Category Archives: cultural

Cleaning Out the Basement–Prohibition Punches

Posted on October 17, 2020 by Appetite for Books

Wine is sure proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy –Benjamin Franklin It just seems hopeless when government tries to ban something that is fundamental to human culture. Of course, that doesn’t mean government won’t try … Continue reading →

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CHoWline: The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Appetite for Books

Have you had that odd jolt yet when you realize you are part of history? Talking to someone in their 20s about the Allman Brothers? That making a shopping list is suddenly considered a life hack? Watching jeans styles go … Continue reading →

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Feast of the Seven Fishes

Posted on November 16, 2019 by Appetite for Books

I like reality that tastes like bread. Jean Anouilh Enough with the jokes about garlic and overeating. Its time to recognize Italian home cooking, Italian-American cooking, not as coarse overabundance but for its subtle sparking of flavors, its seasonal sensibility, … Continue reading →

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Black Food Geographies: Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C.

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Appetite for Books

Examining how we use words, in this case “food desert,” makes us see people and places in new ways–more complex and complete. In this book, Ashante Reese examines a single DC neighborhood and finds agency in food that might otherwise … Continue reading →

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CHoWline–Savage Feast

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Appetite for Books

Immigrant stories are fascinating, especially when they are inspired and illustrated by the kitchen and the table. They touch on familiar feelings–the sense of disconnection, feelings of being different, striving for reconciliation. In Savage Feast, Boris Fishman, hits those tropes … Continue reading →

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Baladi–Palestine

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Appetite for Books

The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift. Laurie Colwin This is the food of … Continue reading →

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CHoWline: The Rise of Tea Culture in China

Posted on December 8, 2018 by Appetite for Books

This review appeared in the December 2018/January 2019 issue of CHowline, the monthly newsletter of the Culinary Historians of Washington, DC. The book is a deep and detailed look at how tea became a marker of refinement and connoisseurship in … Continue reading →

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Southern Snacks

Posted on November 3, 2018 by Appetite for Books

I’ve conditioned myself to believe that almonds are a completely delicious snack, and that they don’t taste like paper or get stuck in the back of my mouth. Jake Tapper Stop gnawing on almonds and get out the butter! And … Continue reading →

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Eataly: All About Pasta, A Complete Guide with Recipes

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Appetite for Books

Life is a combination of magic and pasta. Federico Fellini And there’s nothing magic about making pasta. Once you’ve learned a few techniques that work for your pots and your kitchen, you can make delicious pasta from almost anything. But … Continue reading →

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T-Bone Whacks and Caviar Snacks

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Appetite for Books

This book records the cooking and shopping experiences of two American educators in Soviet and post-Soviet Russia, and is an excellent mix of research, experience, and recipes. And yes, some of the tales of privation–wonky stoves, uneven markets–are true, but … Continue reading →

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