A History of the Irish, As Told By Their Food: A Book About Ireland and Irish America, With Recipes (Historic New England Foods)

What can butter and ham tell us about Irish history?

In this book, they can tell you a lot. So can the Salmon of Knowledge, the priest’s drop of whiskey and the pig—“the little gentleman who pays the rent.”

This book about Irish food unlocks the secrets of the Emerald Isle, its history and its culture. It explains why oat cakes go with Imbolc and barmbrack with Samhein. It recounts the tragic events that led to the reign of the potato. And it describes how Catholicism affected the Irish diet, from salt fish to dairy cake.

Food also reveals the influence of the Anglo-Normans, the Scandinavians, the French and the English. It explains breakfast in Ulster and teatime in Dublin. Surprising connections can also be discovered between the Irish and American revolutions through food.

View the history of the Irish people in Ireland and in America with this captivating book. Filled with recipes, stories and illustrations, readers will gain a deeper understanding of Irish heritage and culture.