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Serendipity

A History of Accidental Culinary Discoveries

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Eataly founder Oscar Farinetti reveals the accidental, serendipitous discoveries that gave birth to some of the world's most well-known gastronomic delights.

Did you know that your morning coffee could be thanks to a herd of energetic goats? Or that a forgotten ingredient is behind the invention of the beloved brownie? Who got the fright of their life discovering corn could pop? And which popular soft drink first started out as a medicinal syrup?

In Serendipity, Oscar Farinetti, founder of the high-end global food chain Eataly, shares fifty remarkable stories of how some of the greatest successes and examples of excellence in the food world came about by chance, from the invention of foods such as tarte tatin to the sandwich, as well as products like Nutella and corn flakes, plus some of the world's best wines, Gorgonzola cheese, balsamic vinegar, French fries, rum, and even the ice-cream cone. As Farinetti dives deep into these extraordinary histories, insightful and entertaining interviews with leading artisan food producers, chefs, inventors, and CEOs around the world provide additional color and rare context. The result is a remarkable read that explores humankind's never-ending quest to discover something new and reminds us that our mistakes, our flaws, and our failures can often be the most necessary ingredient in finding success.

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    • Library Journal

      October 1, 2022

      The founder of high-end food chain Eataly, Farinetti (How To Eataly) interviews renowned chefs, producers, and purveyors of beloved food and drinks about the accidental moments throughout history that led to culinary discoveries. Farinetti's native Italy offers a wealth of topics from anchovies to balsamic vinegar to wines and traditional dishes and desserts, but there are also background stories about brownies, Caesar salad, Coca-Cola, coffee, and more. It turns out that shipwrecks, mistakes, forgotten barrels, and sheer necessity often led to delicious results, but caffeinated goats and Napoleon's edicts may have also played a part. A handful of recipes are provided, including some for brownies, cr�pes Suzette, tarte tatin, and risotto. Farinetti also touches on the importance of sustainability and ends on a philosophical note discussing the serendipity of humankind itself. VERDICT These short, casual interviews about serendipitous food discoveries mix fact and lore to provide an entertaining collection that food connoisseurs will enjoy. With no sources included beyond the experts being interviewed, this reads more like an oral history, lovingly preserved in book form.--Melissa DeWild

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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