"[Thorne's] richest book yet; one in which simple disparate thoughts begin to coalesce into a genuine philosophy of food." --Ruth Reichl, Saveur

"Here's a rare treat, a book in which the recipes are only a means to an end or stepping stones in cultural detective stories . . . [Thorne's] folkloric approach to food nourishes the brain as well as the body." --William Rice, Chicago Tribune

"The Thornes love their subject, but critically, knowledgeably and with a sense of humor that makes the narrative flow as if velvetized by mayo." --Sheila Himmel, The Washington Post Book World