Katie Barney is a renowned cookbook and guidebook author with almost 40 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the author of six cookbooks, including The Enchanting World of Food that covers the history of every cuisine in the world, the dining etiquette, and recipes contributed by ambassadors, their chefs and her international friends. Some of her other cookbooks and guidebooks include God's Bounty: 365 Days of Inspirational Cooking; Chesapeake's Bounty; Chesapeake’s Bounty II; New England's Bounty; Nantucket's Bounty; The Eastern Shore of Maryland: The Guidebook; Annapolis: The Guidebook; and Maryland’s Western Shore: The Guidebook.
Born in Baltimore, Katie has lived in many places in the United States and has always been active in the diplomatic community. She served as the President of the International Visitor Centers in Cleveland, Ohio and Newport, Rhode Island, and is presently involved with THIS for Diplomats in Washington and Christ Church, Easton, MD. She also serves on the Boards of the St. Andrew's Society of the Eastern Shore; the Mid Atlantic Symphony; The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America; Gunston Hall Plantation, Mason Neck, VA; and the Foundation Board of Gunston Hall.
Katie graduated from Briarcliff College and has a Master's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She teaches international cooking classes at the Institute for Adult Learning; and lectures on Early American Food and Herbs; International Herbs; and Edible Flowers.
This one-on-one interview shares Katie’s background and experience writing The Enchanting World of Food.
Tell us about The Enchanting World of Food.
The Enchanting World of Food includes recipes from around the world, the history of the cuisines, and the dining etiquette for each country.
To create the book, I requested authentic recipes from ambassadors, their chefs, and my international friends, amassing an international collection from almost every country in the world.
My exhaustive research took 9 years, and resulted in this 636-page book of worldwide cuisine, dining etiquette and recipes.
The recipes range from salads, soups and stews, to meat courses and vegetarian dishes, to desserts and nibbles. Along with historical facts you probably didn’t know about certain countries, you’ll discover unique and delicious recipes, and open your eyes to this beautiful, diverse world we live in.
What inspired you to write The Enchanting World of Food?
My love of international food dates back to childhood, when I began meeting people from other countries and sampling their foods. I love to travel, see new places, and meet new people and I came to appreciate pairing drinks and food, and cooking dishes from around the world.
This is what inspired me to write this book and what I aim to share with my readers. A fun and easy way to learn about other cultures, gain a better understanding of dining etiquette, and develop a sense of respect and understanding for other cultures.
I also wanted to help preserve the customs and traditions of different nations. No matter what your age, you can always learn, enjoy good food, and be respectful of others. The book is filled with interesting facts and recipes for different countries which I hope will be a symbol of peace, hope and understanding in this world.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
From college onwards, I have been involved with international students and visitors from around the world.
I started my career as a second-grade teacher at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pennsylvania. Over the years, I volunteered with organizations such as the Junior League, the Council on World Affairs, and International Visitor Centers.
I was elected President of the International Visitor Center in Cleveland, Ohio and Newport, Rhode Island. I was also actively involved in visitor centers and the Council on World Affairs in other cities including Providence, Rhode Island; Washington, DC; Greenwich, Connecticut; San Francisco, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York.
These experiences combined with my extensive travel and knowledge of cultures around the world led me to write and publish The Diplomat, a newsletter about doing business and the protocol of various countries. Following this, I began to write and publish guidebooks and cookbooks.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
No matter what age you are, there is always time to learn, especially about our very diverse world. We are not just the United States speaking English and eating American food. We are a diverse country, a melting pot, as is the rest of the world.
The more we know about each other, the better we can communicate, enjoy each other's company and bring about understanding. Food is universal. After all, who doesn't love a good meal and trying something different?
If we were all alike, eating the same old stuff over and over again, the world would be a bore!
Enjoy life and try something new. Learn about foreign places and their customs, even if you can't travel there. You can still be curious and open minded. Here, in 636 pages, you have the whole world at your fingertips!
Purchasing the Book
Great for home or vacation use and a well-appreciated gift for any occasion, The Enchanting World of Food can be purchased from Conduit Press.
To connect with Katie, purchase a copy of the book, and receive updates on new book releases, visit: www.conduitpress.net or email: kamoose@goeaston.net
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