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A Cook’s Journey

Great journeys are often inspired by simple questions and observations. Join Chef Kurt Michael Friese as he travels through our nation’s Heartland.

When he recognized that the epicenters of the world’s different culinary heritages have always been in the heart of a nation’s grain belt, whether it be France, India, China, Italy, or Germany, he realized that great food must be waiting to be discovered all across the American Heartland. So he went looking, from Ohio to Oklahoma to North Dakota, thirteen states in all. His intuition was right-the center of our country truly is a fascinating, varied and healthy culinary region, with far more stories than would fit in one book.

Friese’s expedition explores and explains the Slow Food movement throughout the American Midwest. If you haven’t heard of the Slow Food movement this book will be an eye-opener for you. If you are aware of Slow Food you will be amazed and pleased to learn of the remarkable diversity that this region of the country is providing. Brick oven cooking and traditional Prosciutto in Iowa; micro-breweries in Ann Arbor and St. Louis; smoked lake trout on the shore of Lake Superior; food experts in Minnesota’s twin cities and Madison, Wisconsin; exciting ventures in food security and quality in Oklahoma, Nebraska, North and South Dakota; family recipes from Italy in Kansas City; even the rebirth of Al Capone’s prohibition rye whiskey. An insightful, inspiring collection that also includes relevant, mouth-watering recipes by the author and the folks featured in this Chef’s remarkable journey. This exploration into the Heartland is not to be missed.

Bloomsbury Review

Reviews of a Cook’s Journey

Learn more about Kurt Friese