An A-Z of Food & Drink is an invaluable reference tool--and cookbook supplement--for anybody who cooks, or simply loves food. From Arugula to Zabaglione this veritable feast of gastronomic words and phrases presents the meaning, origin, and development of over 1,200 food and drink terms. Savor foods and drinks named after their place of origin, such as Cheddar, Stilton, and Dublin Bay prawns. Sink your teeth into the etymology of lasagna. Or whet your appetite with wines named after their grape, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling. Seasoned throughout with literary wit and wisdom, An A-Z of Food & Drink also includes hundreds of illuminating quotations on food--meaty enough to spark discussions in the kitchen and light enough to enjoy from your armchair.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
`Review from previous edition stuffed with delightful morsels in a digestible form...essential reading for those who want to know not only what they are eating but also why it is called what it is' Independent
`Written with wit and gusto . . . it remains such an enjoyable feast that it is hard to stop gorging entry after entry' The Independent Magazine 20/04/02
`Be warned - this is a dangerously fascinating book. Each time I look something up I'm side-tracked from one entry to another and lost to the world for a good half an hour or more. At least one pan has been boiled dry and black as a result.' Sophie Grigson
`'Fascinating A to Z guide on the meaning, origin, and development of over 1,200 food and drink terms old and new. A must for those venturing into New World cuisines and a jolly good laid back read.' Alexander Hunt, Midweek
`Snippets and essaylets combine whimsy and erudition in equal measures. It is more lively than typical reference works, but also literate, factually sure-footed, and useful.' Michael Raffael, Sunday Telegraph
`Did you know that lasagne ultimately comes from a word meaning chamber pot? I love this sort of dotty reference book, useful for crossword puzzles and general browsing.' Jennifer Patterson, London Evening Standard
`wickedly amusing' New Statesman and Society
`a fascinating book...a comprehensive account of the meaning and origins of foods and drinks' Leicester Mercury
`Thanks to John Ayto's dictionary...for these thoughts on haggis - and for many other stimulating suggestions on the names for other foodstuffs.' Daily Telegraph
`an olla podrida of entertaining and recondite information' Observer
`Written with wit and gusto . . . it remains such an enjoyable feast that it is hard to stop gorging entry after entry' The Independent Magazine 20/04/02
`Be warned - this is a dangerously fascinating book. Each time I look something up I'm side-tracked from one entry to another and lost to the world for a good half an hour or more. At least one pan has been boiled dry and black as a result.' Sophie Grigson
`'Fascinating A to Z guide on the meaning, origin, and development of over 1,200 food and drink terms old and new. A must for those venturing into New World cuisines and a jolly good laid back read.' Alexander Hunt, Midweek
`Snippets and essaylets combine whimsy and erudition in equal measures. It is more lively than typical reference works, but also literate, factually sure-footed, and useful.' Michael Raffael, Sunday Telegraph
`Did you know that lasagne ultimately comes from a word meaning chamber pot? I love this sort of dotty reference book, useful for crossword puzzles and general browsing.' Jennifer Patterson, London Evening Standard
`wickedly amusing' New Statesman and Society
`a fascinating book...a comprehensive account of the meaning and origins of foods and drinks' Leicester Mercury
`Thanks to John Ayto's dictionary...for these thoughts on haggis - and for many other stimulating suggestions on the names for other foodstuffs.' Daily Telegraph
`an olla podrida of entertaining and recondite information' Observer
About the Author
John Ayto is a freelance writer and the author of many reference works, including the Dictionary of Slang (1998). He has always had a profound interest in food, drink, cookery, and international cuisines. In this dictionary he has uniquely combined his knowledge of food and words.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and educational (with limitations),
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This review is from: An A-Z of Food & Drink (Hardcover)
Overall, it is a fascinating read. As an American I appreciated Mr. Ayto's efforts to avoid England-chauvanism. However, I felt he missed out on such American-isms as "jello" and "grits"; hash browns and home fries are NOT the same item!That having been vented, I'd recommend the book - I'm pretty conversant with food terms, but there were several new ones in it for me.
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