The Birdwoman's Palate

In this exhilarating culinary novel, a womans road trip through Indonesia becomes a discovery of friendship, self, and other rare delicacies. Aruna is an epidemiologist dedicated to food and avian politics. One is heaven, the other earth. The two passions blend in unexpected ways when Aruna is asked to research a handful of isolated bird flu cases reported across Indonesia. While its put a crimp in her aunts West Java farm, and made her own confit de canard highly questionable, the investigation does provide an irresistible opportunity. Its the perfect excuse to get away from corrupt and corrosive Jakarta and explore the spices of the far-flung regions of the islands with her three friends: a celebrity chef, a globe-trotting foodist, and her coworker Farish. From Medan to Surabaya, Palembang to Pontianak, Aruna and her friends have their fill of local cuisine. With every delicious dish, she discovers theres so much more to food, politics, and friendship. Now, this liberating new perspective on her countryand on her lifewill push her to pursue the things shes only dreamed of doing.