The Secret History of Food - by Matt Siegel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An irreverent, surprising, and entirely entertaining look at the little-known history surrounding the foods we know and love.

Is Italian olive oil really Italian, or are we dipping our bread in lamp oil? Why are we masochistically drawn to foods that can hurt us, like hot peppers? Far from being a classic American dish, is apple pie actually . . . English?

"As a species, we're hardwired to obsess over food," Matt Siegel explains as he sets out "to uncover the hidden side of everything we put in our mouths." Siegel also probes subjects ranging from the myths--and realities--of food as aphrodisiac, to how one of the rarest and most exotic spices in all the world (vanilla) became a synonym for uninspired sexual proclivities, to the role of food in fairy- and morality tales. He even makes a well-argued case for how ice cream helped defeat the Nazis.

The Secret History of Food is a rich and satisfying exploration of the historical, cultural, scientific, sexual, and, yes, culinary subcultures of this most essential realm. Siegel is an armchair Anthony Bourdain, armed not with a chef's knife but with knowledge derived from medieval food-related manuscripts, ancient Chinese scrolls, and obscure culinary journals. Funny and fascinating, The Secret History of Food is essential reading for all foodies.

Review Quotes

"Idiosyncratic essays that will give foodies much to digest." - Kirkus Reviews

"Let's cut to the chase: any book that has pie as a narrative is a must-read! With a historian's lens and a foodie's passion, here's a witty and wise journey that reso­lutely reminds us that we are what we eat. Beneath each captivating chapter title lies a perfectly seasoned guide to the role food has played, from Plymouth Rock to the present." - Danny Meyer, restauranteur and author of Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business

"Matt Siegel takes us on a fascinating ride through history to help us better under­ stand the foods we eat and the rituals we enjoy-and the constantly evolving tandem relationship therein. Reading this doesn't just offer fun facts; it will inspire you to marvel at the curiosity of the human condition." - Katie Quinn, author of Cheese, Wine, and Bread

"Once you read Matt Siegel's The Secret History of Food, you'll never look at a scoop of ice cream or an ear of corn the same way again. The book is packed with super fun facts about the stuff we eat every day, and when you're done with it, you'll be thoroughly stocked with great stories for your next dinner party." - Wylie Dufresne, chef

"An often shocking, always page-turning, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny read, as well as a rapid-fire education in everything you didn't know about food but really should. Matt Siegel's gentle, biting humor will guide you through an unsettling history of what we eat. You won't look at your morning cereal the same way ever again, and you probably won't call your partner 'honey' ever again, either. An educational blast." - Graham Holliday, author of Eating Viet Nam and Eating Korea