NATIONAL DISH Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home

In a rich tone, Kathleen Gati gives this polyglot audiobook its due. She narrates in French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Turkish, and her pace is spot-on. Most importantly, Gati captures the author's voice and personality. Von Bremzen is a food and travel writer who spends weeks in a different locale and shares her distinct opinions on dishes ranging from Neapolitan pizza to ramen and pot au feu. But it is the emotionally charged epilogue that elevates this work. Raised in Russia, she brings up borsch (ending it with a "t" is a Yiddishism) and weighs in on the longtime argument over whether the classic beet soup is Ukrainian or Russian. She takes the Ukrainian side and ends the text with a passionate pro-Ukraine plea. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]