The Oxford Companion to Food

By Alan Davidson,

Book cover of The Oxford Companion to Food

Book description

the best food reference work ever to appear in the English language ... read it and be dazzled'
Bee Wilson, New Statesman

First published in 1999, the ground-breaking Oxford Companion to Food was an immediate success and won prizes and accolades around the world. Its blend of serious food history,…

Shepherd is reader supported.
We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our website. This is how we fund the project for readers and authors. Please join our membership program to support our endeavor.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Oxford Companion to Food as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

With entries on foods from Aardvark to Zucchini, this wonderful, wide-ranging reference book has a place of honour by my desk. The idea of a global guide to foodstuffs was conceived of by Alan Davidson in 1976 – before the digital age – and first published in 1999. Davidson, who edited it, brought his intellectual curiosity, knowledge, and humour to the project. The result is a seminal reference book which instead of being dull or stodgy is lively, engaging, and interesting. A book that I never tire of using, as always come across something that catches my attention in the…

From Jenny's list on that help us explore the world.

Want books like The Oxford Companion to Food?

Our community of 7,000+ authors has personally recommended 10 books like The Oxford Companion to Food.

Browse books like The Oxford Companion to Food

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in food, cooking, and monsters?

7,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about food, cooking, and monsters.

Food Explore 56 books about food
Cooking Explore 77 books about cooking
Monsters Explore 106 books about monsters