A Bite-Sized History of Italy - by Danielle Callegari (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A compelling exploration into the rich tapestry of Italian food history and culture, from the Roman Empire to today, by the co-host of the top-ranked Gola food and wine podcast

Though a relatively young country, Italy's culinary identity has been simmering for centuries, shaped by a shared gastronomic culture. From the dormice and pungent fish sauce of the Roman Empire to the heresy of pineapple pizza, A Bite-Sized History of Italy traces this legacy, offering a delicious romp through millennia of culinary tradition and transformation.

Author Danielle Callegari, Dartmouth College professor and celebrated Gola podcast co-host, guides readers through the kitchens, vineyards, city squares, and coastal ports of the iconic peninsula, painting an intimate portrait of a place justly famous for its cuisine--so much so that food might well be the very reason for its existence.

With boundless energy and a fearless palate, Callegari explores beloved staples--pizza, pasta, parmigiano--alongside the unsung flavors that shaped Italian identity: legumes, wild herbs, game birds, spices, and the contributions of Jewish and other minority communities. Readers will uncover the true history of the tomato, Mussolini's failed attempt to replace pasta with rice, the "Carbonaragate" scandal that made international headlines, and more. Drawing on ancient cookbooks, medieval architecture, and contemporary cooking shows, Callegari reveals how Italy's rise as Europe's gastronomic heart is rooted in religious customs, class dynamics, and the echoes of empire, and how food became a language of both unity and division.

Chapters feature recipes, beverage pairings, compelling historical vignettes, and current restaurant recommendations. Vivid and entertaining, this latest addition to The New Press's standout Bite-Sized History series, A Bite-Sized History of Italy offers a glimpse of the making of Italy itself--a nation defined, defended, and devoured around the table.

About the Author

Danielle Callegari is an associate professor of Italian at Dartmouth College, where she specializes in medieval Italian literature and transhistorical food and beverage studies. Since 2022 she has been a writer at large for Wine Enthusiast, where she reviews the wines of Tuscany and southern Italy. She is also the Communications Director for the Dante Society of America and co-host of Gola, a podcast dedicated to Italian food and beverage culture. In addition to her many contributions to academic and trade publications, she is the author of Dante's Gluttons (Amsterdam University Press) and A Bite-Sized History of Italy (The New Press). She resides between Hanover, New Hampshire, and Rome, Italy.