"Words to Eat By abounds with...delicious historical detail. Ms. Lipkowitz...is an appealing mixture of scholar and foodie, and she has written a toothsome study of the relationship between English-speakers' culinary and linguistic heritage.The sum effect is a hymn to the comforting, honest pleasures of food and at the same time a perceptive account of the ways in which many of our tastes were determined hundreds and indeed thousands of years ago." The Wall Street Journal
"...a lively blend of linguistics, culinary detail (including ancient recipes), religious and cultural works, and Lipkowitz’s own vigorous inquiry....it’s hard to imagine reading a menu quite the same way again after reading this elegant, thoughtful book."--The Boston Globe
"...a delectable culinary sampler. This feast for foodies everywhere is chock-full of unexpectedly tasty tidbits of information in support of the author’s premise that the manner in which we prepare, enjoy, and communicate about food speaks volumes about our cultural and linguistic heritage. Enjoy!" --Booklist
"...[a] winsome, delightful, and appetizing romp through the development of our language regarding food." -- Publishers Weekly
"Brings a depth of historical and linguistic relevance to the table."--Kirkus Reviews
“Ever wonder about the origin and social life of food words and their ability to evoke powerful reactions, both positive and negative? Ina Lipkowitz takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of names for various foods and the reasons why some prevail in Northern European languages while others proliferate in the south; why some refer to the animal in the field and others to the food on the plate. Here is one delicious rumination for lovers of the gastronomic lexicon, ranging from apples and leeks to milk, beef and bread. Nothing less than an etymological feast.” --Ken Albala, author of Beans, Eating Right in the Renaissance and The Lost Art of Real Cooking
“Ina Lipkowitz's passion for food and language leaps off every page of Words to Eat By, as she lovingly dissects the relationship between the food that goes into our mouths and the words that come out. The combination of two such rich subjects means the result is packed with tasty morsels.”--Tom Standage, author of An Edible History of Humanity and A History of the World in 6 Glasses
“What an engaging book! Words to Eat By is not just for foodies; it is a lively account of the history of words and of our intersections with different cultures, so appropriate for any history lover. Lipkowitz’s narrative is fascinating, reminding us that what we eat is shaped by attitude and imagination and the power of language. It is an important contribution to the literature of food and our relationship to the different cultural languages of the edible world.”--Janet Theophano, author of Eat My Words
"A thought-provoking book that savors the primordial stew of our language.”--Nichola Fletcher, author of Charlemagnes’s Tablecloth and Caviar: A Global History
