Movable feast

( Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times )

In his foreword to "Food Lover's Guide to the World," James Oseland, editor of Saveur magazine, writes, "For me, there is no better way to understand a place — to literally get it inside you — than by eating its food. Through food, I always find my way." In the lavishly illustrated pages of this coffee-table tome, you'll find food and drink from a host of countries, recipes (pork vindaloo from India, bibimap from South Korea) and explanations of local foods unique to those places. There's even an entry on California cuisine.

Info: $39.99, http://www.lonelyplanet.com

—C.H.