Join Us At The Embassy appeals to a wide variety of readers including travel and history buffs, foodies and wine enthusiasts, people interested in culture, readers who follow politics and international affairs, and anyone fascinated with the traditions and entertaining customs of other people.

The countries covered include Afghanistan, Austria, Chile, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, and Portugal. 

Join Us At The Embassy explains the important role of public diplomacy and how ambassadors use entertaining and hosting cultural and culinary events to introduce guests to their country.  Each "edutaining" chapter is written like a cultural guide and culinary travelogue so that anyone can attend an embassy event or visit one of the featured countries and put their best foot forward.

Readers get an inside look at each ambassador's personal entertaining style, formal and informal embassy parties, as well as important holidays, festivals, and significant artistic and cultural contributions. It also shows how the provenance of foodways, culinary geography, and dining traditions all can be windows into a country's culture, religion, values, politics, agriculture, and patrimony. 

There are all sorts of fun and interesting tidbits on a range of topics such as:

• The proper way to greet any ambassador and their spouse
  
• Colorful descriptions of embassy events
  
• The story behind ancient festivals and holidays
  
• National dishes and regional foods
  
• Helpful tips about various wines from featured regions
  
• Essential information on each country’s table manners and dining customs
• The origins of cultural traditions

The chapter about Afghanistan is especially topical because it puts a human face on the conflict that is ripping the region apart.  The story of Afghan culture gives Americans a view of the beauty that is found in the art, music, literature, handicrafts, and cuisine of the Afghan people.  Instead of the daily television broadcasts and print stories that focus primarily on the war's violence, bloodshed, and fatalities, the chapter on Afghanistan is a window into the lives of people whose plight is often given short shrift or ignored entirely by hard news reports. 

If we are to appreciate the humanity and traditions of the Afghan people, what better way than through the shorthand of food, culture, and customs?  The act of breaking bread is a fundamental, universal human activity that's simple and easy to relate to, no matter what your religious, political, cultural, ethnic, or tribal traditions may be.  Learning about Afghan cuisine can help us better understand what values are important to the Afghan people and how they cook, eat, love, and live their lives whilst being forced to endure the horrors of war.

Whether you’re going on safari in Kenya or have been invited to a private dinner at the Residence of His Excellency João de Vallera, Ambassador of Portugal–Join Us At The Embassy will help make your visit and dining experiences more fun, informed, and carefree.