a book whose title starts with “J” (exclude a,an,the) OR read a book with a slow moving plot. – The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

7. Bangkok offers mango sticky rice, curries and an array of exotic fruits including durians (a stinky, spiky fruit), mangosteens (aka “Queen of Fruit” with their hard, purple shell), custard apples (light green tennis-ball sized fruit with a knobby texture), and dragonfruit (fruit of the cactus plant).

♦Read a book that takes place in Thailand OR read a book with any type of fruit on the cover OR read a book that “sticks with you.” – The Romantic Poets by William Blake, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, George Gordon Byron, William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge

8. Your best bet for good eats in Singapore is to cruise the mom & pop street vendor carts. Try the flash-fried crab in a tangy chili sauce or the rich, coconut-based curry soup (laska) heaped with seafood.

♦Read a book that takes place in Singapore OR read a book in which a character usually works outside OR read a book with either a palm tree, coconut, or bowl of soup on the cover. – Oceans of Fire by Christine Feehan