Lewis Lapham: Montezuma Liked to Cook, Eat Fat Young Men Lewis Lapham - Bloomberg
go to original July 28, 2013

William Sitwell talks with Lewis Lapham about his book, "A History of Food in 100 Recipes." (Bloomberg)

A History of Food in 100 Recipes by William Sitwell Check it out on Amazon.com

On November 8, 1519, just outside what is now Mexico City, conquistador Hernan Cortes attended a ceremonial dinner given by Montezuma II.

The Aztec king was not sure whether Cortes was friend or foe. He’d carried out his daily ritual, which involved killing and eating specially fattened young people, but it had not enlightened him.

Montezuma preferred to dine in private behind a screen, but when he was done, the royal feast was taken to the conquistadors, more than 300 dishes. There were white tortillas and various breads, fruit and cocoa to accompany the crocks of roast duck, rabbit, turkey, pheasant and venison.

As they dug in, the Europeans were disconcerted to find that some of the dishes contained human arms and legs.

Read the rest at Bloomberg

Book Description (Amazon.com): A riveting narrative history of food as seen through 100 recipes, from ancient Egyptian bread to modernist cuisine.

We all love to eat, and most people have a favorite ingredient or dish. But how many of us know where our much-loved recipes come from, who invented them, and how they were originally cooked? In A HISTORY OF FOOD IN 100 RECIPES, culinary expert and BBC television personality William Sitwell explores the fascinating history of cuisine from the first cookbook to the first cupcake, from the invention of the sandwich to the rise of food television. A book you can read straight through and also use in the kitchen, A HISTORY OF FOOD IN 100 RECIPES is a perfect gift for any food lover who has ever wondered about the origins of the methods and recipes we now take for granted.

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