Food and Foodways in Italy from 1861 to the Present

Feeding ourselves is a universal experience, but we don't all eat the same foods in the same ways or places. In fact, a meal can reveal a lot about the material circumstances and culture of those preparing and eating it. This book tells the story of Italian food in all its geographical, cultural, an [...]
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Feeding ourselves is a universal experience, but we don't all eat the same foods in the same ways or places. In fact, a meal can reveal a lot about the material circumstances and culture of those preparing and eating it. This book tells the story of Italian food in all its geographical, cultural, and social diversity from the nineteenth century to the present. Each chapter centers on an actual meal, reconstructed on the basis of historical documents, literature, the visual arts, mass media, and oral testimony. The resulting picture is often surprising, as we see how food reflects changes in technology, agriculture, markets, living spaces, and consumer preferences, not to mention in our ideas about class, gender, ethnicity, and the environment. This engaging history offers a rich portrait of Italian cuisine, suggesting why it is one of the most popular and widespread gastronomic traditions in the world today.