Does God have a recipe?
Holy Foodis a titanic feat of research and a fascinating exploration of American faith and culinary rites. Christina Ward is the perfect guide generous, wise, and ecumenical. Adam Chandler, author ofDrive-Thru Dreams
Holy Food doesn't just trace the influence that preachers, gurus, and cult leaders have had on American cuisine.
It offers a unique look at the ways spiritualitywhether in the form of fringe cults or major religionshas shaped our culture. Christina Ward has gone spelunking into some very odd corners of American history to unearth this fascinating collection of stories and recipes. Jonathan Kauffmann, author of Hippie Food: How Back-to-the-Landers, Longhairs, and Revolutionaries Changed the Way We Eat
An engaging book that shares everything from little-known facts to illuminating profiles of historical figures. Best of all, Ward shares recipes from historic religious communities, updated to reflect modern cooking technology.
A must-have for food historians, religious historians, or just the curious and hungry folks in your life.Dr. Julia Skinner, author ofOur Fermented Lives
Independent food historian Christina Wards highly anticipatedHoly Foodexplores the influence of mainstream to fringe religious beliefs on modern American food culture. Author Christina Ward unravels the numerous ways religious beliefs intersect with politics and economics and, of course, food to tell a different story of America.
It's the story of true believers and charlatans, of idealists and visionaries, and of the everyday people who followed themoften at their peril.Holy Foodexplains how faith pioneers used societal woes and cultural trends to create new pathways of belief and reveals the interconnectivity between sects and their leaders.
Religious beliefs have been the source of food rules since Pythagoras told his followers not to eat beans (they contain souls), Kosher and Halal rules forbade the shrimp cocktail (shellfish are scavengers, or maybe G-d just said no). A long-ago Pope forbade Catholics from eating meat on Fridays (fasting to atone for committed sins). Rules about eating are present in nearly every American belief, from high-control groups that ban everything except air to the infamous strawberry shortcake that sated visitors to the Oneida Community in the late 1800s.
Only in the United Stateswhere the freedom to worship the God of your choice and sometimes of your own makingcould people embrace new ideas about religion. It is in this over-stirred pot of liberation, revolution, and mysticism that we discover God cares about what you put in your mouth.
Holy Food looks at how the explosion of religious movements since the Great Awakenings (the nationwide religious revivals in the 1730s-40s and 1795-1835) birthed a cottage industry of food fads that gained mainstream acceptance. And at the obscure sects and communities of the 20th Century who dabbled in vague spirituality that used food to both entice and control followers.
Ward skillfully navigates between academic studies, interviews, cookbooks, and religious texts to make sharp observations with new insights into American history in this highly readable journey through the American kitchen.
Holy Food features over 75 recipes from religious and communal groups tested and updated for modern cooks. Also includes over 100 historic black-and-white images.
Ward uses deep-dive research on religious history, and an equally deep knowledge of food, to show us how the two are intimately connected.Not only do we eat and drink within our religious rituals, but religion informs what and how we eat as well (and what and how we eat informs religion, too).An engaging book that shares everything from little-known facts to illuminating profiles of historical figures. Best of all, Ward shares recipes from historic religious communities, updated to reflect modern cooking technology.
A must-have for food historians, religious historians, or just the curious and hungry folks in your life. --Dr. Julia Skinner, author of Our Fermented Lives