A TWIST IN THE TAIL
How the Humble Anchovy Flavoured Western Cuisine
Genre:
History, Food
Author:
Christopher Beckman
Publisher:
Hurst
Language:
English
AUTHOR BIO:
Christopher Beckman was born in San Francisco and has a doctorate in Archaeology. Based in Geneva, his research focuses on the links between material culture and subsistence patterns. He has lived in the Middle East and Africa, with a stint in Hollywood producing horror films. This is his first book.
Pages:
368
Publication:
2024
Rights available:
French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
DESCRIPTION:
A Twist in the Tail takes readers on a tantalising voyage through European and American gastronomic history, following the trail of a small but mighty fish: the anchovy.
Whether in ubiquitous Roman garum, mass-produced British condiments, elaborate French haute cuisine or modern Spanish tapas, anchovies have been enhancing the flavour of many dishes for thousands of years. Yet, depending upon the time and place—and who was eating them—they have also been disdained as worthless little fish, deemed too small, bony and inconsequential for popular or elite consumption. From Western Europe to the USA, Christopher Beckman shows how the evolving and ambiguous position of anchovies provides surprising insights into the relationship between food, class and status throughout history.
Drawing on cookbooks, literature and art, this is the hidden story of the diminutive anchovy, and its outsized role in shaping the West’s cuisine.
REVIEWS:
‘A must-read for anchovy obsessives.’ — Nigella Lawson ‘[A] delightful tribute to this diminutive fish.’ — The Guardian ‘A riveting, globe-trotting fish tale that follows the ebb and flow of the anchovy’s influence, and recounts how it has divided and united people around the table for millennia.’ — Katie Parla, food and beverage writer, culinary guide and author of Food of the Italian Islands ‘As someone who was sure he hated anchovies and now is a fan, I can’t imagine a better way to learn the history of my secret culinary weapon. A Twist in the Tail offers much more than I ever imagined. It’s one of those rare books that is a pleasure to read while making you a little smarter in the process.’ — Steve Sando, founder, Rancho Gordo ‘An entertainingly rich exploration of the inter-relate...
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