Encyclopedia of Kitchen History

A space common to all peoples, the kitchen embodies the cultural history of domestic life: how people around the world acquire, prepare, cook, serve, eat, preserve, and store food; what foods we eat and why and when; what utensils, cutlery, decorations, furnishings, and appliances we create and use; what work, play, chores, services, and celebrations we perform. The history of the kitchen reflects human ingenuity solving problems posed by daily necessity and the human desire for social comfort and continuity. Kitchen history also tells us much about our interaction with others and with other cultures as well. From the history of beer, cooking stones, ergonomics, medieval kitchens, Roman cookery, pasta, and chopsticks to inventors such as Nils Dalen and George Washington Carver and cookbook authors such as Isabella Beeton and Julia Child, this A-ZEncyclopediapresents almost 300 wide-ranging entries that detail the culinary history of each topic. TheEncyclopedia of KitchenHistoryfeatures: *See Alsos which lead the reader to pertinent entries *UsefulSourcessection at the end of entries that compiles a list of books, CDs, journals, newspapers, and online databases and news sources for further research *An appendix ofCommon Sources- the most helpful resources on domestic histories *Numerous illustrationsthat explain and communicate the vibrancy of domestic culture *Thorough, analytic indexthat directs the reader to the people, writings, recipes, inventions, processes, and foodstuffs that make up kitchen history. From the discovery of fire to the latest space mission, theEncyclopedia of Kitchen Historybrings together the rich diversity of kitchen history in one accessible volume. Students, researchers, scholars, and culinary aficionados- from beginners to experts- will find thisEncyclopediato be a fascinating look into the history of the kitchen from thefoodstuffs prepared to the tools and implements used as well as the innovators who shaped its function and utility.