WONDERFUL book!!

my brother matt gave me this book 8 years ago after i dropped some not too light hints about its wonders =) it is written by eugene walter who writes on many culinary topics with such verve and passion. in here is a group of foods listed alphabetically, some common and some wildly notso...their history, interesting uses and fascinating recipes that you really won't find elsewhere. all this with silly sketches too! here's a fun excerpt:
holly
"the seasonal use of holly apparently comes from the ancient Roman custom of sending boughs of holly and ivy to friends along with other gifts, a custom adopted along with many others by the early Chirstians. Dozens of legends in many countries and languages associate the holly with Christ, relating that the tree sprang up in his footsteps and is symbolic, with its thorny leaves and berries like drops of blood, of his travail on earth...in many parts of France, where holly proliferates and reaches greater heights than elsewhere, the young stems are gathered dried and bruised and served with great success as fodder for cattle through the winter. the resulting milk is considered particularly healthful and butter made of it of an especial excellence. In the Black Forest, holly leaves are used as a substitue for tea. ...all hollies have been used in treating intermittent fevers and rheumatism, and modern laboratory science has corroborated the tradition by isolating a bitter alkaloid called Ilicin which occurs in the hollies...thrushes and blackbirds adore them though children should stay away....etc...."

anyone with a passion for cooking or food would enjoy this book...it includes info and recipes on such foods as honey, garlic, sassafras, mustard, mistletoe, pineapple, pomegranate, sesame and cucumbers and lemons!!