The Taste of Conquest: The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spice

By Michael Krondl

Book Overview

The Taste of Conquest offers up a riveting, globe-trotting tale of unquenchable desire, fanatical religion, raw greed, fickle fashion, and mouthwatering cuisine-in short, the very stuff of which our world is made. In this engaging, enlightening, and anecdote-filled history, Michael Krondl, a noted chef turned writer and food historian, tells the story of three legendary cities-Venice, Lisbon, and Amsterdam-and how their single-minded pursuit of spice helped to make (and remake) the Western diet and set in motion the first great wave of globalization. Sharing meals and stories with Indian pepper planters, Portuguese sailors, and Venetian foodies, Krondl takes every opportunity to explore the world of long ago and sample its many flavors. Along the way, he reveals that the taste for spice of a few wealthy Europeans led to great crusades, astonishing feats of bravery, and even wholesale slaughter. As stimulating as it is pleasurable, and filled with surprising insights, The Taste of Conquest offers a compelling perspective on how, in search of a tastier dish, the world has been transformed. Praise for The Taste of Conquest "An altogether rich, perfectly seasoned slice of world history." -The Boston Globe "As a chef I have always been deeply intrigued by the mystique of spices. Michael Krondl's book awakens and transports the reader into this mysterious world, showing us how our lives and history have been transformed by the sensuous odors of cardamom, nutmeg, and turmeric." -Gray Kunz, chef and owner of Cafe Gray and Grayz, co-author of The Elements of Taste "Fascinating . . . spicy reading for food and history lovers alike." -Associated Press "A delicious treat." -The Vancouver Sun "Witty and erudite." -Financial Post "Enticing." -Chicago Tribune

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345480848
• ISBN13: 9780345480842
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A sweet and sour tale of Europe's love affair with spices

It's why Venice treacherously overthrew the Byzantine Empire with the Fourth "Crusade." It's why Portuguese rulers sent mariners ever further south down the coast of Africa, until Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, followed later by Vasco DeGama. It's why the Dutch created the world's first modern joint-stock company, the Dutch East India Company. IT? It's the spices of India, Southeast Asia and the Spice Islands. Chef and food writer Michael Krondl tells the story of how each city, in turn, became the spice capital of Europe in this fascinating read. Throwing in dashes, pinches and soupçons of food sociology, medieval cooking and more on the way, Krondl pens what can only be considered a flavorful read. Seriously, you'll learn that Europeans, even today's bland-eating French, went as heavy with the spices as most East Asians did 500 years ago. You'll learn their favorites. You'll learn the dark side of the spice trade, its profit margin and more. You'll also see a few myths about spices debunked. You may even get ideas for new cooking yourself.

Historical Feast

The Taste of Conquest is a delightful book that takes the reader along for a feast across time. We found ourselves discussing the book and some surprising spice facts at dinner last night. It has even made me (a self-declared non-cook) want to pick up a pan and start experimenting in the kitchen.

A journey in history and taste

I catch myself thinking of this book and its stories of the pepper trade every time I pick up the black pepper grinder in our kitchen. The images and descriptions of flavors in Krondl's book are truly haunting. The history is carefully researched and eloquently told - you learn a lot, from curious little facts to the sweeping big picture of the dawn of globalization. This makes Krondl's book a fascinating read. The best part is the food - his descriptions of recipes and flavors is great - really benefits from his professional cooking skills. Highly recommended, excellent and fun read.

A beautifully-written and engaging book

This thoroughly researched and engaging book deserves a prominent place on any food-lover's bookshelf. After reading this beautifully written book, my experiences with spices in my own kitchen will be forever enhanced. Highly recommended.

A most compelling account of the early spice trade

This book reads as easily as a fairy tale but it's full of fascinating facts and information. Expertly researched and so well written you'll be able to taste the spices. Fitting analogies to our day are full of wit and help to paint the picture.