The Primal Cheeseburger: A Generous Helping of Food History Served On a Bun (Paperback)

by Elisabeth Rozin (Author) "Recently a national news magazine reported the delightful story of a six-year-old Japanese boy brought by his parents for a visit to the United States..." (more)
Key Phrases: cheeseburger platter, seasoning ingredients, New World, Middle East, Southeast Asia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
The dissection of America's most popular meal--"two all-beef patties," etc.--may not sit well on everyone's stomach, but Rozin makes an admirable stab at emulating the late, great M. F. K. Fisher in culinary prose. Seven of her chapters delve into the psychological, historical, and culinary roots of ingredients comprising the cheeseburger platter: ground beef patty, bun, cheese, ketchup, vegetables (lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles), french fries, and soft drink. Old and new facts are intertwined in a scholarly yet readable manner; we learn, for example, that ketchup derives its name and substance from Indonesian soy sauce and that "the Maillard effect" is the moniker for the browning of meat. Her final words sum up what most intuit after digesting a burger with accompaniments--that, despite its recently announced nutritional deficits, it's a meal of plenty and easily accessible to all. Barbara Jacobs

Product Description
A celebration of the consummate culinary expression of the American experience, by the author of Blue Corn and Chocolate and Ethnic Cuisine. The Primal Cheeseburger is an entertaining exploration of why this particular mix of textures, tastes, and smells brings out our carnivorous cravings and touches such a deep chord in our collective food consciousness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140178430
• ISBN-13: 978-0140178432
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,330,290 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Scattered But Interesting In Spots, April 29, 2003

By	G. J Wiener (Westchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Primal Cheeseburger attempts to delve into the history of basic food groups while utilizing the supposed All American Cheeseburger, Fries, and Coke meal as a guideline. There are certainly some interesting historical notes on how meat became an integral part of certain cultures meals. Some good discussions on the origins of bread, cheese, etc.

However, this book tries to cover way too much ground. Some of the changes in the authors subject matter are introduced a bit too abruptly. Perhaps the author could have organized this book so it flowed better and covered a few things well instead of many things haphazzardly.

Nonetheless, this brief history of food around the world has its moments.