THE SECRET HISTORY OF FOOD Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat

Roger Wayne embraces the author's enthusiasm and has many fun moments narrating this irreverent, informed guide to little known stories about food. From his emulation of a squeaky, pretentious English cookbook writer downgrading American pie to his imitation of a working-class Brit in a quote from TRAINSPOTTING, Wayne's voice work shines. The pie section is splendid: American pie, especially, is celebrated, and British pies with their unsavory fillings and coffin-lid top crusts are disparaged. The author is also witty when discussing nineteenth-century food experts (read charlatans) Graham and Kellogg, whose names live on as brands. His explanations of why tomatoes have lost their flavor (bred to travel) and potatoes are so uniform (thank McDonald's) are educational and clever. This audiobook enlightens as it entertains. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2021]