Here are some resources looking at culinary though cultural, historical, or place-oriented lenses:
Gastronomic Judaism As Culinary Midrash by
This book is about what makes food Jewish, or better, who and how one makes food Jewish. Making food Jewish is to negotiate between the local, regional, and now global foods available to eat and the portable Jewish taste preferences Jews have inherited from their sacred texts and calendars. What makes Jewish food "Jewish," and what makes Jewish eating practices continually viable and meaningful are not fixed dietary rules and norms, but rather culinary interpretations and adaptations of them to new times and places - culinary midrash. Jewish cuisine is a fusion of interactions, a reflection of displacement, and intentional positioning and re-positioning vis a vis sacred texts, old and new lands, Jewish and non-Jewish neighbors, old and new "family" combinations, re-imaginings of our personal ethnic, gender, and other identities. Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus questions Jewish identity in particular, and identity generally as something fixed, stable, and singular, and unintentional. Jewish food choices are situational, often temporary, expressions of Jewish identity. It addresses the tension between what Jewish "authoritative" textual sources and their proponents say is Jewish food and Jewish eating, and what Jews actually eat. So while discussing connections between ancient religious texts and modern Jewish food preferences, this book does not stop there. Using examples from his experience, Brumberg-Kraus describes the improvisational characteristics of gastronomic Judaism as the interplay of texts, tastes, artifacts, and everyday practices: not only in the classic sacred texts, but also in Jewish cookbooks and internet blogs on Jewish home cooking; seasonal intensification of "Jewish" food choices (e.g., latkes at Chanukah or keeping kosher for Passover); "safe treif;" the fusion/cultural appropriation of diasporic, "Biblical", and Palestinian foods in new Israeli cuisine; and the impact of the environmentalist "New Jewish Food movement" on contemporary Jewish food choices and identity.
Food Sovereignty the Navajo Way by
Around the world, indigenous peoples are returning to traditional foods and cooking methods to reestablish healthy lifeways to combat contemporary diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Food Sovereignty the Navajo Way is the first book to focus on the dietary practices of the Navajos from the earliest known times into the present and relate them to the Navajo Nation's participation in the Food Sovereignty movement. Charlotte J. Frisbie documents the traditional foods and recipes of a Navajo woman and her family over almost a century. She uses fieldwork as well as historical research to trace the transition from the days when Navajos first gathered and hunted for most of their sustenance, through times when dry farming and livestock-mainly sheep and goats-became dominant, and on to a time when their diet was dominated by highly processed foods. Frisbie not only provides a historical overview of the Navajo diet and reflections on the current international Food Sovereignty movement but also explores Tall Woman's own story, including many of her traditional Navajo recipes.
A Kwanzaa Celebration by 
Soul Food by
When Joyce White moved to New York City from Alabama, she left small-town life behind and landed ajob as a food editor at a major women's magazine. Weekends, however, found her visiting churches in Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvestant, looking for a taste of home. Food has long been a part of the spiritual life of African-American churches, and what she found there, along with what she missed from home, was the comforting blend of cooking and fellowship that feeds both the body and soul. In this warm and joyful collection, White offers more than 150 recipes for the foods that worshipers look forward to after services, and she captures the spirit of these sociable meals with warm, conversational and occasionally poignant reflections from African-American churchgoers around the United States. "We don't just come to church service and leave," says a retired nurse who directs hospitality for a large church in Los Angeles. "Many of us stay here half the day. That way we get a chance to rub shoulders and see what is going on or going wrong with each other." From delicious renditions of classics such as Sugar-Crusted Biscuits to updated favorites such as Black Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, as well as special fare for entertaining and Kwaanza, the pages of Soul Food are alive with the spirit and love of African-American churches -- and the terrific food to be found there.
The Amish Cook by
The Amish Cook, a full-color cookbook based on Elizabeth Coblentz's columns of the same name, compiles more than 75 traditional Amish recipes, photographs of the Coblentz farm, practical gardening tips, cherished family tales, and firsthand accounts of traditional Amish events like corn-husking bees and barn raisings. The column started when aspiring newspaper editor Kevin Williams convinced Elizabeth Coblentz, an Old Order Amish wife and mother, to write a weekly cooking column called "The Amish Cook." Each week Elizabeth shared a family recipe and discussed daily life on her Indiana farm, spent with her husband, Ben, and their eight children and 32 grandchildren. A truly unique collaboration between a simple Amish grandmother and a modern-day newspaperman, The Amish Cook is a poignant and authentic look at a disappearing way of life.
The Welcome Table by
The African-American way with food combines the improvisational techniques that gave the world jazz with the culinary techniques and piquant tastes of the African continent. From Hoppin' John to creamy Sweet Potato Pie, from Benne Seed Wafers to the Gospel Bird, African-American cooking recalls its history and speaks eloquently to the richness and diversity of black culture. In The Welcome Table, Jessica Harris presents African-American food at its finest: over 200 recipes, both traditional and contemporary, combined with historical detail and personal interviews and illustrated with beautiful photographs.
Memories of a Cuban Kitchen by
The first major collection of authentic Cuban recipes, now available in paperback Memories of a Cuban Kitchen is a food memoir filled with reminiscences and evocative halftone photos of Mary Randelman's childhood in pre-Castro Cuba. The more than 200 traditional recipes present a luscious picture of a cuisine that combines Spanish, Indian, African, Chinese, and Portuguese influences.
In Nonna's Kitchen by
With life in Italy becoming increasingly urbanized and Americanized, le nonne (Italian for "the grandmothers") are the last generation that knows the rich traditions and unique dishes of the country's towns, valleys and hilltops. Carol Field goes trolling through Italy's back roads to find these true guardians of the Italian culinary heritage, and weaves their stories, wisdom and dishes together in a wonderful cookbook that celebrates their history and preserves their timeless wisdom. In these pages are the authentic meals enjoyed by generations of Italians. There are savory breads such as Gnocco Ingrassato (made with crunchy cubes of pancetta), such fruit preserves as Le Pesche d'Estate (peaches in lemon and sugar syrup), sumptuous sauces like Salsa Piccante alla Senape (spicy mustard) and mouthwatering meat dishes like Agnello in Umido (braised lamb with green olives). And what's a meal without dessert? Tempting fare like Crema Bacchica (literally, Bacchuss pudding -- a cinnamon-and-clove-scented pudding flavored with wine) and Torta di Mandorle e Cioccolata (chocolate almond tart) will elicit heartfelt cheers of "magnifico" from grateful gourmets.
The Cuisines of India by
An exotic culinary journey through the rich and flavorful regions of India is filled with a wealth of unusual as well as traditional recipes accompanied by descriptons of locales, legends, history, and stunning illustrations. 20,000 first printing.
A Beginner's Guide to Japanese Fermentation by
Join the fermentation revolution--Japanese style! "The benefits loom large: fermented foods are anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and antioxidant...and are swarming with vitamins." --Discover magazine This comprehensive do-it-yourself home fermentation guide centers on the amazing superfoods at the heart of the healthy Japanese diet. Author and fermentation expert Hiroko Shirasaki starts with easy preparations for shio koji, amazake, nukazuke and three types of miso. Then she shows you how to harness the probiotic power of these and other fermented ingredients in scores of delicious home-style recipes. Some of these fermented foods you may already know: kimchi, gochujang, mirin. Others--like umeboshi, natto, sake lees, fermented ginger and kastsuobushi--offer new perspectives on the flavorful powers of fermentation. The seasonal menus in this book contain over 95 recipes catering to a broad range of tastes: "Easy Nukazuke Pickles" (vegetables cured in a bed of fermented rice bran) offers a completely new way to unleash the power of pickling! "Amazake Fruit Yogurt" makes the perfect probiotic breakfast or snack "Shio Koji (a fermented rice-based marinade) Mushroom Soup" creates a super-nutritious and delightfully delicious twist on a favorite dish "Sea Bream and Clams Steamed in White Miso and Wine" pairs the briny sea with the natural umami of a homemade miso made with soybeans and rice "Root Vegetable Soup with Brown Rice Miso" offers a healthful twist on a classic comfort food "Mixed Sushi with Fermented Ginger" ups the antioxidant ante in a familiar favorite "Amazake Gochujang Bibimbap" brings Korean flavors to a classic lunch box dish And many more! Let miraculous microbes work their magic, infusing your daily diet with vitamins and nutrients that promote gut health, reduce hypertension and boost the immune system. The easy recipes in A Beginner's Guide to Japanese Fermentation showcase the health benefits and amazing flavors these superfoods have to offer!
Authentic Vietnamese Cooking by
Refined, subtle, challenging, and accessible all at the same time, the food of Vietnam was the first true fusion cuisine, blending the techniques and ingredients of French and Chinese culinary traditions. In Authentic Vietnamese Cooking, culinary writer and consultant Corinne Trang introduces you to the pleasures of regional Vietnamese cooking. Born in France's Loire Valley to a French mother and Cambodian-born Chinese father, and raised in Phnom Penh, Paris, and New York, Trang shares more than 100 delicious, authentic Vietnamese recipes designed especially for the home cook. In this beautiful volume, the complicated processes of assimilation, adaptation, and evolution have been distilled into magnificent dishes that represent the three distinct culinary regions of Vietnam: the Simple North, the Sophisticated Center, and the Spicy South. There are recipes for family meals and special occasions, sauces, marinades, flavored oils, soups, noodle dishes, and more. Trang translates the complex flavors of Vietnamese cuisine into easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes, so even inexperienced cooks can create such classic dishes as Cha Gio (Spring Rolls), Sup Cua Mang Tay (Crab and Asparagus Soup), Pho Bo (Hanoi Beef and Rice Noodle Soup), Tom Nuong Xa (Grilled Lemongrass Prawns), Ga Nuong Toi (Garlic-Roasted Baby Chicken), and Banh Gan (Coconut Creme Caramel). Enhanced by stunning photographs, Authentic Vietnamese Cooking also includes sections on essential ingredients, equipment, and techniques; sample seasonal menus: and a list of mail-order sources and Web sites for securing hard-to-find items. Rich with historical, cultural, and personal anecdotes, Authentic Vietnamese Cooking brings the experience and pleasures of Corinne Trang's family table to yours.
A Middle Eastern Pantry by
An insightful exploration into the bounty of both familiar and new Middle Eastern ingredients plus 90 modern and traditional dishes in which to use them, from the author of Mastering Spice and The Spice Companion "Get ready to go on a transformative cultural journey that begins in your kitchen."-Carla Hall, bestselling author of Carla Hall's Soul Food A FOOD NETWORK AND WIRED BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR Growing up on a kibbutz in northern Israel, spice master Lior Lev Sercarz has long had an affinity for local ingredients and produce. After becoming a chef and then devoting his creativity and career to sourcing and blending spices, he recognized the intensive labor, skill, and craftsmanship that goes into the development of Middle Eastern pantry staples, from olives to silan (date molasses), and tahini to sujuk (a fermented and dried sausage). In this cookbook and culinary resource, he homes in on the everyday ingredients used throughout this vast region, including Turkey, Tunisia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Armenia, Jordan, and more, as he offers an homage to the pantry staples that define Middle Eastern cuisine. Lior offers an in-depth look at the production, history, cultural resonance, and storage of each pantry item, then shares an array of mouthwatering recipes crafted for home kitchens. Dishes range from a hearty Verjus and Lamb Stew to snacky Kibbeh with Pine Nuts, Roasted Vegetables with Egyptian Dukkah, tangy Iraqi amba mango sauce, a sweet-syrupy-cheesy kunafe, and a creamy Turkish rice pudding. This book is for home cooks who crave not only recipes but also origin stories that lend cultural relevance and insight into one of the world's most ancient and beloved cuisines.
Scents and Flavors by
Delectable recipes from the medieval Middle East This popular thirteenth-century Syrian cookbook is an ode to what its anonymous author calls the "greater part of the pleasure of this life," namely the consumption of food and drink, as well as the fragrances that garnish the meals and the diners who enjoy them. Organized like a meal, Scents and Flavors opens with appetizers and juices and proceeds through main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Apricot beverages, stuffed eggplant, pistachio chicken, coriander stew, melon crepes, and almond pudding are seasoned with nutmeg, rose, cloves, saffron, and the occasional rare ingredient such as ambergris to delight and surprise the banqueter. Bookended by chapters on preparatory perfumes, incenses, medicinal oils, antiperspirant powders, and after-meal hand soaps, this comprehensive culinary journey is a feast for all the senses. With the exception of a few extant Babylonian and Roman texts, cookbooks did not appear on the world literary scene until Arabic speakers began compiling their recipe collections in the tenth century, peaking in popularity in the thirteenth century. Scents and Flavors quickly became a bestseller during this golden age of cookbooks and remains today a delectable read for cultural historians and epicures alike. An English-only edition.
Thanksgiving by
No other holiday captures the spirit of home cooking the way Thanksgiving does. From the perfect roast turkey with wild rice and chestnut stuffing to a rich, old-fashioned pumpkin pie, good food shared with family and friends is what makes this day so special. Williams-Sonoma Collection Thanksgiving offers easy-to-follow recipes you will want to include in your own holiday menu year after year. In these pages, you'll find inspiring first courses and a tempting variety of side dishes and desserts as well as some new ideas for the main course. This vividly photographed, full-color recipe collection will become an essential addition to your kitchen bookshelf. "Whether it's your first time preparing a Thanksgiving meal or your twentieth, I hope these recipes make your feast enjoyable."
Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen by
A celebration of multigenerational Latin cooking for the plant-based home cook--guaranteed to bring both older and younger generations to the table. It can be difficult to have multiple generations in the kitchen, each with their own ideas on food, but Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen puts them on the same page. Inspired by her upbringing in two culinary worlds--vegetarian and Puerto Rican--holistic health coach Karla Salinari reintroduces traditional Latin and Caribbean recipes with whole, high-quality, plant-based ingredients. Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen offers seventy-five plant-based recipes that marry the comfort of nostalgic, cultural dishes with the modern desire for healthy, at-home cooking. Paired with personal stories, tips, and tricks for success, Salinari makes ingredients such as chickpea water, tempeh, and tofu approachable for those new to plant-based cooking, while empowering readers to take charge of their health through plant-based nutrition. Delicious plant-based dishes include: Garbanzo stew with plantain balls (garbazos guisados) Papaya and tomato salad Cuban-style picadillo Flan de coco And so much more! Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen honors the richness of Latin and Caribbean cooking and proves that you don't need to miss out on easy, flavorful meals to eat well.
Greek Vegetarian by
Greek cooking offers a dazzling array of greens, beans, and other vegetables-a vibrant, flavorful table that celebrates the seasons and regional specialties like none other. In this authoritative, exuberant cookbook, renowned culinary expert Diane Kochilas shares recipes for cold and warm mezes, salads, pastas and grains, stews and one-pot dishes, baked vegetable and bean specialties, stuffed vegetables, soups, savory pies and basic breads, and dishes that feature eggs. Brimming with classic dishes, regional favorites, and inspired innovations, "The Greek Vegetarian "pays tribute to one of the world's most venerable and healthful cuisines.
Bakers and Basques by
Mexico City's colourful panaderías (bakeries) have long been vital neighbourhood institutions. They were also crucial sites where labour, subsistence, and politics collided. From the 1880s well into the twentieth century, Basque immigrants dominated the bread trade, to the detriment of small Mexican bakers. By taking us inside the panadería, into the heart of bread strikes, and through government halls, Robert Weis reveals why authorities and organised workers supported the so-called Spanish monopoly in ways that countered the promises of law and ideology. He tells the gritty story of how class struggle and the politics of food shaped the state and the market. More than a book about bread, Bakers and Basques places food and labour at the centre of the upheavals in Mexican history from independence to the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution.
Cooking with the Oldest Foods on Earth by
Native produce business is booming and it's about to enter a new phase--Australian native ingredients are beginning to turn up in growers' markets and even local supermarkets. From Warrigal greens and saltbush, to kangaroo and yabbies--John Newton will inspire you to grab some and take it home. This short companion book to the award-winning The Oldest Foods on Earth shows you how to cook with Australian ingredients, where to find them, and how to grow them. Organised by ingredient, each chapter includes a brief history, a practical guide, and recipes for you to make in your very own kitchen. It promises to broaden Australians' culinary horizons in every way.
Dining Car to the Pacific by
A tribute to the lost era of the railway dining car, with 150 authentic recipes--back in print! In a prevailing atmosphere of optimism and excitement, workers broke ground for the transcontinental journey of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1870. Recalling a time when travelers were treated with geniality and respect, Dining Car to the Pacific is a tribute to the most unforgettable part of the rail journey westward--a meal in the dining car. William A. McKenzie offers a lavishly illustrated and richly detailed account of hospitality on the NP--a service that many considered to be the best in the industry--drawing on sources ranging from railroad records of the 1860s to anecdotal accounts from the people who were there. In addition, McKenzie includes more than 150 authentic recipes used on the line, such as the Great Big Baked Potato, Washington Apple Pan Cake, and Northern Pacific Fruit Cake. Dining Car to the Pacific will be a treasured addition to the libraries not only of historians and cooks, but also of anyone with nostalgia for the dining car experience.
Earthly Delights by
Earthly Delights brings together a number of substantial and original scholarly studies by international scholars currently working on the history of food in the Ottoman Empire and East-Central Europe. It offers new empirical research, as well as surveys of the state of scholarship in this discipline, with special emphasis on influences, continuities and discontinuities in the culinary cultures of the Ottoman Porte, the Balkans and East-Central Europe between the 17th and 19th centuries. Some contributions address economic aspects of food provision, the development and trans-national circulation of individual dishes, and the role of merchants, diplomats and travellers in the transmission of culinary trends. Others examine the role of food in the construction of national and regional identities in contact zones where local traditions merged or clashed with imperial (Ottoman, Habsburg) and West-European influences.
Eating the Empire by
When students gathered in a London coffeehouse and smoked tobacco; when Yorkshire women sipped sugar-infused tea; or when a Glasgow family ate a bowl of Indian curry, were they aware of the mechanisms of imperial rule and trade that made such goods readily available? In Eating the Empire, Troy Bickham unfolds the extraordinary role that food played in shaping Britain during the long eighteenth century (circa 1660-1837), when such foreign goods as coffee, tea, and sugar went from rare luxuries to some of the most ubiquitous commodities in Britain--reaching even the poorest and remotest of households. Bickham reveals how trade in the empire's edibles underpinned the emerging consumer economy, fomenting the rise of modern retailing, visual advertising, and consumer credit, and, via taxes, financed the military and civil bureaucracy that secured, governed, and spread the British Empire.
Food and Faith in Christian Culture by
Without a uniform dietary code, Christians around the world used food in strikingly different ways, developing widely divergent practices that spread, nurtured, and strengthened their religious beliefs and communities. Featuring never-before published essays, this anthology follows the intersection of food and faith from the fourteenth to the twenty-first century, charting the complex relationship among religious eating habits and politics, culture, and social structure. Theoretically rich and full of engaging portraits, essays consider the rise of food buying and consumerism in the fourteenth century, the Reformation ideology of fasting and its resulting sanctions against sumptuous eating, the gender and racial politics of sacramental food production in colonial America, and the struggle to define "enlightened" Lenten dietary restrictions in early modern France. Essays on the nineteenth century explore the religious implications of wheat growing and breadmaking among New Zealand's Maori population and the revival of the Agape meal, or love feast, among American brethren in Christ Church. Twentieth-century topics include the metaphysical significance of vegetarianism, the function of diet in Greek Orthodoxy, American Christian weight loss programs, and the practice of silent eating rituals among English Benedictine monks. Two introductory essays detail the key themes tying these essays together and survey food's role in developing and disseminating the teachings of Christianity, not to mention providing a tangible experience of faith.
Food Culture in Belgium by
Belgian food and drink, often overshadowed by the those of powerhouse neighbors France and Germany, receive much deserved attention in this thorough overview, the most comprehensive available in English. Belgian waffles, chocolate, and beer are renowned, but Food Culture in Belgium opens up the entire food culture spectrum and reveals Belgian food habits today and yesterday. Students and food mavens learn about the question of Belgianness in discussions of the foodways of distinct regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. Packed with daily life insight, consumption statistics, and trends gathered from the culinary community on the Web, this is the ultimate source for discovering what has been called the best-kept culinary secret in Europe. Scholliers thoroughly covers the essential information in the topical chapters on history, major foods and ingredients, cooking, typical meals, special occasions, eating out, and diet and health. He is keen to illuminate how Belgium's unique food culture has developed through time. Before independence in 1830, Belgian regions had been part of the Celtic, Roman, Spanish, Austrian, French, Dutch, and German empires, and Belgium's central location has meant that it has long been a trade center for food products. Today, Brussels is the European Union administrative center and a cosmopolitan dining destination. Readers learn about the ingredients, techniques, and dishes that Belgium gave to the world, such as pommes frites, endive, and beer dishes. A timeline, glossary, selected bibliography, resource guide with websites and films, recipes, and photos complement the essays.
Food Culture in Germany by
The grown-up Germany of today is able to explore its cultural identity, including its food culture. For some years now, German food has seen a return to regionalism, and beloved traditional dishes have been rediscovered and revived, counteracting to some extent the effects of globalization and industrialization. As well, a host of new culinary traditions brought in with new immigrants makes for an exciting food scene. Food Culture in Germany, written by a native Berliner, is destined to become a classic as the best source in English for a thorough and up-to-date understanding of Germans and their food--the history, foodstuffs, cooking, special occasions, lifestyle eating habits, and diet and health. The Historical Overview chapter takes the reader on a culinary tour from ancient times through the Holy Roman Empire to the Lebensraum of Hitler and on to reunification of the two Germanys until today's return to normalcy. Chapter 2, Major Foods and Ingredients, highlights the classic German staples. Chapter 3, Cooking, discusses the family and gender dynamics plus cooking techniques and utensils, the German kitchen, and the professional chef as media figure phenomenon. The Typical Meals chapter gives an in-depth insider's look at how and what Germans eat today. Chapter 5, Eating Out, describes the wide range of opportunities for eating out, from grabbing Currywurst on the street, to lunching in office and school cafeterias, to meeting friends for coffee and cake at the Konditerei. German holidays and special occasions are elaborated on in the context of more secular and younger influences in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 covers the German diet and the strong interest in health in the country, with its holistic roots. Food safety, a big topic in Europe today, is also discussed at length. An introduction, chronology, glossary, resource guide, selected bibliography, and illustrations complete this outstanding resource.
Household Food Storage in Ancient Israel and Judah by
This study serves as a source book on domestic food storage in Ancient Israel and Judah by outlining important ethnographic and ancient textual and pictorial sources relevant to the discussion. These allow us to understand the motivated actions in relation to food storage, and the significance of food storage in daily life. On the basis of twenty-two well-excavated buildings from thirteen Iron Age sites, representative archaeological data is examined. For each house the total preserved food storage capacity is calculated, activity areas are identified, and specific patterns are noted. Food storage equipment, the location and role of food storage in the household, and the integration with other activities are analysed. Storage rooms were often located at the margins of houses, but a considerable part of the stored food was kept in other activity areas toward the centre. The data indicates that in Iron Age I food was stored mainly domestically or in shared community facilities, while redistributive food storage became more common in Iron Age II, with significant domestic storage continuing. The ideal of self-sufficiency remained.
Scandinavian Feasts by
Drawing upon her rich knowledge of Scandinavian cuisine and culture, expert chef and veteran writer Beatrice Ojakangas presents a multitude of delicious yet remarkably simple recipes in this cookbook classic, available in paperback for the first time. Scandinavian Feasts features the cuisine of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and it includes menus made up of a bounty of appetizers, drinks, smorgasbord, meats, fish, soups, vegetables, desserts, and breads. Easily as engaging as the dishes themselves, each recipe comes with an introduction that explains the cultural importance of the feast and details its seasonal significance.During the long, dark Scandinavian winter, the meals tend to be hearty and substantial. In Sweden and western Finland, a traditional Thursday lunch consists of pea soup and pancakes. A typical winter dinner might include Danish crackling roast pork with sugar-browned potatoes topped off with an irresistible ice cream cake. Christmastime gatherings, in particular, are often a chance to celebrate with a cup of hot glogg or Swedish punch. When the winter is finally over, the seemingly endless summer days are savored along with the fresh fruits and vegetables that are hard to find after the short growing season. During the white nights of Sweden and Norway, it is customary to serve a midnight supper after a concert or the theater, while a special occasion such as a baptism or anniversary might call for a feast of dill-stuffed whole salmon followed by kransekake, a beautiful towering ring cake of ground almonds. No matter what your level of expertise as a cook, the recipes are easy to use. The ingredients are commonly found in most grocery stores. ScandinavianFeasts is sure to delight enthusiasts of Scandinavian culture and lovers of fine food everywhere.
Seasoned Socialism by
Seasoned Socialism considers the relationship between gender and food in late Soviet daily life. Political and economic conditions heavily influenced Soviet life and foodways during this period and an exploration of Soviet women's central role in the daily sustenance for their families as well as the obstacles they faced on this quest offers new insights into intergenerational and inter-gender power dynamics of that time. Food, both in its quality and quantity, was a powerful tool in the Soviet Union. This collection features work by scholars in an array of fields including cultural studies, literary studies, sociology, history, and food studies, and the work gathered here explores the intersection of gender, food, and culture in the post-1960s Soviet context. From personal cookbooks to gulag survival strategies, Seasoned Socialism considers gender construction and performance across a wide array of primary sources, including poetry, fiction, film, women's journals, oral histories, and interviews. This collection provides fresh insight into how the Soviet government sought to influence both what citizens ate and how they thought about food.
Storied Dishes by
We are what we eat--not just physiologically, but culturally. This collection of cross-cultural, generational essays, and accompanying recipes shows the profound importance of food dishes within American women's lives. For people of every ethnicity, food provides much more than mere fuel for the body--it contains an invisible component that ties families and generations together with the continuity of shared experience. And for the women who are entrusted with the responsibility of keeping that priceless cultural thread intact, family recipes embody tradition, bridge generation gaps, and erase age differences. This book is organized around 50 short essays and recipes presented by women from multicultural backgrounds and dissimilar walks of life. The chapters depict the paths of these individuals in their lives and the details of how they acquired their precious family recipes. The stories document how women universally use inherited family recipes to remember and memorialize key women in their lives and to aid and measure their own growth and development. Included are reminiscences of an Egyptian aunt, a poor mother from Australia, a Katrina-flooded New Orleans family, Turkish relations, Chinese mothers, and Indian grandmothers. Over 40 contributors, including well-known food writers, food historians, scholars, chefs, editors, and other professionals, representing the spectrum of cultural backgrounds and experiences of American women Presents original, never before published works Showcases personal photos of contributors, stained and tattered recipes, unique foods, and women who originated dishes Introduction describes the involving story of the editor's initial inspiration and the scope of book
America: the Cookbook by
With 800 home-cooking recipes, America: The Cookbook is a celebration of the remarkable diversity of American food and food culture state by state. Features 50 essays and menus from a 'who's who' of 100 foremost food experts and chefs. America: The Cookbook is the first book to document comprehensively - and celebrate - the remarkable diversity of American cuisine and food culture. A thoroughly researched compendium of 800 home-cooking recipes for delicious and authentic American dishes, America: The Cookbook explores the country's myriad traditions and influences, regional favorites and melting-pot fusion - the culinary heritage of a nation, from appetizers to desserts and beyond. A unique state-by-state section features essays and menus from a 'who's who' of 100 foremost food experts and chefs.
The American Plate by
"Like many miniencyclopedias, this one is studded with often intriguing facts."--Kirkus New York Post Required Reading and an Entertainment Weekly Top 3 Must-Read! From the chief historian at HISTORY® comes a rich chronicle of the evolution of American cuisine and culture, from before Columbus's arrival to today. Did you know that the first graham crackers were designed to reduce sexual desire? Or that Americans have tried fad diets for almost two hundred years? Why do we say things like "buck" for a dollar and "living high on the hog"? How have economics, technology, and social movements changed our tastes? Uncover these and other fascinating aspects of American food traditions in The American Plate. Dr. Libby H. O'Connell takes readers on a mouth-watering journey through America's culinary evolution into the vibrant array of foods we savor today. In 100 tantalizing bites, ranging from blueberries and bagels to peanut butter, hard cider, and Cracker Jack, O'Connell reveals the astonishing ways that cultures and individuals have shaped our national diet and continue to influence how we cook and eat. Peppered throughout with recipes, photos, and tidbits on dozens of foods, from the surprising origins of Hershey Bars to the strange delicacies our ancestors enjoyed, such as roast turtle and grilled beaver tail. Inspiring and intensely satisfying, The American Plateshows how we can use the tastes of our shared past to transform our future.
The Book of New Israeli Food by
In this stunning new work that is at once a coffee-table book to browse and a complete cookbook, Janna Gur brings us the sumptuous color, variety, and history of today's Israeli cuisine, beautifully illustrated by Eilon Paz, a photographer who is intimate with the local scene. In Gur's captivating introduction, she describes Israeli food as a product of diverse cultures- the Jews of the Diaspora, settling in a homeland that was new to them, brought their far-flung cuisines to the table even as they looked to their Arab neighbors for additional ingredients and ideas. The delicious, easy-to-follow recipes represent all of these influences, and include some creative interpretations of classics by celebrated Israeli chefs- Beetroot and Pomegranate Salad, Fish Falafel in Spicy Harissa Mayonnaise, Homemade Shawarma, Chreime-North African Hot Fish Stew, Roasted Chicken Drumsticks in Carob Syrup. With favorite recipes for the Sabbath (Sweet Challah Traditional Chopped Liver, Chocolate and Halva Coffeecake) and for holidays (Balkan Potato and Leek Pancakes, Flourless Chocolate and Pistachio Cake), this book offers a unique culinary experience for every occasion. All of this is enriched by Paz's gorgeous and vibrantly colored photographs and by short narratives about significant aspects of Israel's diverse cuisine, such as the generous and unique Israeli breakfast (which grew out of the needs of Kibbutz life), locally produced cheeses that now rival those of Europe, and a dramatic renaissance of wine culture in this ancient land. "In less than thirty years," Janna Gur writes, "Israeli society has graduated... to a true gastronomic haven." Here she gives us a book that does full, delectable justice to the significance of Israeli food today-Mediterranean at its heart, richly spiced, and imbued with cross-cultural flavors.
Cheese, Wine, and Bread by
"Open-hearted and buoyant, the book weaves together her hands-on experiences in Europe and introduces us to a rich cast of people who make, sell and care about these traditions." --Jenny Linford, author of The Missing Ingredient In this delightful, full-color tour of France, England, and Italy, YouTube star Katie Quinn shares the stories and science behind everyone's fermented favorites--cheese, wine, and bread--along with classic recipes. Delicious staples of a great meal, bread, cheese, and wine develop their complex flavors through a process known as fermentation. Katie Quinn spent months as an apprentice with some of Europe's most acclaimed experts to study the art and science of fermentation. Visiting grain fields, vineyards, and dairies, Katie brings the stories and science of these foods to the table, explains the process of each craft, and introduces the people behind them. What will keep readers glued to the book like a suspense novel is Katie's personal journey as an expat discovering herself abroad; Katie's vulnerability will turn readers into fans, and they'll finish the book feeling like they're her best friends, trusted with her innermost revelations. In England, Katie becomes a cheesemonger at Neal's Yard Dairy, London's preeminent cheese shop--the beginning of a journey that takes her from a goat farm in rural Somerset to a nationwide search for innovating dairy gurus. In Italy, Katie offers an inside look at Italian winemaking with the Comellis at their family-owned vineyard in Northeast Italy and witnesses the diversity of vintners as she makes her way around Italy. In France, Katie meets the reigning queen of bread, Apollonia Poilâne of Paris' famed Poilâne Bakery, apprentices at boulangeries in Paris learning the ins and outs of sourdough, and travels the country to uncover the present and future of French bread. Part artisanal survey, part travelogue, and part cookbook, featuring watercolor illustrations and gorgeous photographs, Cheese, Wine, and Bread is an outstanding gastronomic tour for foodies, cooks, artisans, and armchair travelers alike.
A Culinary History of Cape May by
Author John Howard-Fusco traces the roots of Cape May's delectable dishes and recipes from long ago to the modern day. Cape May is America's first seaside resort, and with that comes a mouthwatering food history. The New York Times even proclaimed the city "Restaurant Capital of New Jersey." The first settlers, the Kechemeche of the Lenape tribe, feasted on the fish and wild game in the area. The whaling industry briefly brought attention to the island, but Ellis Hughes's 1801 advertisement offering seashore entertainment with "fish, oysters, crabs, and good liquors" gave birth to a beachside haven. From the mint juleps to the Sunny Hall Café and the Chalfonte, culinary creativity thrives on the shore. Modern chefs like Lucas Manteca at the Red Store and Brooke Dodds's Empanada Mamas help keep the unique flair alive.
Eating Korea by
An energetic, fast-paced trip through the rapidly changing world of Korean cuisine by the author of Eating Viet Nam Journalist, world traveler, and avid eater Graham Holliday has sampled some of the most exotic and intriguing cuisines in countries around the globe. However, none has intrigued him more or stayed with him longer than Korea's. On a pilgrimage to Korea to unearth the real food eaten by locals, Holliday discovers a country of contradictions, a quickly developing modern society that hasn't decided whether to shed or embrace its culinary roots. Devotees still make and consume traditional dishes in tiny holes-in-the-wall even as the phenomenon of Korean people televising themselves eating (mukbang) spreads ever more widely. Amid a changing culture that's simultaneously trying to preserve what's best about traditional Korean food while opening itself to a panoply of global influences, that's balancing new and old, tradition and reinvention, the real and the artificial, Holliday seeks out the most delicious dishes in the most authentic settings-even if he has to prowl in back alleys to find them and convince reluctant restaurant owners that he can handle their unusual flavors. Holliday samples soondae (or blood sausage); beef barbeque; bibimbap; Korean black goat; wheat noodles in bottomless, steaming bowls; and the ubiquitous kimchi, discovering the exquisite, the inventive and, sometimes, the downright strange. Animated by Graham Holliday's warm, engaging voice, Eating Korea is a vibrant tour through one the world's most fascinating cultures and cuisines.
Food Lovers' Guide to New Jersey by
Food Lovers' Guides Indispensable handbooks to local gastronomic delights The ultimate guides to the food scene in their respective states or regions, these books provide the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy, and celebrate local culinary offerings. Engagingly written by local authorities, they are a one-stop for residents and visitors alike to find producers and purveyors of tasty local specialties, as well as a rich array of other, indispensable food-related information including: • Food festivals and culinary events • Farmers markets and farm stands • Specialty food shops • Places to pick your own produce • One-of-a-kind restaurants and landmark eateries • Recipes using local ingredients and traditions • The best wineries and brewpubs
Home on the Range by
A chronicle of the roots of American frontier cooking- in anecdotes, pioneer writing, and vintage photographs. 145 halftones throughout.
Hot Sour Salty Sweet by
Luminous at dawn and dusk, the Mekong is a river road, a vibrant artery that defines a vast and fascinating region. Here, along the world's tenth largest river, which rises in Tibet and joins the sea in Vietnam, traditions mingle and exquisite food prevails. Award-winning authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid followed the river south, as it flows through the mountain gorges of southern China, to Burma and into Laos and Thailand. For a while the right bank of the river is in Thailand, but then it becomes solely Lao on its way to Cambodia. Only after three thousand miles does it finally enter Vietnam and then the South China Sea. It was during their travels that Alford and Duguid--who ate traditional foods in villages and small towns and learned techniques and ingredients from cooks and market vendors--came to realize that the local cuisines, like those of the Mediterranean, share a distinctive culinary approach: Each cuisine balances, with grace and style, the regional flavor quartet of hot, sour, salty, and sweet. This book, aptly titled, is the result of their journeys. Like Alford and Duguid's two previous works, Flatbreads and Flavors ("a certifiable publishing event" --Vogue) and Seductions of Rice ("simply stunning"--The New York Times), this book is a glorious combination of travel and taste, presenting enticing recipes in "an odyssey rich in travel anecdote" (National Geographic Traveler). The book's more than 175 recipes for spicy salsas, welcoming soups, grilled meat salads, and exotic desserts are accompanied by evocative stories about places and people. The recipes and stories are gorgeously illustrated throughout with more than 150 full-color food and travel photographs. In each chapter, from Salsas to Street Foods, Noodles to Desserts, dishes from different cuisines within the region appear side by side: A hearty Lao chicken soup is next to a Vietnamese ginger-chicken soup; a Thai vegetable stir-fry comes after spicy stir-fried potatoes from southwest China. The book invites a flexible approach to cooking and eating, for dishes from different places can be happily served and eaten together: Thai Grilled Chicken with Hot and Sweet Dipping Sauce pairs beautifully with Vietnamese Green Papaya Salad and Lao sticky rice. North Americans have come to love Southeast Asian food for its bright, fresh flavors. But beyond the dishes themselves, one of the most attractive aspects of Southeast Asian food is the life that surrounds it. In Southeast Asia, people eat for joy. The palate is wildly eclectic, proudly unrestrained. In Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet, at last this great culinary region is celebrated with all the passion, color, and life that it deserves.
King Solomon's Table by
A definitive compendium of Jewish recipes from around the globe and across the ages, from the James Beard Award-winning, much-loved cookbook author and "the queen of American Jewish cooking" (Houston Chronicle) Driven by a passion for discovery, the biblical King Solomon is said to have sent emissaries on land and sea to all corners of the ancient world, initiating a mass cross-pollination of culinary cultures that continues to bear fruit today. With Solomon's appetites and explorations in mind, in these pages Joan Nathan gathers together more than 170 recipes, from Israel to Italy to India and beyond. Here are classics like Yemenite Chicken Soup with Dill, Cilantro, and Parsley; Slow-Cooked Brisket with Red Wine, Vinegar, and Mustard; and Apple Kuchen as well as contemporary riffs on traditional dishes such as Smoky Shakshuka with Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplant; Double-Lemon Roast Chicken; and Roman Ricotta Cheese Crostata. Here, too, are an array of dishes from the world over, from Socca (Chickpea Pancakes with Fennel, Onion, and Rosemary) and Sri Lankan Breakfast Buns with Onion Confit to Spanakit (Georgian Spinach Salad with Walnuts and Cilantro) and Keftes Garaz (Syrian Meatballs with Cherries and Tamarind). Gorgeously illustrated and filled with fascinating historical details, personal histories, and delectable recipes, King Solomon's Table showcases the dazzling diversity of a culinary tradition more than three thousand years old.
Rhapsody in Schmaltz by
Bagels, deli sandwiches and gefilte fish are only a few of the Jewish foods to have crossed into American culture and onto American plates.Rhapsody in Schmaltztraces the history and social impact of the cuisine that Yiddish-speaking Jews from Central and Eastern Europe brought to the U.S. and that their American descendants developed and refined. The book looks at how and where these dishes came to be, how they varied from region to region, the role they played in Jewish culture in Europe, and the role that they play in Jewish and more general American culture and foodways today. Rhapsody in Schmaltztraces the pathways of Jewish food from the Bible and Talmud, to Eastern Europe, to its popular landing pads in North America today. With an eye for detail and a healthy dose of humor, Michael Wex also examines how these impact modern culture, from temple to television. He looks at Diane Keaton's pastrami sandwich inAnnie Hall, Andy Kaufman's stint as Latke onTaxi and Larry David's Passover seder onCurb Your Enthusiasm, shedding light on how Jewish food permeates our modern imaginations. Rhapsody in Schmaltzis a journey into the sociology, humor, history, and traditions of food and Judaism.
The Russian Heritage Cookbook by
A culinary tradition perserved in 360 authentic recipes.
The Seventh Daughter by
A pioneer in the food world, Cecilia Chiang introduced Americans to authentic northern Chinese cuisine at her San Francisco restaurant, the Mandarin, in 1961, earning the adoration of generations of diners, including local luminaries such as Marion Cunningham, Ruth Reichl, and Chuck Williams. In THE SEVENTH DAUGHTER, Chiang presents a classic collection of recipes framed by her gripping life's story. Beginning with her account of a privileged childhood in 1920s and 1930s Beijing, Chiang chronicles a 1,000-mile trek on foot in the wake of the Japanese occupation, her arrival in San Francisco, and her transformation from accidental restaurateur to culinary pioneer. The book's recipes feature cherished childhood dishes and definitive Mandarin classics, while showcasing Cecilia's purist approach to authentic Chinese home cooking. - The signature recipes and extraordinary story of Cecilia Chiang, the grande dame of Chinese cooking in America. - Includes more than 80 recipes, 20 full-color styled food photographs, and archival photography from Chiang's private collection. - Recipes feature in-depth notes on sourcing ingredients and tips on simplifying the recipes. - Features menus for putting together Chinese banquets and dinners at home.
The Thai Table by
The Thai Table- A Celebration of Culinary Treasuresis a collection of recipes that range from the authentic and traditional, to vibrant, modern interpretations of this alluring and fascinating cuisine. With contributions from 20 master chefs in the cuisine, including notable culinary personalities such as Ken Hom, David Thompson, Neil Perry and chefs from the Blue Elephant Cookery School and the Regent Hotel and Spa Cookery School, this compendium of 120 modern and traditional Thai recipes is a collectible volume. Lavishly designed and photographed, it is a permanent keepsake for every foodie, amateur cook and professional chef.
Turkish Cooking by
We immerse ourselves first in a dozen "Traveler's Tales" describing the Robertson's experiences--clambering among Lydian rock tombs, taking a ferry up the Bosporus, exploring the ancient cities of Ankara and Istanbul. These adventures entice us into the second part of the book, which presents classic Turkish dishes--such as Fried Mussels, Stuffed Grape LEaves, Ciscassian Chicken, Raki Shrimp with Feta Cheese, and Baklava.
American Cuisine by
Hailed as a ?grand theory of the American appetite? (Rien Fertel, Wall Street Journal), food historian Paul Freedman's American Cuisine demonstrates that there is an exuberant and diverse, if not always coherent, American cuisine that reflects the history of the nation itself. Combining historical rigor and culinary passion, Freedman underscores three recurrent themes?regionality, standardization, and variety?that shape a ?captivating history? (Drew Tewksbury, Los Angeles Times) of American culinary habits from postcolonial days to the present. The book is also filled with anecdotes that will delight food lovers: how dry cereal was created by William Kellogg for people with digestive problems; that Chicken Parmesan is actually an American invention; and that Florida Key lime pie goes back only to the 1940s and was based on a recipe developed by Borden's condensed milk. A new standard in food writing, American Cuisine is a landmark work that sheds astonishing light on a history most of us never believed we had.