Pancake: A Global History

Description

In Pancake, Ken Albala recounts the illustrious history of pancakes around the world, from Greek and Roman times, to the Middle Ages, to the present. Today, whether it be maple syrupladen flapjacks in North America, injera in Ethiopia, the infamous French crepe, Japanese okonomiyaki, or Russian blini, he shows how pancakes have been the food that has perennially sustained our species. The book shows why pancakes have such universal appeal, and how the pancake has become such a global food favourite.

Ken Albala is Professor of History at the University of the Pacific, California. He is the author of many books, including Cooking in Europe: 1250-1650 (2006), The Banquet: Dining in the Great Courts of Late Renaissance Europe (2007), and Beans: A History (2007).

Albala perfectly marries [his] occupational penchant for facts with an innate literary style. His personal musings on the definition of the pancake often mirror a one-man, Socratic approach to problem-solving. Though the questions are posed internally, Albala is able to intelligently convey the results of his reflections to his audience, and the reader instantly becomes a willing party to the author's pursuit of the elusive pancake. In his erudite and witty book Pancake, Albala details the history of the pancake from the first appearance of the work pancake in English in the 15th century, up to the creation of modern-day institutions like IHOP The Edible Series contains some of the most delicious nuggets of food and drink history ever. Every volume is such a fascinating and succinct read that I had to devour each in just a single sitting ... food writing at its best! -- Ken Hom The first printed recipes for modern-style pancakes appear in the 16th century The earliest pancake chains started in California in the mid-1950s The oldest pancake race is said to date from 1445 Blinis are commonly served after funerals in Russia Japanese okonomayaki-style pancakes usually feature ingredients such as seaweed and bonito flakes and are served with brown sauce or mayonnaise