A Fishable Feast

So, we’re back in February. It’s dark, snowy, cold.
I went on Facebook – where I only rarely show my virtual face ... social media sucks!

But anyway, I went there.

And I saw this post by Matt Supinski.
It was an image of a stack of books, and the text "First box of books have arrived … we would be honored if you would find a home for one on your coffee-table, nightstand, or kitchen counter … Prego/Bon Appétit!"

The title of the book was "A Fishable Feast", subtitled "Fly Fishing and Eating Your Way Around the World".
Fly fishing AND food?
Here, take my money!

I could see the publisher’s name on the book, Rizzoli, and I was on a search engine in a split second, finding the details.
Will be published March 10th 2026.
Where to buy, where to buy?

Fly fishing AND food?
Here, take my money!

As it is with US books, buying from Europe is neither easy nor cheap, and after having scooted around on various non-Amazon pages (Amazon sucks too!) I gave up, and went on the German Amazon and caved in, reluctantly adding another 40 Euros to Jeff Bezos’ already repulsively large fortune.
I stopped supporting Amazon years ago, but there was no avoiding it this time.
I wanted the book, and that was practically the only available source available to me.

Now, a few weeks later and just three days after its release, the book was delivered on my doorstep, and I have been leafing through it, reading and smiling most of the evening.
Not even the thought of supporting Amazon could spoil my joy – and sorry, by the way, for taking you through my slightly off-topic intro. I just had to vent my frustration.

Alaska

Kirk Deeter and Matthew Supinski

Back on track here ... What a book!
It not only combines two things I love: fly fishing and cooking, but it adds a third thing that I also love: great photography.

380 pages of fly fishing stories, great recipes and excellent pictures.
What’s not to like?
And I do like it.

My first venture has been into the recipes. I’m probably a bigger foodie than I am a fishie (if that’s a word), particularly these days where my fishing activity level has been severely reduced.
20 destinations, 20 texts about the locations, the people, the fishing, and 20 times 2 or 3 recipes with a connection to each of these destinations.

The two authors take turns in visiting and writing about the various places – which I guess have not been visited with the sole purpose of writing this book. We’re talking a handful of US states, but apart from that a truly globe spanning selection of localities – from Argentina and Austria over Brazil and Iceland to Poland and Scotland ... and many more.

Baja

Kirk Deeter and Matthew Supinski

Each is covered with stories about the fishing experiences and stories about people and local spots. It’s not a travel guide as such. It’s not a how-to or where-to, although each chapter does of course name some specific locations.
But it’s more about ambiance, culture and experiences, people, which makes it great reading even for a non-angler. This might be a book written by fly fishers, but I’m sure any reader with a prime interest in the recipes will enjoy the fishing stories too. The authors are fly fishermen, but the texts aren’t that nerdy.

As it is with many modern books in larger formats, the photos also get a lot of space and love. There’s a lot of photos in this book – and a lot of great photos. No two-page spread is without images, and some are only one big picture. The layout and the presentation gives it a definite coffee-table-book aura, and hardly anybody – anglers, cooks or people who don't fish or cook (poor souls!) – would mind having this laying around. It’s one of those books that any random guest would probably enjoy leafing through while waiting for a drink or the entrée.

And speaking of food, let me return to the recipes, which is what sets this book apart from most other fly fishing books.

They do of course take their outset in the countries and the locations, but these days local cuisine is almost always influenced by the whole world, and although English food is embodied by the very British Fish&chips and Eaton Mess, the French Créme Brûlee has pistachio and modern molecular gastronomy juice/agar pearls on top, and the Catskills are represented by caponata and lasagna, dishes which may be served in the US northeast, but certainly don’t have their roots there.

England

Kirk Deeter and Matthew Supinski

That doesn’t take anything away from these recipes, which seem very delicious and are quite inspiring and all have their outset in – or have a clear motivation for being connected with – the destination.
Some are simple, some are complex, some are fish and seafood, while others are based on meat or vegetables. And quite a few mouthwatering desserts have found their way in too.
Most of them are illustrated by a combination great photos of ingredients and the finished meals and all list the ingredients as well as instructions on how to cook them.
I have certainly added a couple to my soon-to-cook list.

As you have probably gathered by now, I do like this book.
There are enough destination guides out there covering all the practicalities of traveling and even fishing. Add to that that the Internet has made classic guidebooks almost superfluous. In most cases the best and most up-to-date information is found online.

So a book on traveling with a fly rod is more about inspiring and helping select a place to go, and this book does a really fine job there. And while dreaming of that great fly fishing trip to somewhere more or less remote, you can read the entertaining stories and cook up a great meal.