What a delightful book! There are three very nice features to it: it combines travelogue, cookbook, and catalog in one small, easily readable volume.
If this were just a guide to food and goods that could be purchased from monasteries and convents in Europe and the United States, it would be unexceptional. However, Ms. Scherb combines this information (along with information about who to contact to order) with a brief history/summary of the particular convent or monastery, often with reflections on visiting the site. In addition, throughout the book there are recipes that use the ingredients available from the convents or monasteries featured.
This triple whammy of food, history, and personal story make for enjoyable reading. More, it provides valuable information that may help inform any buying we do for the holidays.
