A delightful history of Briton through the lens of both food and food superstitions. A lot have an obvious Ch Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
A delightful history of Briton through the lens of both food and food superstitions. A lot have an obvious Christian or pagan root to them, but some are very much lost in the mists of time, repeated even today just because that is how its always been done. A fascinating look at Briton and the many quaint and bizarre stories centered around food. ...more
The text of the story of Augustus Jackson and how he invented modern ice cream was fascinating! I just wish the illustrations had been better - they h The text of the story of Augustus Jackson and how he invented modern ice cream was fascinating! I just wish the illustrations had been better - they have a CGI quality that gets a little uncanny valley at times. Drawings or watercolors would have been better. But still - amazing biography!...more
A new and detailed look at presidential history through the lens of what the presidents were eating, and, more importantly, what they served up to fri A new and detailed look at presidential history through the lens of what the presidents were eating, and, more importantly, what they served up to friends / enemies / allies / constituents / etc. who came to dine at the White House - and possibly make history-changing deals if the meal had been good enough.
The food reveals a world of information about each presidents' mind, background, current state and overall character, what was happening in the country and wider world - and more.
Paradoxically, as the book gets closer and closer to the present (the book was written in 2022) there is both more information available than the further back administrations, with the author able to interview in person many of the people who either made or attended the meals he describes, but he also gets less detached and neutral about the subject matter, letting his political leanings show, clearly to much in the middle of the history to be able to take a proper step back to examine it....more
Part travelogue and part world history, Grescoe takes the reader around the world and through history via food to see how people used to eat, pre-Indu Part travelogue and part world history, Grescoe takes the reader around the world and through history via food to see how people used to eat, pre-Industrial Age, and what might be the betterment of our global and individual health if we embrace these foods again. ...more
I appreciated that the history isn't just European, as it really digs into Colonialism in the feast in Mexico City, but for the most part these feasts I appreciated that the history isn't just European, as it really digs into Colonialism in the feast in Mexico City, but for the most part these feasts are mostly in Rome or Paris, despite the wide stretch of time covered. The writing could have been tighter - there's a fair amount of repetition - and the authors spends a little too much time making modern references trying to be funny that could have easily all been cut for time. Overall, a fascinating premise and good material, but could have been presented with - pardon the pun - better plating. ...more
I was fascinated to learn here both how much older ice cream, fried ice cream, and ice cream cones are - as well as pretentious flavors like cardamum I was fascinated to learn here both how much older ice cream, fried ice cream, and ice cream cones are - as well as pretentious flavors like cardamum and asparagus. You think that's just something they're serving over in Silver Lake? Wrong! The Regency crowd were into that way before 21st hipsters!
The facts here were fascinating - quite a rabbit hole the history of ice cream can lead you down - but I think the cutesy formatting was over the top - the book really didn't need an alphabet poem about Regency ice cream with some extremely forced rhymes. ...more
This is very much an academic text - dense, dense, dense. Its interesting subject matter but I, myself, really struggled with getting though the text. This is very much an academic text - dense, dense, dense. Its interesting subject matter but I, myself, really struggled with getting though the text. Also, I felt it was a bit to wide in scope, covering so many centuries and countries made it hard to see what the focus was, if there was one....more
Writer and food historian, Seren Charrington-Hollins examines the history of food through the lens of dishes Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Writer and food historian, Seren Charrington-Hollins examines the history of food through the lens of dishes people would refuse today.
It shows how plentiful our current food supply is, in that we can turn up our noses at some of the parts of animal, or insist on only fresh fruits and vegetables in deep winter, rather than eating them after being pickled and brined.
An interesting look at the history both of what we eat now and what we longer eat, showing that what we now take for granted is not how it always was....more
More of a historical curiosity for cookbook lovers rather than history book for Tudor fans, this book contains authentic recipes printed in the Tudor More of a historical curiosity for cookbook lovers rather than history book for Tudor fans, this book contains authentic recipes printed in the Tudor era, arranged by type of dish - some amusing, some gross by today's standards, and some showing how some tastes don't change. ...more
A fascinating lens to look at world history through. The only problem is it does attempt to cover all of world history, which means we never get too i A fascinating lens to look at world history through. The only problem is it does attempt to cover all of world history, which means we never get too in-depth on anything. Interestingly, the 20th century focuses more on the cruise ship industry rather than the naval aspect. ...more
A history of the chemical caffeine - which plants its in and what drinks its used in, and how this chemical had a HUGE impact on world history, and co A history of the chemical caffeine - which plants its in and what drinks its used in, and how this chemical had a HUGE impact on world history, and continues to be a major part of our lives today - for good and bad....more
American history told through the lens of bourbon, and it’s fascinating how many historical events that bourbon effected and vice-versa. From the Whis American history told through the lens of bourbon, and it’s fascinating how many historical events that bourbon effected and vice-versa. From the Whiskey Rebellion to today’s trades on Wall Street, our country’s history, economics, taxes, politics, culture, advertising, and more are connected to the bourbon industry, all told here in a laid back, approachable manner that is easy to grasp.
Not surprisingly, a book on alcohol is not dry!
Albala starts with the history, science, psychology and anthropology of alcohol in general on the world stage, then gradually zooms in, starting with the history of distilled liquor in the Middle Ages, the history of whisky in the British Isles, and then how we get bourbon in the American colonies.
From there, we see bourbon’s role in American history, as a drink, as medicine, a war supply, an up and down indicator of “cool”, a (sometimes) profitable trade item, and more.
An excellent microhistory, approaching the subject from all angles – and a great new take on American history. ...more
This book was published in 1962, so understand it’s going to creak with age in a few places. (I cringed every time she talked about what the “Oriental This book was published in 1962, so understand it’s going to creak with age in a few places. (I cringed every time she talked about what the “Orientals” eat.) But it still was pretty ahead of its time as she embraces the idea of history taking place outside of just Western Europe, and confronts a lot of gender issues head on – I loved, loved, loved the shade she threw at American soldiers in WWII for using chocolate to gain sexual favors from starving locals.
The book is told partly by region and partly by time period, but not 100% either way, so there was some back and forth here and there that got a little confusing. Still, the history of food, as she shows here, is so global that it’s impossible to tell it in silos.
Also, despite being about food, the book ends up being a lot about the history of words as well, illustrating the old saying about how the English language violently chases other languages down dark alleys and robs them.
Every chapter ends with a few modern recipes inspired by the time/place/food she just covered in that chapter – quite a few looked quite interesting, like a café royal, which involves brandy.
The last section of the book covers American food, and it made me ashamed of my nationality - every region in this country has a cuisine that came from exploitation, theft, violence, rape, lies and slavery, and it is shame-inducing (but important) to read the horrible back story on so many delicious foods. And to cap it off, since the book was written in the 1950's, the author is clearly sad by all the TV dinners that have replaced homemade food.
A fascinating book that doesn't pull punches. I wold love to see someone give it an update to be even more inclusive and to include the latest research and trends....more
A small book giving a brief but informative history of tea as well as fun facts about how different cultures brew it and the many variations of tea le A small book giving a brief but informative history of tea as well as fun facts about how different cultures brew it and the many variations of tea leaves....more
This is an analysis of an analysis - a highly academic paper on how a particular Mesopotamian tablet was examined and translated, focusing on the proc This is an analysis of an analysis - a highly academic paper on how a particular Mesopotamian tablet was examined and translated, focusing on the process itself rather than the findings. Great as a source to cite if you are writing a high level academic paper on something to do with Mesopotamia, but not exactly fully accessible to the average lay reader without a guided tour from someone with a doctorate in archaeology. ...more
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