The Curious Christmas Table

Every dish on your Christmas table has a secret. The spices in your gingerbread once traveled routes where cinnamon was worth more than gold. The eggnog in your glass crossed an ocean for cheaper rum. The Brussels sprout dividing your family has been doing so for longer than anyone arguing about it has been alive. The Curious Christmas Table uncovers the hidden histories behind fifty Christmas foods and drinks - from ancient Roman feasts to Depression-era marketing campaigns. Inside: Why Queen Elizabeth I had gingerbread shaped like courtiers, how a papal butter ban shaped Germany's Christmas bread, and the 1930s syrup ad that invented an "old-fashioned" pie tradition. The perfect gift for: the food lover, the history buff, the host who loves conversation starters, or anyone who's ever wondered why fruitcake outlasts most relationships. "Finally, a food book that's actually fun to read out loud." Give the gift of stories this Christmas. Order your copy today.