Crossroads of Cuisine

Download Crossroads of Cuisine PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : BRILL
ISBN 13 : 9004432108
Total Pages : 352 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (44 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Crossroads of Cuisine by : Paul David Buell

Download or read book Crossroads of Cuisine written by Paul David Buell and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2020-11-04 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crossroads of Cuisine offers history of food and cultural exchanges in and around Central Asia. It discusses geographical base, and offers historical and cultural overview. A photo essay binds it all together. The book offers new views of the past.

Charlemagne's Tablecloth

Download Charlemagne's Tablecloth PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
ISBN 13 : 1466864400
Total Pages : 337 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (668 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Charlemagne's Tablecloth by : Nichola Fletcher

Download or read book Charlemagne's Tablecloth written by Nichola Fletcher and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2014-02-04 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Feasts, banquets, and grand dinners have always played a vital role in our lives. They oil the wheels of diplomacy, smooth the paths of the ambitious, and spread joy at family celebrations. They lift the spirits, involve all our senses and, at times, transport us to other fantastical worlds. Some feasts have given rise to hilarious misunderstandings, at others competitive elements take over. Some are purely for pleasure, some connect uncomfortably with death, but all are interesting. Nichola Fletcher has written a captivating history of feasts and entertaining throughout the ages that includes the dramatic failures along with the dazzling successes. From a humble meal of potatoes provided by an angel, to the extravagance of the high medieval and Renaissance tables groaning with red deer and wild boar, to the exquisite refinement of the Japanese tea ceremony, Charlemagne's Tablecloth covers them all. In her gustatory exploration of history's great feasting tables, Fletcher also answers more than a few riddles, such as "Why did Charlemagne use an asbestos tablecloth at his feasts?" and "Where did the current craze for the elegant Japanese Kaiseki meal begin?" Fletcher answers these questions and many more while inviting readers to a feasting table that extends all the way from Charlemagne's castle to her own millennium feast in Scotland. This is an eclectic collection of food and feasts from the flamboyant to the eccentric, the delicious to the disgusting, and sometimes just the touchingly ordinary. For anyone who has ever sat down at a banquet dining table and wondered, "Why?" Nichola Fletcher provides the delicious answer in a book that is a feast all its own.

Milk

Download Milk PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Knopf
ISBN 13 : 0385351216
Total Pages : 353 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (853 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Milk by : Anne Mendelson

Download or read book Milk written by Anne Mendelson and published by Knopf. This book was released on 2013-05-01 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part cookbook—with more than 120 enticing recipes—part culinary history, part inquiry into the evolution of an industry, Milk is a one-of-a-kind book that will forever change the way we think about dairy products. Anne Mendelson, author of Stand Facing the Stove, first explores the earliest Old World homes of yogurt and kindred fermented products made primarily from sheep’s and goats’ milk and soured as a natural consequence of climate. Out of this ancient heritage from lands that include Greece, Bosnia, Turkey, Israel, Persia, Afghanistan, and India, she mines a rich source of culinary traditions. Mendelson then takes us on a journey through the lands that traditionally only consumed milk fresh from the cow—what she calls the Northwestern Cow Belt (northern Europe, Great Britain, North America). She shows us how milk reached such prominence in our diet in the nineteenth century that it led to the current practice of overbreeding cows and overprocessing dairy products. Her lucid explanation of the chemical intricacies of milk and the simple home experiments she encourages us to try are a revelation of how pure milk products should really taste. The delightfully wide-ranging recipes that follow are grouped according to the main dairy ingredient: fresh milk and cream, yogurt, cultured milk and cream, butter and true buttermilk, fresh cheeses. We learn how to make luscious Clotted Cream, magical Lemon Curd, that beautiful quasi-cheese Mascarpone, as well as homemade yogurt, sour cream, true buttermilk, and homemade butter. She gives us comfort foods such as Milk Toast and Cream of Tomato Soup alongside Panir and Chhenna from India. Here, too, are old favorites like Herring with Sour Cream Sauce, Beef Stroganoff, a New Englandish Clam Chowder, and the elegant Russian Easter dessert, Paskha. And there are drinks for every season, from Turkish Ayran and Indian Lassis to Batidos (Latin American milkshakes) and an authentic hot chocolate. This illuminating book will be an essential part of any food lover’s collection and is bound to win converts determined to restore the purity of flavor to our First Food.

The World Cookbook [4 volumes]

Download The World Cookbook [4 volumes] PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 2236 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (161 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The World Cookbook [4 volumes] by : Jeanne Jacob

Download or read book The World Cookbook [4 volumes] written by Jeanne Jacob and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2014-01-15 with total page 2236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the only world cookbook in print that explores the foods of every nation-state across the globe, providing information on special ingredients, cooking methods, and commonalities that link certain dishes across different geographical areas. Increasing globalization, modern communication, and economic development have impacted every aspect of daily life, including the manner by which food is produced and distributed. While these trends have increased the likelihood and expansion of food influences, variations of the same popular dishes have been found in regions all over the world long before now. This book is an ecological, historical, and cultural examination of why certain foods are eaten, and how these foods are prepared by different social groups within the same—and different—geographical region. The authors cover more than 200 countries and cultural groups, featuring each nation's food culture and traditions, and providing overviews on foodstuffs, typical dishes, and styles of eating. This revised edition features in excess of 400 new recipes, several new countries, and additional sidebars with fun facts explaining unique foods and unfamiliar ingredients. More than 1,600 recipes for popular appetizers, main courses, desserts, snack foods, and celebration dishes are provided, allowing readers to construct full menus from every country of the world.

Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals

Download Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Jones & Bartlett Learning
ISBN 13 : 0763759651
Total Pages : 638 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (637 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals by : Sari Edelstein

Download or read book Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals written by Sari Edelstein and published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. This book was released on 2011 with total page 638 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals comprehensively covers unique food traditions as they apply to health. The text explores the critical importance of cultural sensitivity and competency in today's work setting, addresses health literacy issues of diverse client bases, and helps readers identify customer communication techniques that enable professionals to establish trust with clients of ethnicity not their own. Written and peer reviewed by experts in the culture discussed, each chapter in this groundbreaking text covers a distinct region or culture and discusses the various contexts that contribute to nutrition and health: lifestyles, eating patterns, ethnic foods, menu planning, communication (verbal and non-verbal), and more. This book is consistent with The American Dietetic Association’s Cultural Competence Strategic Plan.

The One Pot Cook (Fixed Format)

Download The One Pot Cook (Fixed Format) PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 178185310X
Total Pages : 275 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (818 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The One Pot Cook (Fixed Format) by : Hattie Ellis

Download or read book The One Pot Cook (Fixed Format) written by Hattie Ellis and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-09-30 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forget expensive gadgets. Forget fancy foams. It's time to get back to home cooking and real food. Cooking has become far too complicated. Award-winning food writer Hattie Ellis thinks it's time to rekindle our love for the simple One Pot meal: good food, great flavour, no fuss. Whether you want quick, tasty suppers, or leisurely weekend feasts, The One Pot Cook has 150 mouthwatering recipes to suit all tastes. These include family favourites such as Cottage Pie and Hot Pot; treats from distant shores such as Beef Rendang and Gumbo; and puddings to make the meal complete such as Apple Charlotte and Toffee Banana Tarte Tatin. So grab a pot, sharpen your knives and get ready to become a One Pot Cook. This ebook edition of The One Pot Cook has been optimised for reading on tablets and includes a fully-linked index for ease of cross-referencing.

The Oxford Companion to Food

Download The Oxford Companion to Food PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 019104072X
Total Pages : 953 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Oxford Companion to Food by : Alan Davidson

Download or read book The Oxford Companion to Food written by Alan Davidson and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2014-08-21 with total page 953 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: the best food reference work ever to appear in the English language ... read it and be dazzled' Bee Wilson, New Statesman First published in 1999, the ground-breaking Oxford Companion to Food was an immediate success and won prizes and accolades around the world. Its blend of serious food history, culinary expertise, and entertaining serendipity, was and remains unique. Interest in food, cooking, and the culture surrounding food has grown enormously in the intervening period, as has the study of food and food history. University departments, international societies, and academic journals have sprung up dedicated to exploring the meaning of food in the daily lives of people around the world, alongside an ever-increasing number of articles, books, programmes, and websites in the general media devoted to the discussion of food, making the Oxford Companion to Food more relevant than ever. Already a food writing classic, this Companion combines an exhaustive catalogue of foods, be they biscuits named after battles, divas or revolutionaries; body parts (from nose to tail, toe to cerebellum); or breads from the steppes of Asia or the well-built ovens of the Mediterranean; with a richly allusive commentary on the culture of food, expressed in literature and cookery books, or as dishes peculiar to a country or community. While building on the Companion's existing strengths, Tom Jaine has taken the opportunity to update the text and alert readers to new perspectives in food studies. There is new coverage of attitudes to food consumption, production and perception, such as food and genetics, food and sociology, and obesity. New entries include terms such as convenience foods, drugs and food, Ethiopia, leftovers, medicine and food, pasta, and many more. There are also new entries on important personalities who are of special significance within the world of food, among them Clarence Birdseye, Henri Nestl?, and Louis Pasteur. In its new edition the Companion maintains its place as the foremost food reference resource for study and home use.

Dieting for an Emperor

Download Dieting for an Emperor PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : BRILL
ISBN 13 : 9004377425
Total Pages : 400 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (43 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Dieting for an Emperor by : Grant

Download or read book Dieting for an Emperor written by Grant and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2018-07-17 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The commentary indicates Oribasius' source for each quotation or paraphrase, assesses the accuracy and comprehensibility of the contents, and suggests the reasons behind the recommendations and rejections of certain cakes, breads, fruits and vegetables. To aid further research in the field of ancient dietetics, a detailed word index is appended. The introduction summarises the more important points about the medical theories behind the humours and qualities, and how regulating the intake of foods could assist in the maintenance of good health.

Roman Cookery

Download Roman Cookery PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Serif
ISBN 13 : 1909150460
Total Pages : 186 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Roman Cookery by : Mark Grant

Download or read book Roman Cookery written by Mark Grant and published by Serif. This book was released on 2015-05-19 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Roman Cookery unveils one of Europe's last great culinary secrets – the food eaten by the ordinary people of ancient Rome. Based on olive oil, fish and fresh vegetables, it was the origin of of the Mediterranean diet as we know it today and, in particular, of classic Italian cooking. Mark Grant, researcher extraordinaire, has unearthed everyday recipes like Tuna Wrapped in Vine Leaves, Olive Oil Bread Flavoured with Cheese, and Honeyed Quinces. Like an archaeologist uncovering a kitchen at Pompeii, he reveals treasures such as Ham in Red Wine and Fennel Sauce, Honey and Sesame Pizza, and Walnut and Fig Cakes. The Romans were great lovers of herbs, and Roman Cookery offers a delicious array of herb sauces and purées, originally made with a pestle and mortar, but here adapted, like all these dishes, to be made with modern kitchen equipment. This revised and expanded edition includes previously unknown recipes, allowing the reader to savour more than a hundred simple but refined dishes that were first enjoyed more than two millennia ago.

Street Food around the World

Download Street Food around the World PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 883 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (161 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Street Food around the World by : Bruce Kraig

Download or read book Street Food around the World written by Bruce Kraig and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2013-09-09 with total page 883 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this encyclopedia, two experienced world travelers and numerous contributors provide a fascinating worldwide survey of street foods and recipes to document the importance of casual cuisine to every culture, covering everything from dumplings to hot dogs and kebabs to tacos. Street foods run deep throughout human history and show the movements of peoples and their foods across the globe. For example, mandoo, manti, momo, and baozi: all of these types of dumplings originated in Central Asia and spread across the Old World beginning in the 12th century. This encyclopedia surveys common street foods in about 100 countries and regions of the world, clearly depicting how "fast foods of the common people" fit into a country or a region's environments, cultural history, and economy. The entries provide engaging information about specific foods as well as coverage of vendor and food stall culture and issues. An appendix of recipes allows for hands-on learning and provides opportunities for readers to taste international street foods at home.

Pickled, Potted, and Canned

Download Pickled, Potted, and Canned PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 0743255534
Total Pages : 370 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (432 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Pickled, Potted, and Canned by : Sue Shephard

Download or read book Pickled, Potted, and Canned written by Sue Shephard and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2006-07-03 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explains how the development of food preservation techniques changed world history.

Culture and Customs of Afghanistan

Download Culture and Customs of Afghanistan PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 0313014329
Total Pages : 283 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (13 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Culture and Customs of Afghanistan by : Hafizullah Emadi

Download or read book Culture and Customs of Afghanistan written by Hafizullah Emadi and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2005-06-30 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Afghanistan has been at the crossroads of many cultures and civilizations, occupying a unique place in the cultural geography of Central Asia. Invading tribes and armies passed through ancient Afghanistan and left their imprint on the culture, customs, and way of life there. In recent history, Afghanistan has been the focus of international attention since the Soviet invasion and occupation of 1979-1989, the brutal civil war that ensued, and the subsequent U.S. invasion to topple the Taliban regime. As the country struggles to stabilize and rebuild, this volume is the first to reveal the people and ways of life that have been in flux for so long. Emadi brings an insider's knowledge and authority to the accessible narrative. Students and general readers will find a clear explanation of the land, people, economy, social stratification, and history as context for the chapters that follow. In the chapter on Religion and Religious Thought, the predominant Islamic religion is largely intertwined with political events that have brought Afghanistan such attention. The lesser-known literature and the arts are brought to light next. A strong Architecture, Housing, and Settlements chapter highlights many styles unfamiliar to most Westerners. Coverage of Afghan cooking and cuisine brings a more intimate understanding of the culture. The chapter on Family, Women, and Gender will draw readers in with its survey of how the family works, what is expected of women, and what courtship, marriage, childrearing, and education are like today. A standout of the Festivals and Leisure Activities chapter is the vivid rendering of the sport called Buzkashi, where men on horseback vie to move an animal carcass across a field to a goal. A final chapter on Lifestyles, Media, and Education describes the urban vs. rural lifestyles, the state of communications, and the prospects for schooling post Taliban. A country map, glossary, resource guide, and photos complement the text.

Sweets and Candy

Download Sweets and Candy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Reaktion Books
ISBN 13 : 178023967X
Total Pages : 169 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Sweets and Candy by : Laura Mason

Download or read book Sweets and Candy written by Laura Mason and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2018-04-15 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With eye-popping colors and shapes, intense flavors, and curious textures, sweets and candy are beloved by people of all ages worldwide. They provide minor treats, lessons in economics for children, and colorful giveaways to mark festivities. They can be admired for beauty and novelty, make ideal gifts, and can even be used to woo. But these seemingly inconsequential indulgences are freighted with centuries of changing cultural attitudes, social and economic history, emotional attachments, and divergent views on the salubriousness of sugar. How did confectionary become so popular? Why do we value concentrated sweetness in such varied, gooey forms? And in the face of ongoing health debates, why persist in eating sweets? From marzipan pigs and nutty nougat to bubblegum and bonbons, Sweets and Candy looks beneath the glamour and sparkle to explore the sticky history of confectionary. Methods for making sweets can be traced back to the importance of sugar in Arabic medicine and the probable origin of this practice in ancient India—a place where sweetness is still important for both humans and gods. Gorging on gobstoppers from these early candy antecedents to modern-day delectables, Laura Mason describes the bewildering and fascinating ways in which different cultures have made, consumed, valued, and adored sweets throughout history. Featuring a selection of mouthwatering illustrations and scrumptious recipes to try at home, this global candy trail will delight sweet-toothed foodies and history buffs everywhere.

At the Table

Download At the Table PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 518 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (16 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis At the Table by : Ken Albala

Download or read book At the Table written by Ken Albala and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2016-04-04 with total page 518 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What's for dinner? Not just in America, but around the world? And how is it cooked, what's the historical significance of that food, how is it served and consumed, and who gets to clean up? This book provides fascinating insight into how dinner is defined in countries around the world. Almost universally, "dinner" is a key meal in most countries around the world, whether it be a simple dish of rice and beans, a slice of pizza on the go, or a multi-course formal meal. What do the specifics of how a meal is eaten-by hand instead of with utensils, for example-say about a specific culture? This fascinating one-volume reference guide examines all aspects of dinner in international settings, enabling insightful cross-cultural comparisons and an understanding of the effects of modernization and globalization on food habits. Some 50 countries are covered in chapters focusing on present-day meal habits in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America. The commentary covers everything about the meal, such as the time, the cooking and preparation, shopping for ingredients, the clean-up process, gender-based participation roles, conversation or other social interactions, and etiquette-just about everything that happens at the table. The book is ideal for classroom teaching and learning, as the entries and photos are conducive to teaching students about other cultures, directly supporting the National Geography Standards. Students will be able to make informed comparisons between their own lives and the various cultural experiences described in the book.

The Rice Book

Download The Rice Book PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Macmillan
ISBN 13 : 9780312303396
Total Pages : 422 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (33 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Rice Book by : Sri Owen

Download or read book The Rice Book written by Sri Owen and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 1994-01-15 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explains the basic techniques for cooking rice with recipes from around the world from appetizers to desserts.

Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia [4 volumes]

Download Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia [4 volumes] PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 0313376271
Total Pages : 1566 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (133 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia [4 volumes] by : Ken Albala

Download or read book Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia [4 volumes] written by Ken Albala and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2011-05-25 with total page 1566 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive reference work introduces food culture from more than 150 countries and cultures around the world—including some from remote and unexpected peoples and places. From babka to baklava to the groundnut stew of Ghana, food culture can tell us where we've been—and maybe even where we're going. Filled with succinct, yet highly informative entries, the four-volume Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia covers all of the planet's nation-states, as well as various tribes and marginalized peoples. Thus, in addition to coverage on countries as disparate as France, Ethiopia, and Tibet, there are also entries on Roma Gypsies, the Maori of New Zealand, and the Saami of northern Europe. There is even a section on food in outer space, detailing how and what astronauts eat and how they prepare for space travel as far as diet and nutrition are concerned. Each entry offers information about foodstuffs, meals, cooking methods, recipes, eating out, holidays and celebrations, and health and diet. Vignettes help readers better understand other cultures, while the inclusion of selected recipes lets them recreate dishes from other lands.

The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets

Download The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019931361X
Total Pages : 947 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (993 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets by :

Download or read book The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets written by and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015-04-01 with total page 947 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A sweet tooth is a powerful thing. Babies everywhere seem to smile when tasting sweetness for the first time, a trait inherited, perhaps, from our ancestors who foraged for sweet foods that were generally safer to eat than their bitter counterparts. But the "science of sweet" is only the beginning of a fascinating story, because it is not basic human need or simple biological impulse that prompts us to decorate elaborate wedding cakes, scoop ice cream into a cone, or drop sugar cubes into coffee. These are matters of culture and aesthetics, of history and society, and we might ask many other questions. Why do sweets feature so prominently in children's literature? When was sugar called a spice? And how did chocolate evolve from an ancient drink to a modern candy bar? The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets explores these questions and more through the collective knowledge of 265 expert contributors, from food historians to chemists, restaurateurs to cookbook writers, neuroscientists to pastry chefs. The Companion takes readers around the globe and throughout time, affording glimpses deep into the brain as well as stratospheric flights into the world of sugar-crafted fantasies. More than just a compendium of pastries, candies, ices, preserves, and confections, this reference work reveals how the human proclivity for sweet has brought richness to our language, our art, and, of course, our gastronomy. In nearly 600 entries, beginning with "à la mode" and ending with the Italian trifle known as "zuppa inglese," the Companion traces sugar's journey from a rare luxury to a ubiquitous commodity. In between, readers will learn about numerous sweeteners (as well-known as agave nectar and as obscure as castoreum, or beaver extract), the evolution of the dessert course, the production of chocolate, and the neurological, psychological, and cultural responses to sweetness. The Companion also delves into the darker side of sugar, from its ties to colonialism and slavery to its addictive qualities. Celebrating sugar while acknowledging its complex history, The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets is the definitive guide to one of humankind's greatest sources of pleasure. Like kids in a candy shop, fans of sugar (and aren't we all?) will enjoy perusing the wondrous variety to be found in this volume.