Customer Reviews

Food in Five Languages: An International Menu Guide, English/German/French/Italian/Spanish

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I got this book with the mistaken notion that I could bring it to Europe and decipher the menus there.

The problem is the book's unusual organization.

Each page contains five columns of dishes in each of English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

For example:

...

Cabbage__Kohl_______Chou_____Cavolo____Col

Carrots__Karotten____Carottes__Carote_____Zanahorias

Celery___Sellerie_____Celeris___Sedani_____Apio

Cress____Kresse_____Cresson__Crescione__Berro

...

See the problem?

Is is sorted by the English word. That does not help when you have the French words, and are trying to figure out English one.

Buy this book to go from English to a European language (not the reverse).

Since purchasing this book many years ago, I have had many friends and even strangers ask me where they too can get a copy. It has proved very useful and would make a great gift for a someone visiting from overseas or someone going on a trip. Many of my friends who live overseas enjoyed this book as well because it is designed by food type. So, if you are eating at a pastry shop, you do not need to sift through a dozen types of seafood or poultry to find your just desserts. There are a few foods missing in this, but they are not those which you'd usually encounter as a tourist (unless you are adventurous). I recommend this book to those who love to travel and enjoy being able to know what they are eating. This is especially valueable to anyone with food allergies, dietary restrictions or food dislikes. I learned quickly how to ask about ingredients and knew what to avoid on a menu. The book is also a nice size to fit into a purse, handbag, or backpack.