Synopses & Reviews
From James Beard Award winner and New York Times-bestselling author of The Art of Fermentation the recipes, processes, cultural traditions, and stories from around the globe that inspire Sandor Katz and his life's work — a cookbook destined to become a modern classic essential for every home chef.
Sandor's life of curiosity-filled travel and exploration elicits a sense of wonder as tastes, sights, and smells leap off the pages to ignite your imagination. —David Zilber, chef, fermenter, food scientist, and coauthor of The Noma Guide to Fermentation
"His teachings and writings on fermentation have changed lives around the world." —BBC
For the past two decades, fermentation expert and bestselling author Sandor Katz has traveled the world, both teaching and learning about the many fascinating and delicious techniques for fermenting foods. Wherever he's gone, he has gleaned valuable insights into the cultures and traditions of local and indigenous peoples, whether they make familiar ferments like sauerkraut or less common preparations like natto and koji.
In his latest book, Sandor Katz's Fermentation Journeys, Katz takes readers along with him to revisit these special places, people, and foods.
This cookbook goes far beyond mere general instructions and explores the transformative process of fermentation through:
• Detailed descriptions of traditional fermentation techniques
• Celebrating local customs and ceremonies that surround particular ferments
• Profiles of the farmers, business owners, and experimenters Katz has met on his journeys
It contains over 60 recipes for global ferments, including:
• Chicha de jora (Ecuador)
• Misa Ono's Shio-koji, or salt koji (Japan)
• Doubanjiang (China)
• Efo riro spinach stew (Nigeria)
• Whole sour cabbages (Croatia)
• Chucula hot chocolate (Colombia)
Sandor Katz's Fermentation Journeys reminds us that the magical power of fermentation belongs to everyone, everywhere. Perfect for adventurous foodies, armchair travelers, and fermentation fanatics who have followed Katz's work through the years — from Wild Fermentation to The Art of Fermentation to Fermentation as Metaphor — this book reflects the enduring passion and accumulated wisdom of this unique man, who is arguably the world's most experienced and respected advocate of all things fermented.
More Praise for Sandor Katz:
"[Katz is the] high priest of fermentation." —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker
"The fermentation movement's guru." — USA Today
"A fermentation master." — The Wall Street Journal
Review
“What incredible adventures around the world! Many of the ferments featured here, both traditional and experimental, will be unknown to a majority of readers. I predict Sandor's book will inspire yet another wave of fermentation enthusiasts. The recipes here will get us started.” Ken Albala, professor of history, University of the Pacific
Review
“Sandor Katz opens our eyes to the generous humans around the globe sharing their cultures through the lens of fermentation. Each vivid story transports you to moments of discovery and wonder, sparking memories of a crafty family member who makes something delicious, pulled from the depths of their home, that you can't get enough of. Multiply that experience one hundred times and you'll begin to understand the power of this book.” Rich Shih, coauthor of Koji Alchemy
Review
“When I absentmindedly wandered into Sandor Katz's session at the IACP Conference in San Francisco in 2012, a whole new world opened up to me. Ever since then I've been spreading the gospel and devouring every snippet of information. This gem of a book, detailing Sandor's 'fermentation journeys' around the world, is a dream come true for this Irish fermentation nerd.” Darina Allen, Ballymaloe Cookery School
Review
“More than just fermentation cookbook meets travel journal, Sandor Katz's Fermentation Journeys is a love letter to the world fermentation community. Like threads of forest mycelium linking underground communication networks, this worldwide community shares knowledge and a belief that fermentation can heal. As Katz documents recipes and techniques, he focuses on the story of place and the individuals that shared their traditions or ideas. In this way, it is a book the fermentation community built." Kirsten K. Shockey, author of Homebrewed Vinegar and coauthor of Miso, Tempeh, Natto & Other Tasty Ferments
Video
Watch the Powell’s virtual event with Sandor Ellix Katz and Liz Crain!
About the Author
Sandor Ellix Katz is a fermentation revivalist. A self-taught experimentalist who lives in rural Tennessee, his explorations in fermentation developed out of his overlapping interests in cooking, nutrition, and gardening. He is the author of four previous books: Wild Fermentation, The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, The Art of Fermentation — which won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2013 — and Fermentation as Metaphor. The hundreds of fermentation workshops he has taught around the world have helped catalyze a broad revival of the fermentation arts. The New York Times calls Sandor "one of the unlikely rock stars of the American food scene." For more information, check out his website: www.wildfermentation.com.