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The Secret History of Food
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
7 posts | 5 read | 10 to read
An irreverent, surprising, and entirely entertaining look at the little-known history surrounding the foods we know and love Is Italian olive oil really Italian, or are we dipping our bread in lamp oil? Why are we masochistically drawn to foods that can hurt us, like hot peppers? Far from being a classic American dish, is apple pie actually . . . English? "As a species, we're hardwired to obsess over food," Matt Siegel explains as he sets out "to uncover the hidden side of everything we put in our mouths." Siegel also probes subjects ranging from the myths--and realities--of food as aphrodisiac, to how one of the rarest and most exotic spices in all the world (vanilla) became a synonym for uninspired sexual proclivities, to the role of food in fairy- and morality tales. He even makes a well-argued case for how ice cream helped defeat the Nazis. The Secret History of Food is a rich and satisfying exploration of the historical, cultural, scientific, sexual, and, yes, culinary subcultures of this most essential realm. Siegel is an armchair Anthony Bourdain, armed not with a chef's knife but with knowledge derived from medieval food-related manuscripts, ancient Chinese scrolls, and obscure culinary journals. Funny and fascinating, The Secret History of Food is essential reading for all foodies.
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review
OrangeMooseReads
OrangeMooseReads
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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Mehso-so

Listened again to this and got lost in the same spot. He starts talking about vanilla and it morphs into talking about ice cream and how it relates to vanilla, but also then Thomas Jefferson‘s 12 steps to make ice cream. I could have done without a list of every meat dish served at a medieval king‘s coronation or a list of several flavors of Oreo.
3⭐️ if you have a passing interest in food trivia or history. More food trivia.
More 👇🏼

OrangeMooseReads There is some science in the beginning about tastes being tied to what your mother ate when you were in the womb. A little about Kellogg and breakfast. A chapter on peppers. A little of this a little of that. 8mo
Crazeedi A shame because this could really be fascinating 8mo
OrangeMooseReads @Crazeedi I agree. 8mo
25 likes3 comments
blurb
OrangeMooseReads
OrangeMooseReads
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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I actually finished this one today, but I listened while working and got distracted and missed things. It was interesting. I love my food history. I‘m going to listen to it again tomorrow so hopefully I can absorb more of the information.

22 likes
blurb
BookNAround
BookNAround
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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I had to fast this morning before my annual physical so of course I picked up a book about food. 😂#nonfictionnovember

Megabooks 🤣🤣 this book was really interesting! 2y
69 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Tkgbjenn1
Tkgbjenn1
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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Pickpick

This book focuses on specific foods. What we thought was good for us may not be and we thought was bad for us is really bad for us. The fish you‘re eating, may not be the fish you think your eating. The Olive Oil your consuming may not be Olive Oil. Honey, is full of whatever the bees consumed, including toxic plants and maybe even anti-freeze. Corn, we can‘t even digest it. You‘ll definitely not look at certain foods the same way again.

29 likes
review
MaggieCarr
MaggieCarr
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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Mehso-so

Starts with flavors carried through breast milk and covers a whole lot more from historical food discoveries to modern uses and trends. I didn't think I had an internal reading voice but totally read this hearing the comic wit of Mike Rowe as there is some opinions and snark within. I think my favorite chapter was about ice cream and it's ties to the war during sugar rationing but being so American as to get it to soldiers for moral boosting.

Aims42 I had this on hold at my library but didn‘t make it there in time to pick it up, so it‘s back in circulation 😆 Did I miss much? Should I request it again? 3y
MaggieCarr @Aims42 you can totally read the chapters on only the foods that intrigue you and be fine. Think I read it in about 5 hours so skipping around can make it a quick read. 3y
Aims42 @MaggieCarr Nice, good to know! Thank you 😊 3y
33 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Megabooks
Megabooks
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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Pickpick

This #audiobook was a fun yet informative look at the (mostly American) history of food. Why are British pies different than American? How did ice cream influence American history? What makes chili peppers important to humankind? The answers often surprised me! A great treat of a book. 😉

This puts me at 380 books in 2021, making this my best year ever! 🥳📚🎧 (I read 379 in 2020.)

tagged users iconCinfhen
DivineDiana You are super human!!! 👏🏻📚👏🏻 3y
ShelleyBooksie Holy cow - I just hit 60 books. You are a superstar! 3y
LauraBrook You are amazing!!! I can‘t wait to see what your final total will be with 4 months left in the year! 3y
See All 9 Comments
RamsFan1963 I was torn between getting this or The Icepick Surgeon from Audible, I ended up choosing Sam Kean because he's one of my favorite writers. 3y
wanderinglynn 380? Amazing! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
Megabooks @DivineDiana @ShelleyBooksie @LauraBrook @wanderinglynn thanks y‘all!! I set a goal of averaging a book a day this year, and it has helped give me purpose/keep me sane during the pandemic. I just can‘t believe it!! 3y
Megabooks @RamsFan1963 yes, I was unsure about The Icepick Surgeon, but my library has it. Perhaps I‘ll check it out. Thanks! 3y
Cinfhen Love your cheeky review!! Punny!! I lost track of my reading back in June… but im nowhere near you!!!! Fantastic!! And im definitely benefiting from all your reviews 🤓🤓🤓 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen in fairness, you had SO MUCH going on this summer, and I think you‘ve done incredibly well, especially in the weeks you haven‘t been as busy! And thanks for the the review love! 🥰🥰 just emailed you back. 👍🏻💜 3y
90 likes3 stack adds9 comments
blurb
Megabooks
Megabooks
The Secret History of Food: Strange But True Stories about the Origins of Everything We Eat | Matt Siegel
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A totally rad #NewReleaseTuesday coming at ya! I‘ve been on the list for this forever, so 🤞🏻 this week is awesome.

Why does it seem like it‘s 1987-1993 everywhere?? Am I just getting old?

tagged users iconCinfhen
Cinfhen This sounds FUN!! And I love the graphics!! Is it already Tuesday??? I have no clue what the days are anymore 😛 3y
wanderinglynn I wish it were 1987-1993. 😆 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen lol!! I always know when it‘s Tuesday. 😆👍🏻 this pack of backgrounds is free on pic collage right now. 3y
See All 8 Comments
Megabooks @wanderinglynn those were my awkward years, so I don‘t miss them! 😆😂 3y
wanderinglynn Yeah, I had some awkward moments in the late 80s (my middle school years). But 90-94 were my high school years. Gas was 0.99/gal, grunge ruled the airwaves, and life was pretty good with no adult responsibilities. 😉 3y
Johanna414 Apparently the 90s are back in a big way - my sister sells vintage clothing and she says all her young customers want is 90s clothes 3y
Megabooks @wanderinglynn my high school years were 94-98, and I remember putting 0.96/gal gas in my first car! We were still listening to grunge then but also some EDM, too. 3y
Megabooks @Johanna414 omg, yes!! Everything I wore high school would sell out in vintage stores now!! I follow some fashion influencers on Instagram, and it‘s definitely back in style. 3y
65 likes8 comments