Written with the charm of a master storyteller and the taste buds of a master chef, this is an ideal gift which conjures up memorable meals in far-flung spots, from Italy to Mississippi via Tehran and Pakistan. Beautifully illustrated with 18 original black and white woodcuts, A Pike in the Basement celebrates the importance of food as an aspect of culture, and the role played by taste and smell in our memories of traveling. Each chapter ends with a mouth-watering recipe.