The story of cuisine and the social history of eating is a fascinating one, and Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat covers all its aspects in this definitiv...
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reviews
Dec 16, 2009
Brad
rated it: 
Despite the Euro and Franco-centric scope of the book as broader history, this book contains fascinating food scholarship wrapped into cogent narrative morsels. Many people I know use it as a reference book but I couldn't put it down and read it cover-to-cover.
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Sep 22, 2010
Rebecca
rated it: 
A whacking huge brick of a book, but if you're at all interested in culinary history, or want to know where an ingredient was first eaten and when, this book will tell you. Lots of pictures, lots of detail, this is one of my keepers.
For the more complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/History_o...
For the more complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/History_o...
Nov 27, 2011
Stacy
rated it:
I agree with a previous reviewer -- the focus is very euro-centric, with North America considered and Asia added as afterthoughts for some topics. However, thoroughly researched and terribly informational. I used it as a reference for a paper and found myself plowing through the rest of it out of sheer curiosity and interest.
Mar 30, 2010
C
rated it: 
A bit dry... not a book you pick up and walk around with, but a book you pick up and haul to the couch/bed/chair and read...then sleep.
Jan 22, 2011
Delicious! MANY courses, served over many, many, many months! At 705 pages, I'll be salivating over this for some time to come I'm sure!
Dec 03, 2011
Mike
rated it:
As other reviewers have said, this is definitely Euro-centric. It is sometimes a little dry, but still pretty engaging.
Mar 15, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
One of my favorite books - WOW! What a joy to read the history and evolution of food.
Jul 10, 2011
Charles
rated it:
Just reading this updated (by Betty Fussell!) edition of a classic- Wow!
Apr 14, 2010
Matt
rated it:
An excellent tome! Wish I could have read it all before I had to turn it in.
Oct 22, 2009
Wm
rated it:
A crazy mix of anthropology, history, classical allusions, anecdotes, commentary and cultural history all wrapped up in a robust love for gastronomy and a Franco-orientation. Delightful (and very very long) so long as you don't take as the gospel truth. Quite the fascinating read.
Aug 29, 2011
SL
rated it: 
Tried to read this one mainly because JG Ballard had it on his bookshelf but got way too bogged down in it...finally gave up. Just too general, sprawling and scattershot for my liking...perhaps I'll try a more specific food-item book, like "Cod", or "Salt"...hmm, I'm getting hungry all of a sudden...
Jan 28, 2008
This is more of a reference book, and it's about three inches thick, so maybe it will always stay on my to-read "shelf".
Jan 25, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
I read this a lot. Very intresting, a little hard to read. But still intresting.
Apr 20, 2011
I haven't finished this book but I will finish this book because it is FASCINATING.
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