Delicioso
A History of Food in Spain
María José SevillaNow in paperback, the first comprehensive history in English of the food of Spain.
Spanish cuisine, a rich tapestry of cultures, flavours and ingredients, has been shaped by Greek, Roman, Jewish, Moorish and Middle Eastern influences. The diverse climate and geography of Spain have fostered a variety of regional food traditions, including Basque, Galician, Castilian, Andalusian and Catalan. Over time, the cuisine has evolved with new ingredients from Italy, France and the Americas, such as cocoa, potatoes, tomatoes, beans and chili peppers.
Now in paperback, this is the first English-language book to trace the history of Spanish food from antiquity to today. María José Sevilla masterfully intertwines the history of Spanish cuisine with the factors that have shaped its development and characteristics, highlighting Spain’s evolving relationship with food and cookery.
Now in paperback, the first comprehensive history in English of the food of Spain.
Spanish cuisine, a rich tapestry of cultures, flavours and ingredients, has been shaped by Greek, Roman, Jewish, Moorish and Middle Eastern influences. The diverse climate and geography of Spain have fostered a variety of regional food traditions, including Basque, Galician, Castilian, Andalusian and Catalan. Over time, the cuisine has evolved with new ingredients from Italy, France and the Americas, such as cocoa, potatoes, tomatoes, beans and chili peppers.
Now in paperback, this is the first English-language book to trace the history of Spanish food from antiquity to today. María José Sevilla masterfully intertwines the history of Spanish cuisine with the factors that have shaped its development and characteristics, highlighting Spain’s evolving relationship with food and cookery.
Now in paperback, the first comprehensive history in English of the food of Spain.
Spanish cuisine, a rich tapestry of cultures, flavours and ingredients, has been shaped by Greek, Roman, Jewish, Moorish and Middle Eastern influences. The diverse climate and geography of Spain have fostered a variety of regional food traditions, including Basque, Galician, Castilian, Andalusian and Catalan. Over time, the cuisine has evolved with new ingredients from Italy, France and the Americas, such as cocoa, potatoes, tomatoes, beans and chili peppers.
Now in paperback, this is the first English-language book to trace the history of Spanish food from antiquity to today. María José Sevilla masterfully intertwines the history of Spanish cuisine with the factors that have shaped its development and characteristics, highlighting Spain’s evolving relationship with food and cookery.
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Take a deep dive into Spanish cuisine from prehistory to Ferran Adrià . . . [this] illustrated book is a dense, scholarly survey that starts with prehistory some 80,000 years ago. It traces the contributions to the Spanish table by ancient Rome; Moorish, Christian and Jewish cultures; European royalty; and foods of the New World. The effects of social and political change, years of war and the rise of the influential Spanish chefs of today are covered, as are ingredients like olives, anchovies and chocolate; markets; dishes like cocido; and time-honored utensils. There’s a quick survey of food across Spain, region by region.
'Florence Fabricant, The New York Times
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Sevilla’s history of Spain and surrounding islands through edibles incorporates cooking into an exacting cultural overview . . . A prize for the culinary section of public, high school, or college libraries. Highly recommended.
'Choice 'review of the week'
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Like other works of art, dishes document culture. María José Sevilla shows us that the best way to enjoy Spanish history is by eating Spanish food, and that the best way to enjoy the food is by reading her account of the history. ¡Buen provecho!
'Felipe Fernández-Armesto, author of Food: A History
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An epic and very readable history of Spanish food culture from Palaeolithic times to the present day. Very interesting.
'Dr Lara Anderson, Convenor of Spanish and Latin American Studies, University of Melbourne
Introduction
one A Land at the Edge of the Unknown
two Moors, Jews and Christians
three Life in the Castle
four A Golden Age
five Madrid, Versailles, Naples and, Best of All, Chocolate
six Politics at the Table
seven Hunger, Hope and Success
eight The Cocinas of Spain
References
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
María José Sevilla's previous books include Life and Food in the Basque Country (1989), Spain on a Plate (1992) and Mediterranean Flavours (1995). She lives in London, UK, and the Sierra de Aracena in Andalusia, Spain.