The United States of Arugula (English)

This zesty history of gourmandism in America, from the early days of James Beard and Julia Child to the 21st-century Las Vegas outposts of celebrity chefs, is perfect for readers who want a broad overview of America's energetically transforming food scene over the past 60 years. With a chatty, gossipy style, journalist David Kamp dips into just about every culinary aspect possible, exploring the transition of the American palate from a mid-20th-century obsession with French food to Alice Waters's salad greens revolution to California cuisine and the debates over name chefs starting branded empires. Among those discussed in detail are Craig Claiborne, Henri Soule, Jeremiah Tower, Bill Niman, Dean & DeLuca, Wolfgang Puck, and Rick Bayless. A great mini-history, this book will surely be the jumping off point for further reading for many. minimize