Ladyfingers and Nun's Tummies: A Lighthearted Look at How Foods Got Their Names

reveals the surprising stories behind the names we give to the foods we eat. With her witty, engaging style, Martha Barnette serves up a savory feast of history, culture, folklore, and science. Hailed by the as one of the "The 100 Best Books of the Year," is a delectable exploration of the language of food and drink. For cooking enthusiasts and word lovers alike, this book provides a smorgasbord of knowledge and bountiful food for thought. "Everything in it is delightful to learn. Barnette takes us through languages and across millennia in a charming style that, starting with words describing things we eat, turns out to offer endless food for thought." -- "Truly delicious . . . a vast multicultural smorgasbord of our culinary delights . . . a tour de force." -- Gene Bluestein, " will be savored by anyone with a fondness for food and a passion for language." --Francine Prose, magazine "Why didn't anybody think of this before? . . . What fun Martha Barnette has made of it all, every name for every dish explained and traced and jollied." --William F. Buckley, Jr.