A Bite-Sized History of Italy - by Danielle Callegari Hardcover

Book Synopsis

A compelling exploration into the rich tapestry of Italian food history and culture, from the Roman Empire to today, by the co-host of the top-ranked Gola food and wine podcast

Though a relatively young country, Italy's culinary identity has been simmering for centuries, shaped by a shared gastronomic culture. From the dormice and pungent fish sauce of the Roman Empire to the heresy of pineapple pizza, A Bite-Sized History of Italy traces this legacy, offering a delicious romp through millennia of culinary tradition and transformation.

Author Danielle Callegari, Dartmouth College professor and celebrated Gola podcast co-host, guides readers through the kitchens, vineyards, city squares, and coastal ports of the iconic peninsula, painting an intimate portrait of a place justly famous for its cuisine--so much so that food might well be the very reason for its existence.

With boundless energy and a fearless palate, Callegari explores beloved staples--pizza, pasta, parmigiano--alongside the unsung flavors that shaped Italian identity: legumes, wild herbs, game birds, spices, and the contributions of Jewish and other minority communities. Readers will uncover the true history of the tomato, Mussolini's failed attempt to replace pasta with rice, the "Carbonaragate" scandal that made international headlines, and more. Drawing on ancient cookbooks, medieval architecture, and contemporary cooking shows, Callegari reveals how Italy's rise as Europe's gastronomic heart is rooted in religious customs, class dynamics, and the echoes of empire, and how food became a language of both unity and division.

Chapters feature recipes, beverage pairings, compelling historical vignettes, and current restaurant recommendations. Vivid and entertaining, this latest addition to The New Press's standout Bite-Sized History series, A Bite-Sized History of Italy offers a glimpse of the making of Italy itself--a nation defined, defended, and devoured around the table.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Bite-Sized History of Italy:
"A Bite-Sized History of Italy turns the peninsula's culinary mythology inside out, revealing the messy, hilarious, and profound ways Italians have used food to explain themselves for millennia. Callegari's storytelling is sharp, generous, and unafraid to pry open the past to show how culture is cooked into every bite."--Katie Parla, New York Times bestselling author and author of Rome: A Culinary History, Cookbook, and Field Guide to the Flavors that Built a City

"A Bite-Sized History of Italy is as engaging as it is erudite, and it returns Italian cooking squarely to where it belongs, as an integral, even foundational part of Italy's rich and unique culture."--David Wondrich, James Beard Award-winning cocktail historian and author

"Think you know Italian food? Think again. With the wit and wisdom that defines Dr. Callegari's lectures and writing, the professor gives a master class in these pages, bringing a freshness rivaled only by a recently filled cannolo to Italy's well-traveled food stories. She orients readers with historical and cultural context for the creation of beloved dishes (and some that are lesser known, too), and dazzles by delivering gems of humanity and humor along the way. This book is a delight that bridges ancient traditions with today's tables, and satisfies not just a hunger for history and nuggets of wisdom, but connection and community."--Stef Ferrari, award-winning and James Beard Award-nominated producer and author of Stuzzichini

"Danielle Callegari reminds us that Italian identity and Italian cuisine are inseparable, and that to understand one we must understand the other. This book wanders through the stories of writers, cooks, princes, and popes to trace that bond. At its core lies a simple truth: Food is never just food, but memory, myth, and the thread that ties one generation to the next. The only way to read this book is with appetite, curiosity, and gratitude."--Fabrizia Lanza, director of Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School and author of The Food of Sicily

"Brava Danielle, may our food always be with us and may its history make us aware of the richness we have."--Dario Cecchini, world-renowned butcher and owner of Cecchini

"Ranging from the Roman Empire to the present, this book is divided into twenty short chapters, savory 'bites' of fascinating stories about Italian food creations, scandals, and obsessions. Marvelous, and painlessly informative."--Paul Freedman, professor, historian, and author of Ten Restaurants That Changed America

About the Author

Danielle Callegari is an associate professor of Italian at Dartmouth College, where she specializes in medieval Italian literature and transhistorical food and beverage studies. Since 2022 she has been a writer at large for Wine Enthusiast, where she reviews the wines of Tuscany and southern Italy. She is also the Communications Director for the Dante Society of America and co-host of Gola, a podcast dedicated to Italian food and beverage culture. In addition to her many contributions to academic and trade publications, she is the author of Dante's Gluttons (Amsterdam University Press) and A Bite-Sized History of Italy (The New Press). She resides between Hanover, New Hampshire, and Rome, Italy.