Romaine Wasn't Built in a Day: The Delightful History of Food Language

Judith Tschann

5 Reviews

Rated 0

Prose: non-fiction, Literary essays, Gift books

Imprint

Headline
- Hardback May 9, 2023 | 9781035406517 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- Audiobook Feb 21, 2023 | 9781035406531 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
- e-Book Feb 21, 2023 | 9781035406524 | RRP $19.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00
Imprint

Headline
- Hardback May 9, 2023 | 9781035406517 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- Audiobook Feb 21, 2023 | 9781035406531 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
- e-Book Feb 21, 2023 | 9781035406524 | RRP $19.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00
Imprint

Headline
- Hardback May 9, 2023 | 9781035406517 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- Audiobook Feb 21, 2023 | 9781035406531 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
- e-Book Feb 21, 2023 | 9781035406524 | RRP $19.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00

A surprising and hilarious history of the language of food

'A splendid book . . . anyone who eats food and/or likes words will gain hours of innocent pleasure from this veritable feast of fun.' - Daily Mail

Perfect for readers of Susie Dent and Mark Forsyth, and fans of QI.

All food has a story, reaching as far back into history as language itself. As languages followed and reflected the tides of civilizations, food language came to represent some of the highs and lows of how humans communicate: from the highbrow 'Chateauneuf du Pape: (the Pope's new castle)' to the 'nun's farts' of Jamaica (also known as 'beignets').

Chock full of food puns, linguistic did-you-knows and delectable trivia, Romaine Wasn't Built in A Day is your go-to gift for your trivia nerds, your history buffs, your crossword fiends, and your Scrabble diehards. This is the surprising and hilarious history of food, told through the lens of the fascinating evolution of language.

Praise for Romaine Wasn't Built in a Day: The Delightful History of Food Language

...a fascinating history of how we eat and cook. - New York Times
Accomplished medievalist Tschann turns her linguistic skills to sussing out the origins of all manner of food-related words... Tschann's approach is lighthearted, but her aim is serious. - Booklist
If you've ever paused mid-sip to wonder about the origins of your piping hot coffee or pondered the etymological roots of the word 'pastrami,' former English professor Judith Tschann has some very fun answers. Tschann joyfully explores our daily food rituals, from breakfast spreads to boozy nightcaps, parsing the language we use to talk about what we eat and drink, and why. Along the way, she unearths surprising origin stories and twisty verbal evolutions. The result is a truly delightful smorgasbord of history and linguistics that kept us entertained-and made us hungry. - Apple Books
I will never look at my breakfast the same way again! - author of Eight Flavors
Scrumptious... This book was meant to be devoured. - author of Murder Your Darlings