Megan Elias: 3 books

Can you be a good mother without packing a cute bento box for your child? Should lunch always be followed by a nap? Is lunch a place to demonstrate democracy or hierarchy? These questions and more are considered in Lunch: a History. This six-continent survey of the history, customs, and representations...

What is American food? From barbecue to Jell-O molds to burrito bowls, its history spans a vast patchwork of traditions, crazes, and quirks. A close look at these foods and the recipes behind them unearths a vivid map of American foodways: how Americans thought about food, how they described it, and...

If there is one thing the United States takes seriously (outside of sports), it’s barbecue. Different in every region, barbecuing is an art, and Americans take pride in their special blend of slow-cooked meat, spices, and tangy sauces. But the US didn’t invent the cooking form, nor do Americans...