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How Would You Like Your Mammoth?

12,000 Years of Culinary History in 50 Bite-Size Essays

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A culinary romp through 50 dishes that define human history—from prehistoric roasted mammoth to space-age dehydrated soup

"[Uta Seeburg] brings the characters of history to life in fifty snackable essays . . . the amuse-boucheto a historical smorgasbord."—Max Miller, New York Times–bestselling author of Tasting History

Did you know that ancient Egyptians mummified beef ribs for their dearly departed to enjoy in the afterlife? That Roman gladiators were relegated to a vegan diet of grains and beans? That the fast-food hamburger was a result of a postwar, high-efficiency work ethic?

This snackable collection of essays is a chronological journey through the culinary history of humankind, packed to the brim with juicy tidbits. With author Uta Seeburg as your guide, you'll learn how certain dishes serve as windows into broader historical trends and the cultural values of the people who first invented them. As you read, you'll discover why:

  • Nomads in ancient Syria were deadly serious about hospitality
  • A 16th-century cookbook author argued that beavers should be considered fish
  • Roasted swan was the centerpiece of choice in 1650s high society—despite tasting awful
  • A Portuguese princess was responsible for popularizing tea in England
  • A king had to order his subjects to eat potatoes
  • . . . and much more. Foodies and history buffs alike will savor every amusing yet educational historical snapshot, from how a bureaucratic society fixated on record-keeping brought us one of the oldest recorded recipes (lamb stew with barley and onions) to how modern-day chefs are turning invasive species into haute cuisine. How Would You Like Your Mammoth? is a fascinating look at how the food we eat defines us—and always has.

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      • Booklist

        May 1, 2024
        Reassuring readers that history isn't dull, colorless, or boring, German author Seeburg unquestionably captures our attention with these brief essays exploring food and cooking from 10 millennia BCE to the present day. Pharaonic tombs reveal that long-ago Egyptians may have savored prime rib, with mummified beef rib bones to accompany the dead into the afterlife. Roman-era gladiators bulked up on barley stew flavored with garum, a fish sauce. The sixteenth century showed that dieting for weight loss already bedeviled some. At the same time, outlandish preparations of live birds in pastry cages tickled upper-class fancies. By the 1800s, canning and other preservation techniques took the culinary arts in new directions. Britain made fish and chips a national dish, and Japanese chefs perfected sushi, which would blossom worldwide in the next century. Television was barely invented in 1937 when the BBC presented a French chef showing viewers how to prepare an omelet. The rest, as they say, is history. Seeburg's lack of pretension makes her reflections appealing to a huge swath of readers.

        COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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    • English

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