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A French cheesemonger and an American academic and ex-pat join forces to serve up a sumptuous history of France and its food, in the delicious tradition of Anthony Bourdain, Peter Mayle, and Pamela Druckerman

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A "delicious" (Dorie Greenspan), "genial" (Kirkus Reviews), "very cool book about the intersections of food and history" (Michael Pollan)-as featured in the New York Times

"The complex political, historical, religious and social factors that shaped some of [France´s] . . . most iconic dishes and culinary products are explored in a way that will make you rethink every sprinkling of fleur de sel."
-The New York Times Book Review

Acclaimed upon its hardcover publication as a "culinary treat for Francophiles" (Publishers Weekly), A Bite-Sized History of France is a thoroughly original book that explores the facts and legends of the most popular French foods and wines. Traversing the cuisines of France´s most famous cities as well as its underexplored regions, the book is enriched by the "authors´ friendly accessibility that makes these stories so memorable" (The New York Times Book Review). This innovative social history also explores the impact of war and imperialism, the age-old tension between tradition and innovation, and the enduring use of food to prop up social and political identities.

The origins of the most legendary French foods and wines-from Roquefort and cognac to croissants and Calvados, from absinthe and oysters to Camembert and champagne-also reveal the social and political trends that propelled France´s rise upon the world stage. As told by a Franco-American couple (Stéphane is a cheesemonger, Jeni is an academic) this is an "impressive book that intertwines stories of gastronomy, culture, war, and revolution. . . . It´s a roller coaster ride, and when you´re done you´ll wish you could come back for more" (The Christian Science Monitor).

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Henaut, Stéphane
Stéphane Hénaut´s wide-ranging career in food includes working in the Harrods fromagerie, cooking for the Lord Mayor of London´s banquets, and selling obscure vegetables in a French fruiterie. He lives in Berlin.

Mitchell, Jeni
Jeni Mitchell is a teaching fellow in the Department of War Studies, King´s College London. She lives in Berlin.

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