Gastronomy History

Famous Brand Names and Their Origins

Many brands, including Boots, Hoover and Kelloggs, were named after their founders whilst others have less obvious origins; for instance, did you know that Velcro comes from velours and crochet, the French words for ‘velvet’ and ‘hook’? This entertaining book by Kathy Martin explores the stories behind the brands, their names and their founders. Bursting with fascinating facts …

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Savannah Food: A Delicious History (American Palate)

Savannah’s remarkable cuisine is a reflection of its unique history. Delicate local ingredients are balanced carefully using time-honored techniques to produce unforgettable dishes. Initially a colonial experiment of sorts, Savannah became not only the first capital of Georgia but also the capital of all Lowcountry cuisine. From the insolvent freed from debtors’ prisons to help seek new cash …

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The 50 Greatest Dishes of the World

A knowledgeable and charmingly-written compendium, 50 Dishes features China’s banquet-pleasing Peking Duck, Thai green curry and the comforting coq au vin of France. There are servings of Italy’s carbonara, the paella of Spain and, of course, Britain’s fish and chips. And please save room for Black Forest gâteau.Each dish has a biography — the story of its birth …

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Victory in the Kitchen: Wartime Recipes

When World War II began, Britain had an immediate crisis on its hands: its ability to import food drastically curtailed, the island would very quickly have to find ways both to produce more and use less. For that latter task, the kitchen was the headquarters, and this little book presents the battle plan. Drawn from scattered sources in …

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Honey: A Global History (Edible)

Whether drizzled into our tea or spread atop our terms of endearment, there’s one thing that is always true about honey: it is sweet. As Lucy M. Long shows in this book, while honey is definitely the natural sweetener par excellence, it has a long history in our world as much more, serving in different settings as a …

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Discriminating Taste: How Class Anxiety Created the American Food Revolution

For the past four decades, increasing numbers of Americans have started paying greater attention to the food they eat, buying organic vegetables, drinking fine wines, and seeking out exotic cuisines. Yet they are often equally passionate about the items they refuse to eat: processed foods, generic brands, high-carb meals. While they may care deeply about issues like nutrition …

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