I recently finished a class at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies, Foods That Changed The World, taught by the wonderful and engaging Naomi Duguid. For six weeks, we discussed things like rice and wheat, coffee and cacao, wine, and peanuts and olives. It was an incredible learning opportunity and I've been inspired to read more culinary history.
So, here's what I'm reading (or what I've read):
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
Empires Of Food: Feast, Famine & The Rise and Fall of Civilizations by Evan D.G. Fraser & Andrew Rimas
Tasting Food, Tasting Freedom by Sidney W. Mintz
Sweetness And Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History by Sidney W. Mintz
Bitter Chocolate: Investigating The Dark Side of The World's Most Seductive Sweet by Carol Off
The Sugar Barons: Family, Corruption, Empire, And War in The West Indies by Matthew Parker
Salt by Mark Kurlansky (a longtime favourite of mine)
Cod by Mark Kurlansky
Dust Bowl: The Southern Plains in the 1930's by Donald Worster
The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived The Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan
Extra Virginity: The Sublime & Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller
The True History Of Chocolate by Sophie D. Coe & Michael D. Coe
1491: New Revelations About The Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
1493: Uncovering The New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann
Save The Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, And The Heart of Jewish Delicatessen by David Sax
The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis
Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss
The books about The Dust Bowl touch on the consequences of this environmental disaster for farmers and food security, issues that remain today. Although the books by Charles C. Mann broadly discuss The Americas before and after Columbus' arrival in 1492, he includes a vivid picture of our food landscape, which is fascinating. I am also very curious about specific food histories and traditions, hence the re-read of David Sax' Save The Deli and The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis.