As we head into the coolness of autumn, it’s time to snuggle up and rewatch some of our old cinema favourites. Back in the ’90s, when we first started going to the Auckland International Film Festival, there was a string of films centred around the rituals and culture of food. From austere coastal villages in Denmark to high society in New York across the North Atlantic. Hungry - excuse the pun - for knowledge of how other people lived in different time periods and stories woven around food culture we couldn’t get enough of cinema with a bite.
A reading list for exploring the recipes, anecdotes and history of dining around the world. Exploring global food books unveils a vast array of culinary traditions, recipes, and cultural insights that traverse continents and centuries. From the ale houses of Britain to the unemployed chefs post-the- French- Revolution to the ruins of Pompeii, we learn about the history and importance of food culture to previous generations of diners. Noteworthy authors such as Bee Wilson, Ruth Reichl, and William Sitwell deliver a treasure trove of knowledge and captivating narratives that shed light on the stories behind our beloved cuisines.
