The Taste of Conquest offers up a riveting, globe-trotting tale of unquenchable desire, fanatical religion, raw greed, fickle fashion, and mouthwatering cuisine-in short, the very stuff of which our world is made. In this engaging, enlightening, and anecdote-filled history, Michael Krondl, a noted chef turned writer and food historian, tells the story of three legendary cities-Venice, Lisbon, and Amsterdam-and how their single-minded pursuit of spice...
It's why Venice treacherously overthrew the Byzantine Empire with the Fourth "Crusade." It's why Portuguese rulers sent mariners ever further south down the coast of Africa, until Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, followed later by Vasco DeGama. It's why the Dutch created the world's first modern joint-stock company, the Dutch East India Company. IT? It's the spices of India, Southeast Asia and the Spice Islands...
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The Taste of Conquest is a delightful book that takes the reader along for a feast across time. We found ourselves discussing the book and some surprising spice facts at dinner last night. It has even made me (a self-declared non-cook) want to pick up a pan and start experimenting in the kitchen.
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I catch myself thinking of this book and its stories of the pepper trade every time I pick up the black pepper grinder in our kitchen. The images and descriptions of flavors in Krondl's book are truly haunting. The history is carefully researched and eloquently told - you learn a lot, from curious little facts to the sweeping big picture of the dawn of globalization. This makes Krondl's book a fascinating read. The best part...
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This thoroughly researched and engaging book deserves a prominent place on any food-lover's bookshelf. After reading this beautifully written book, my experiences with spices in my own kitchen will be forever enhanced. Highly recommended.
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This book reads as easily as a fairy tale but it's full of fascinating facts and information. Expertly researched and so well written you'll be able to taste the spices. Fitting analogies to our day are full of wit and help to paint the picture.
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