100 Vegetables and Where They Came from

A tear-shaped shallot that is the darling of French cuisine. An American pea named after a gambling game. A violet carrot brought back from India by the Greeks following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

William Woys Weaver - veggie expert, gardener, and food historian - presents a range of peppers, potatoes, peas, gourds, onions, tomatoes, greens, and a whole lot more. What's the difference between a yam and a sweet potato? Are Jerusalem artichokes from Jerusalem? Where was the first tomato grown?

Mixing history, culinary suggestions, practical information, and personal anecdotes, Weaver tells the stories behind a variety of one hundred vegetables - stories about a pepper from the western slopes of the Andes (perfect for salsas and easy to grow in containers throughout North America), about a flowering fava from England (both the leaves and flowers are edible), about a squash from an ancient fishing town in Italy (good for stuffing and delicious with white wine), and a striped tomato from California (a must for salads and outdoor buffets).

William Woys Weaver has selected one hundred of the most irresistible vegetables, all of which he has grown and harvested in his own kitchen garden. With a helpful appendix of seed sources, practical tips, and beautifully detailed illustrations of each vegetable, 100 Vegetables and Where They Came From is a worldly feast for gardeners, vegetable lovers, cooks seeking inspiration, and those curious to know more about what's on their dinner plates.

A perfect leek from France. Flavorful zucchini from Italy. An infamous potato from Ireland, and a humble lentil from Ethiopia. 100 VEGETABLES offers a veritable cornucopia of vegetables and stories from around the world--from Argentina to Zimbabwe, from Australia to the United States. William Woys Weaver--veggie connoisseur, gardener, and historian--guides us through a range of peppers, potatoes, peas, gourds, onions, tomatoes, greens, and a whole lot more.

Not every carrot is the same. All beans aren't equal. Take the Petaluma Gold Rush bean, a rugged legume, grown for over 150 years and brought to California by an American whaler from Peru. Or the violet carrot, which the Greeks brought back from India following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Mixing history, culinary suggestions, practical information, and personal anecdotes, Weaver introduces us to unusual heirloom vegetables as well as to common favorites. He provides answers to general questions, such as the difference between a yam and a sweet potato, and presents lively portraits of one hundred vegetable varieties, which he's grown and harvested in his own kitchen garden.

Organized alphabetically by common name, 100 VEGETABLES includes beautifully detailed drawings throughout and a helpful appendix of seed resources.

"100 Vegetables" offers a veritable cornucopia of vegetables and stories from around the world, written by Weaver, a veggie connoisseur, gardener, and historian. Mixing history, culinary suggestions, and personal anecdotes, he introduces readers to unusual heirloom vegetables as well as to common favorites. Two-color throughout. Line drawings.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-305) and index.

William Woys Weaver is an organic gardener, food historian, and author of eight books--including Heirloom Vegetable Gardening and Pennsylvania Dutch Country Cooking, both of which received Julia Child awards for food reference. He and his kitchen garden have been the subject of articles in the New York Times, Country Home, the Chicago Tribune, and Food Arts. He lives in Devon, Pennsylvania, where he maintains an 1830s-style garden, featuring some three thousand varieties of heirloom vegetables, flowers, and herbs.