Bøger af Ken Albala

Nuts is a gastronomic, botanical and cultural tour of the history and contemporary usage of the most staple of foodstuff, the nut.

"Opulent Nosh encapsulates foodie-scholar extraordinaire Ken Albala's adventuresome approach to enhancing, elevating, and sometimes transforming the casual preparation and cooking of simple dishes from the familiar everyday to what could seem exotic. The content is authentic Albala, who cooks and noshes on this high level daily, and his writing conveys his unique sensibility with humor and elan. This cookbook, international in scope and targeted to people who like to cook, demonstrates thoroughly that world foods and fare are now American, because of globalization, travel, and immigration. More than 150 original recipes are organized by type of staple (eggs) to sandwich forms (breads, bagels, wraps), pizzas, and tacos to stuffed dishes, pancakes and waffles, to muffins and biscuits, to bowls. Although many of the dishes have traditional names, the recipes call for the opulent treatment: incorporating unexpected ingredients and techniques to achieve unforgettable flavor combinations and attractive and delicious eating experiences. Most dishes have an accompanying color photo. All recipes have been tested for at-home creativity"--

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.

A history of cooking and fine dining in Western Europe from 1520 to 1660

This "living" text provides readers with a solid understanding of the three cuisines that have had the greatest impact on the globe historically. Deep knowledge of Italian, Mexican, and Chinese cuisines illuminates many of the great historical themes of the past 10,000 years as well as why we eat the way we do today.

Eating right has been an obsession for longer than we think. Renaissance Europe had its own flourishing tradition of dietary advice. Then, as now, an industry of experts churned out diet books for an eager and concerned public. Providing a cornucopia of information on food and an intriguing account of the differences between the nutritional logic of the past and our own time, this inviting book examines the wide-ranging dietary literature of the Renaissance. Ken Albala ultimately reveals the working of the Renaissance mind from a unique perspective: we come to understand a people through their ideas on food.Eating Right in the Renaissance takes us through an array of historical sources in a narrative that is witty and spiced with fascinating details. Why did early Renaissance writers recommend the herbs parsley, arugula, anise, and mint to fortify sexual prowess? Why was there such a strong outcry against melons and cucumbers, even though people continued to eat them in large quantities? Why was wine considered a necessary nutrient? As he explores these and other questions, Albala explains the history behind Renaissance dietary theories; the connections among food, exercise, and sex; the changing relationship between medicine and cuisine; and much more. Whereas modern nutritionists may promise a slimmer waistline, more stamina, or freedom from disease, Renaissance food writers had entirely different ideas about the value of eating right. As he uncovers these ideas from the past, Ken Albala puts our own dietary obsessions in an entirely new light in this elegantly written and often surprising new chapter on the history of food.