Synopsis

A clever and whimsical illustrated history of 26 iconic American foods, from Ambrosia to Zucchini Bread 

This captivating and surprising tour of America’s culinary canon celebrates the variety, charm, and occasionally dubious lore of the foods we love to eat, as well as the under-sung heroes who made them. Every chapter, organized from A to Z, delves into the history of a classic dish or ingredient, most so common we take them for granted. These distinctly American foods, from Blueberries and Fortune Cookies to Pepperoni, Hot Wings, Shrimp and Grits, Queso, and yes, even Xanthan Gum, have rich and complex back stories that are often hidden in plain sight, lost to urban myth and misinformation. American Food: A Not-So-Serious History digs deep to tell the compelling tales of some of our most ordinary foods and what they say about who we are—and who, perhaps, we are becoming.

Review

This is a book that will teach you something new about the foods that have been in your life for decades but you just didn’t know the full story.

The authors chose food that has made an impact on our culture from each letter of the alphabet.

Each food that was chosen for this book was deeply researched and it was fascinating to read the history because let’s face it, we don’t think about how foods came into our culture or our homes growing up.

I have to point out that the letter L is for lunchbox and not an actual food but what memories that brings to mind.  I remember taking my Uncle’s lunchbox to school, a thinner green metal box and I loved that lunchbox!

I have really enjoyed reading this book and marveling at the amount of history packed into this gem of a book.  If you have kids that need to do a fun school project regarding food, this book might give them a jump start.  The authors did a wonderful job of documenting their facts and notated when some was speculation.

The book does have some recipes in it that a reader can test out.  I know of some other bloggers tied to Abrams Dinner Party that tried the Vinegar Pie and the Upside Down Cake.

This book is a lot of fun and I highly suggest checking it out and learning some fun facts about various foods.

We give this book 5 paws up!