A lively and informative illustrated guide, Gastronomie! is for those interested in what they eat, what its origins are, and where they can find out more about it in France. As useful for travelers to France as it is intriguing for armchair voyagers and inquiring cooks, Gastronomie! answers questions about everything that goes into your mouth, from the ingredients blended in Benedictine to the earthy taste of the truffle.

Gastronomie! highlights must-visit museums throughout France, home to more food museums than any other country, including the Saffron Museum in Boynes, the Chocolate Museum in Biarritz and the Mushroom Museum in Saumur. In addition, markets, monuments and other sites essential for appreciating food heritage traditions are shown on easy-to-read maps and described fully in the book's mini itineraries. Also included are recipes from top regional chefs.

Meredith Sayles Hughes and Tom Hughes are the founders of The FOOD Museum, www.foodmuseum.com, a unique institution established to preserve and explain the fascinating history and social significance of the world's foods. The museum has extensive collections of artifacts and ephemera about what we eat, including the largest collection of Potatobilia in the world. Collections from The FOOD Museum have been the centerpieces of exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and at The National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa, Canada.