The Taste of Conquest: The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spice

ISBN: 0345480848

Author: Krondl, Michael

Condition: New

The Taste of Conquest offers up a riveting, globe-trotting tale of unquenchable desire, fanatical religion, raw greed, fickle fashion, and mouthwatering cuisine-in short, the very stuff of which our world is made. In this engaging, enlightening, and anecdote-filled history, Michael Krondl, a noted chef turned writer and food historian, tells the story of three legendary cities-Venice, Lisbon, and Amsterdam-and how their single-minded pursuit of spice helped to make (and remake) the Western diet and set in motion the first great wave of globalization. Sharing meals and stories with Indian pepper planters, Portuguese sailors, and Venetian foodies, Krondl takes every opportunity to explore the world of long ago and sample its many flavors. Along the way, he reveals that the taste for spice of a few wealthy Europeans led to great crusades, astonishing feats of bravery, and even wholesale slaughter.As stimulating as it is pleasurable, and filled with surprising insights, The Taste of Conquest offers a compelling perspective on how, in search of a tastier dish, the world has been transformed.Praise for The Taste of ConquestAn altogether rich, perfectly seasoned slice of world history.-The Boston GlobeAs a chef I have always been deeply intrigued by the mystique of spices. Michael Krondls book awakens and transports the reader into this mysterious world, showing us how our lives and history have been transformed by the sensuous odors of cardamom, nutmeg, and turmeric.-Gray Kunz, chef and owner of Café Gray and Grayz, co-author of The Elements of TasteFascinating . . . spicy reading for food and history lovers alike.-Associated PressA delicious treat.-The Vancouver SunWitty and erudite.-Financial PostEnticing.-Chicago Tribune