¡Tequila!


Book Description

“This fascinating, well-written book explores how tequila has come to symbolize what it means to be Mexican . . . A must read.” —Choice ¡Tequila! Distilling the Spirit of Mexico traces how and why tequila became Mexico’s national drink and symbol. Starting in Mexico’s colonial era and tracing the drink’s rise through the present day, Marie Sarita Gaytán reveals the formative roles played by some unlikely characters—such as the revolutionary Pancho Villa, who was himself a teetotaler. She also shows how tequila’s cultural status was shaped by US-Mexican relations, the tourism industry, shifting gender roles, technology, regulation, film, music, and literature. Like all stories about national symbols, the rise of tequila forms a complicated, unexpected, and poignant tale. By unraveling its inner workings, Gaytán encourages us to think critically about national symbols more generally—especially the ways they both reveal and conceal—to tell a story about a place, a culture, and a people. In many ways, the story of tequila is the story of Mexico.




The Complete Book of Spirits


Book Description

An indispensable follow-up to his classic Complete Book of Mixed Drinks, Anthony Dias Blue presents The Complete Book of Spirits, a comprehensive collection of history, lore, and tasting tips, along with recipes for select cocktails. Here, in one concise and easy-to-use volume, is all the information a consumer needs to shop, mix, and sip like a spirits expert. From bathtub gin to mojito madness, Blue brings the dynamic history of the spirits industry alive, demonstrating that spirit making is not only one of mankind's oldest pursuits but also perhaps its most colorful. In ten captivating chapters, readers are treated to everything they ever wanted to know about their favorite liquors, including vodka, aquavit, tequila, and whiskey. Blue also provides step-by-step instructions on how to host spirit tastings to educate your palate and to help you and your friends discover your favorite brands and blends. For every chapter and every spirit, there is also a handy tasting-notes section, with Blue's expert comments and his favorites, along with price points. If you've ever wondered about the difference between potato and wheat vodkas, or between mescal and tequila or American and Irish whiskeys, or what makes single malt Scotch so desirable, look no further. With Anthony Dias Blue, America's leading wine and spirits expert, and The Complete Book of Spirits as your guides, you will take your enjoyment to a new level.




Food Lover's Guide to the World


Book Description

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher* When we travel, it's often love at first bite. Food Lover's Guide to the World presents a lifetime of eating experiences that will lead you from one end of the globe to the other. Take your taste buds on a tour around the world and cook up your next great culinary adventure. Celebrity food-lover contributions Best places to find local dishes in cities great and small Cultural tips and how-to-eat etiquette Introductions by Mark Bittman and James Oseland More than 50 recipes to cook back home Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet, Carolyn Bain, Luke Waterson, Anthony Ham, Rob Whyte, Sarina Singh, Helen Ranger, Lucy Burningham, Andrew Bender, Mara Vorhees, Nicola Williams, Duncan Garwood, Austin Bush, Janine Eberle, Gabi Mocatta, Tom Parker Bowles, Will Gourlay, Joe Bindloss, Zoe Li, Jessica Lee, Denise Phillips, Sarah Baxter, Emily Matchar. About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places where they travel. TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2012 and 2013 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia) *#1 in the world market share - source: Nielsen Bookscan. Australia, UK and USA. March 2012-January 2013 Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.




The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink


Book Description

Offering a panoramic view of the history and culture of food and drink in America with fascinating entries on everything from the smell of asparagus to the history of White Castle, and the origin of Bloody Marys to jambalaya, the Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink provides a concise, authoritative, and exuberant look at this modern American obsession. Ideal for the food scholar and food enthusiast alike, it is equally appetizing for anyone fascinated by Americana, capturing our culture and history through what we love most--food! Building on the highly praised and deliciously browseable two-volume compendium the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, this new work serves up everything you could ever want to know about American consumables and their impact on popular culture and the culinary world. Within its pages for example, we learn that Lifesavers candy owes its success to the canny marketing idea of placing the original flavor, mint, next to cash registers at bars. Patrons who bought them to mask the smell of alcohol on their breath before heading home soon found they were just as tasty sober and the company began producing other flavors. Edited by Andrew Smith, a writer and lecturer on culinary history, the Companion serves up more than just trivia however, including hundreds of entries on fast food, celebrity chefs, fish, sandwiches, regional and ethnic cuisine, food science, and historical food traditions. It also dispels a few commonly held myths. Veganism, isn't simply the practice of a few "hippies," but is in fact wide-spread among elite athletic circles. Many of the top competitors in the Ironman and Ultramarathon events go even further, avoiding all animal products by following a strictly vegan diet. Anyone hungering to know what our nation has been cooking and eating for the last three centuries should own the Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink.




The Great Margarita Book


Book Description

When people have asked of a place to eat in Santa Fe, I find myself referring them to Maria's. Is the food good? Yes. But the margaritas they are the best. When you read this book, you'll know why. -Robert Redford, from the foreword On the rocks or frozen, with lemon or lime, with salt or without, nothing conjures up the festive spirit of Mexico and the Southwest quite like a margarita-especially one made with the best tequila. Al Lucero, owner of Maria's Restaurant in Santa Fe, has served up his nationally acclaimed, authentic margaritas for nearly 20 years. In this revised edition of The Great Margarita Book, Al offers more than 85 of his special formulas along with profiles of more than 75 premium tequilas, including discussions of the all-important blue agave and methods of tequila production, classification, and labeling. Also featuring recipes for spicy dishes from Maria's and other great tequila drinks, The Great Margarita Book is the quintessential guide to America's most festive cocktail. Salud! • Revised handbook to premium tequilas and margaritas with new photographs and updated tequila descriptions. • The previous edition has sold more than 50,000 copies.




Food Lovers' Guide to® San Diego


Book Description

The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings The ultimate guides to the food scene in their respective states or regions, these books provide the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy, and celebrate local culinary offerings. Engagingly written by local authorities, they are a one-stop for residents and visitors alike to find producers and purveyors of tasty local specialties, as well as a rich array of other, indispensable food-related information including: • Favorite restaurants and landmark eateries • Farmers markets and farm stands • Specialty food shops, markets and products • Food festivals and culinary events • Places to pick your own produce • Recipes from top local chefs • The best cafes, taverns, wineries, and brewpubs




Tequlia and Mezcal Complete Guide


Book Description

"A new generation of Mexican master distillers is producing tequila and mezcal with great pride and care. This comprehensive guide is your opportunity to discover the long history of both spirits, dating back to the Aztecs. Find out more about the versatility, the extremely meticulous production processes and the flavour profiles of these wonderful spirits. What is the best way to drink your tequila: pure or in a cocktail? How are these spirits produced and what are the differences between the various types of tequila? Tequila & Mezcal gives tequila-lovers answers to all these questions and offers a convenient classification of the various types of tequila, gives you tips about the best tequila bars, and offers several original recipes to provide a taste of Mexico in your glass and on your plate. This compendium by Isabel Boons, culinary journalist and co-autor of Gin & Tonic, and Kobe Desmet, the first and only Belgian officially certified as a Tequila Master, is a tribute to pure tequila and mezcal."--Back cover.