Near a Thousand Tables: A History of Food

A brilliant account from acclaimed food historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto on the fascinating story of food as culture, culinary history, and the eight great revolutions in the history of food--perfect for fans of Tasting History. In this "appetizingly provocative" (Los Angeles Times) book, food historian Felipe Fernandez-Armesto guides readers through the eight great revolutions in the world history of food: the origins of cooking, which set humankind on a course apart from other species; the ritualization of eating, which brought magic and meaning into people's relationship with what they ate; the inception of herding and the invention of agriculture, perhaps the two greatest revolutions of all; the rise of inequality, which led to the development of haute cuisine; the long-range trade in food which, practically alone, broke down cultural barriers; the ecological exchanges, which revolutionized the global distribution of plants and livestock; and, finally, the industrialization and globalization of mass-produced food. From prehistoric snail "herding" to Roman banquets to Big Macs to genetically modified tomatoes, Near a Thousand Tables is a full-course meal of extraordinary narrative, brilliant insight, and fascinating explorations that will satisfy the hungriest of readers.

• | Author: Felipe Fernandez-Armesto
• | Publisher: Free Press
• | Publication Date: Sep 02, 2003
• | Number of Pages: 272 pages
• | Binding: Paperback or Softback
• | ISBN-10: 0743227409
• | ISBN-13: 9780743227407