The World on a Plate: A Tour through the History of America's Ethnic Cuisine

Rating:
Summary: A Spicy Little Book
Review: Joel Denker, the author, is a history professor and very serious food hobbyest and writer. But don't be put off by the history professor background. The World on a Plate is, thankfully, intended for the general reader, not to bolster Denker's reputation among his academic colleagues. This is not a comprehensive or heavily analytical work. Rather, the book is an enjoyable, quick read that tells us a variety of stories, many with human interest, of the introduction of foods to the United States that originated in other countries and cultures. Did you know that a German restaurant owner in Texas, William Gebhardt, deserves a substantial amount of credit for bringing chili flavored dishes to the general public? That was a surprise to me. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in cooking and food. The only disappointment was that it ended abruptly on page 162. I wanted more.