Cecily Wong in Conversation With Liz Crain

Wonder is around every corner, and on every plate. The curious minds behind Atlas Obscura now turn to the hidden curiosities of food, which becomes a gateway to fascinating stories about human history, science, art, and tradition — like the first book, all organized by country, lavishly illustrated, and full of surprises. Covering all seven continents, Gastro Obscura (Workman) by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras serves up a loaded plate of incredible ingredients, food adventures, and edible wonders. Ready for a beer made from fog in Chile? Sardinia’s “Threads of God” pasta? Egypt’s 2000-year-old egg ovens? But far more than a menu of delicacies and unexpected dishes, Gastro Obscura reveals food’s central place in our lives as well as our bellies, touching on history (trace the network of ancient Roman fish sauce factories), culture (picture four million women gathering to make rice pudding), travel (scale China’s sacred Mount Hua to reach a tea house), festivals (feed wild macaques at Thailand’s Monkey Buffet Festival), and hidden gems that might be right around the corner (like the vending machine in Texas dispensing full-sized pecan pies). Gastro Obscura coauthor Cecily Wong joins us to help you dig in and feed your sense of wonder! Wong will be joined in conversation by Liz Crain, author of Food Lover’s Guide to Portland and Dumplings Equal Love.

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