What naughty joke is tucked inside every loaf of
pumpernickel
? Why do we call it a
Tootsie Roll
? How did a drunken brawl lead to the name
lobster Newburg
? What squiggly creature inspired the name of the pasta called
vermicelli
?
Ladyfingers and Nun's Tummies
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
Los Angeles Times
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."
--
The New Yorker
"Truly delicious . . . a vast multicultural smorgasbord of our culinary delights . . . a tour de force."
-- Gene Bluestein,
Los Angeles Times Book Review
"
Ladyfingers
will be savored by anyone with a fondness for food and a passion for language."
--Francine Prose,
People
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.