Book Blurb

Slow tourism is a trendy concept in today’s travel culture, but how to define it? While a catchy phrase, the ambiguous term has been interpreted in many ways. In his third published book, best-selling author and Duke psychiatrist Eric Kirchmann tackles the question, providing his spin on its definition. Rejecting the term tourist, aspiring instead to be a slow traveler, he takes readers on another rousing adventure exploring France far and wide as he presents his version of mindful travel. Drawing upon G.K. Chesterton’s advice to travelers from more than a century ago to “see what [you] see” and not “what [you] came to see,” the author encourages travelers to connect with the people, appreciate the culture, understand the history, and undoubtedly, taste the food. In the spirit of Anthony Bourdain, this exhilarating tale illustrates how travel can be transformative.

Buckle up; a delicious romp around one of the most interesting countries in the world awaits. Veteran travelers to France, Eric and his wife, Courtney, invite you along on an incredible journey. Join them as they venture to Alsace to attend its sparkling, world-famous Christmas markets. Discover with them the magnificent Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley dripping with history. Return with them to Paris for a dive into lesser-known, unique experiences (and a look at what the City of Lights has to offer at Christmastime). And resume with them their escapades in idyllic, rural Gascony as invited guests to a raucous gala joyously celebrating the season of distillation. Throughout the book, course by course, the complex structure and etiquette of the classic French tasting menu will be deconstructed and demystified. Add in mouthwatering descriptions of the most remarkable meals, and you have quite a feast ahead of you. So, get your taste buds ready for an extraordinary journey. Prepare to enjoy Savoring France.