{"product_id":"0767914279-an_embarrassment_of_mangoes_a_caribbean_interlude","title":"An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude","description":"\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eUnder the Tuscan Sun\u003c\/b\u003e meets the wide-open sea . . . \u003cb\u003eAn Embarrassment of Mangoes\u003c\/b\u003e is a delicious chronicle of leaving the type-A lifestyle behind — and discovering the seductive secrets of life in the Caribbean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWho hasn’t fantasized about chucking the job, saying goodbye to the rat race, and escaping to some exotic destination in search of sun, sand, and a different way of life? Canadians Ann Vanderhoof and her husband, Steve did just that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the mid 1990s, they were driven, forty-something professionals who were desperate for a break from their deadline-dominated, career-defined lives. So they quit their jobs, rented out their house, moved onto a 42-foot sailboat called Receta (“recipe,” in Spanish), and set sail for the Caribbean on a two-year voyage of culinary and cultural discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn lavish detail that will have you packing your swimsuit and dashing for the airport, Vanderhoof describes the sun-drenched landscapes, enchanting characters and mouthwatering tastes that season their new lifestyle. Come along for the ride and be seduced by Caribbean rhythms as she and Steve sip rum with their island neighbors, hike lush rain forests, pull their supper out of the sea, and adapt to life on “island time.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExchanging business clothes for bare feet, they drop anchor in 16 countries — 47 individual islands — where they explore secluded beaches and shop lively local markets. Along the way, Ann records the delectable dishes they encounter — from cracked conch in the Bahamas to curried lobster in Grenada, from Dominican papaya salsa to classic West Indian rum punch — and incorporates these enticing recipes into the text so that readers can participate in the adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost as good as making the journey itself, \u003cb\u003eAn Embarrassment of Mangoes\u003c\/b\u003e is an intimate account that conjures all the irresistible beauty and bounty from the Bahamas to Trinidad — and just may compel you to make a rash decision that will land you in paradise.\u003c\/p\u003e Publishers Weekly \u003cp\u003eWith wit and candor, Vanderhoof, who's worked as a magazine and book editor, recounts her sometimes complicated but always enlightening two-year voyage from Toronto to the West Indies and beyond with her husband in their 42-foot sailboat, Receta. As they escape the restraints that have bound them to their desks for years, the pair undergo not just a change in physical appearance (the noticeable weight loss is an unexpected bonus) but also a change in attitude. And although their trip may sound terrific, it's no three-hour tour. Along with sunset cruises and afternoons spent on untouched beaches (where \"you can sit and stare at the ocean for hours scarcely seeing another soul\"), they encounter \"blinding forks of lightning\" during a big squall, hailstones during an unpredicted hurricane and other tumultuous events. The book's strength undoubtedly lies in the way local cuisine and agriculture seep into Vanderhoof's tiny galley. While island hopping, she hunts for the freshest mangoes, conch and papayas even if it involves trekking miles through uncharted territory. These long trips are always worth it, as the author befriends Grenadian and Bequian natives, learning how to reproduce scrumptious local fare. Vanderhoof excels in painting a perfect picture of every island as well as filling in the gaps with historic explanations and authentic recipes, saving the book from becoming merely a flashback and steering it in the direction of a potential reference for those wishing to exchange their Bud Lights for a case of Presidentes. Map not seen by PW. (On sale Jan. 13) Forecast: This lighthearted memoir straddles two lucrative markets-travel and cooking-and with its splashy jacket, a national print-ad campaign and promotional recipe postcards could lure in readers seeking a winter escape. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCategories:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBiographies \u0026amp; Memoirs\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\u003cli class=\"category-tree\"\u003eMemoirs\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n","brand":"Crown","offers":[{"title":"Used - Very Good","offer_id":47672477221054,"sku":"0767914279-3","price":14.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0640\/9689\/5166\/files\/71nZN4ZwrGL.jpg?v=1781712016","url":"https:\/\/shop.sustainablebooks.com\/products\/0767914279-an_embarrassment_of_mangoes_a_caribbean_interlude","provider":"Sustainable Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}