ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Dinner in Rome: A History of the World in One Meal

2022

Synopsis

‘There is more history in a bowl of pasta than in the Colosseum’, writes Andreas Viestad in Dinner in Rome. From the table of a classic Roman restaurant, Viestad takes us on a fascinating culinary exploration of The Eternal City, and global civilization. Food, he argues, is history’s secret driving force. Viestad finds deeper meanings in his meal: From the bread that begins the dinner he traces the origins of wheat and its role in Rome’s rise as well as its downfall. From his fried artichoke antipasto he explains olive oil’s part in the religious conflict of 16th-century Europe. From his sorbet dessert he recounts how lemons featured in the history of the Mafia in the 19th century, and how the hunger for sugar fuelled the slave trade. Viestad’s dinner may be local, but his story is universal. His ‘culinary archaeology’ is an entertaining, flavourful journey across the dinner table and time. You’ll never look at spaghetti carbonara the same way again.

Suggested Reading

Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Life

When you became a parent, you probably thought feeding your child would be the easy part. You swore you'd never bribe your kid with dessert, never make a separate meal because it was easier than a standoff, never hear yourself say, "just try it," in a voice that didn't sound like your own. Or maybe...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

Pasta: The Spirit and Craft of Italy's Greatest Food

Food trends come and go, but pasta holds strong year after year. Despite its humble ingredients—made of merely flour and water or flour and eggs—the magic, rituals, and art of pasta making span over five centuries. Two ingredients are turned into hundreds of stuffed, rolled, extruded, dried, stamped...

View Details

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.