This entertaining book takes us on a fascinating exploration of the world of food. Take a journey with the dynamic father and daughter duo, geographer Gary Fuller and chef Tracy Reddekopp, as they travel around the globe to trace the enduring links of geography and food. Food and its preparation and enjoyment define the major cultural regions of the world and how these regions have changed over time. The authors believe that the peoples of the world have begun to reunite after millennia of dispersal. The sharing of foods and food traditions are prime examples of this global connection. Enriching the trip with thirty-five recipes to extend the experience into our kitchen, homes, and families, the authors also make geography fun by asking trivia questions that turn out to be far from trivial. Among the questions asked and answered are: *What landlocked country in South America developed a plant that revolutionized food production in Europe? *What bird on the island of Mauritius gave us an expression about mortality? *On what Native American reservation, and in what kind of business, do we find the Code Talkers Museum? *Why could vanilla be grown only in Mexico until the mid-nineteenth century? *What famous Italian-American was given a nickname derived from a Pan American airliner? (Answers: Bolivia, the potato, "Dead as a dodo," the Navajo reservation in a Burger King; the plant could only be pollinated naturally by a Mexican bee, Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper)
Acknowledgments Dr. G's Preface Chef Tracy's Preface 1 The Search for Spices Old World Meets New World Spiced Wine Malabar Pepper Gougeres 2 Marco Polo Travels East Spinach and Vanilla Rice Casserole 3 A Plant Is Domesticated in Bolivia Pommes Frites with Garlic and Vanilla Aioli Colcannon 4 Sugar Vanilla Caramel Rustic Apple Tart 5 Cacao Grammy's Cocoa Cake-The Next Generation with Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting and Bittersweet Chocolate Drizzle 6 Plain Vanilla Vanilla Extract Frozen Vanilla Custard Vanilla Bean Flan 7 The French in America Beignets and Spiced-Chicory-Chocolate Dipping Sauce 8 The Russians Come to America Russian Borscht 9 Jews in America Challah 10 Immigrants, Part I Mom's Sauerkraut and Apples 11 Immigrants, Part II Cannoli Bites with Dark Chocolate The Godfather Cocktail 12 North Atlantic Islands Beer-Battered Onion Rings 13 South Atlantic Islands Rogue Pirate Picnic Sandwich 14 World Hot Spots Sweet Pepper and Onion Jam Christmas Eve Wings with Cilantro-Lime Dipping Sauce 15 Religious Movements Dad's Thanksgiving Stuffing Amish Chicken 16 South of the Border Crab Enchilada Bake with Red and White Sauces 17 The Land Down Under US Arroz con Pollo 18 Extinctions Tatonka Tourtiere Bacalao 19 Gold Rushes Rachel's Cinnamon Twists 20 Rivers and Civilizations North African Pan-Fried Bread 21 Things Change Meatloaf, Mashies, and Pea Salad 22 Southern Latitudes Not-so-Trite Shrimp on the Barbie 23 Settlement of the Pacific: The Final Frontier Pineapple-Papaya Salsa 24 The Dairy Belt Vanilla Ricotta Cheese 25 What's in a Name? Three Sisters' Pudding 26 My Early Geographic Education and First Migration Stovetop "Baked" Beans Index
