I have just found my new favourite genre of book !
Caroline Eden writes beautifully, it's like having a coffee and a chat with a well travelled best friend, she takes you on the journey with her with her prose. I loved this book.

This was a pure escapement read. I loved the food descriptions and you travelled while sitting on your sofa to Central Asia, the Baltics etc. Each chapter starts with a lovely cooking lesson and you get the the recipes.. Darwin the dog is a lovely part of the story . I can’t recommend it enough .

Caroline Eden has taken me on a journey, almost literally. From the moment I read the opening pages where she returned from her travels to her Edinburgh home, I warmed to her writing style and knew I was going to enjoy her story, This is, in essence, an autobiography and travel journal, with food at the heart of the writing. There are a few recipes thrown in, but what’s really worked for me is that this serves as a taster. Caroline has visited areas of the world that are remote to me. It’s unlikely I’ll ever actually go to most of the places she talks about in Cokd Kitchen, but each place has been brought to vibrant life.
Her story is split into seasons and within each season, she visits different areas; Russia, Turkey, Baltic nations and more. But every section is also grounded in Edinburgh, a city close to my heart and she uses her kitchen and food to recreate her travels, people and meals she encountered during her journey. As a narrative technique, it works really well and made the story even more enjoyable. There are a few recipes thrown in along the way, but the reason to read this is to reach into corners of the world that are otherwise inaccessible. Caroline is a travelling companion who is generous to share her experiences and understanding of cultures that are different. It’s an inspirational book. I’m determined to learn more about cooking food I’ve not tried before. Springtime soup with bulgar, tomatoes and herbs has provided the kick start I needed and this book is a total joy. I live food, cooking and gave a large variety of cookery related books. I prefer those that have stories with the recipes because of the insight they provide. This has few recipes, but more insight than I’ve come across in a long time. It’s filled with wisdom and joy. Absolutely loved it.