Cheese, Pears, and History in a Proverb (Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspectives on Culinary History)

"Do not let the peasant know how good cheese is with pears" goes the old saying. Intrigued by these words and their portent, Massimo Montanari unravels their origin and utility. Perusing archival cookbooks, agricultural and dietary treatises, literary works, and anthologies of beloved sayings, he finds in the nobility's demanding palates and delicate stomachs a compelling recipe for social conduct. At first, cheese and its visceral, earthy pleasures were treated as the food of Polyphemus, the uncivilized man-beast. The pear, on the other hand, became the symbol of ephemeral, luxuriant pleasure-an indulgence of the social elite. Joined together, cheese and pears adopted an exclusive savoir faire, especially as the "natural phenomenon" of taste evolved into a cultural attitude. Montanari's delectable history straddles written and oral traditions, economic and social relations, and thrills in the power of mental representation. His ultimate discovery shows that the enduring proverb, so wrapped up in history, operates not only as a repository of shared wisdom but also as a rich locus of social conflict"--Publisher. Read more... Abstract: "Do not let the peasant know how good cheese is with pears" goes the old saying. Intrigued by these words and their portent, Massimo Montanari unravels their origin and utility. Perusing archival cookbooks, agricultural and dietary treatises, literary works, and anthologies of beloved sayings, he finds in the nobility's demanding palates and delicate stomachs a compelling recipe for social conduct. At first, cheese and its visceral, earthy pleasures were treated as the food of Polyphemus, the uncivilized man-beast. The pear, on the other hand, became the symbol of ephemeral, luxuriant pleasure-an indulgence of the social elite. Joined together, cheese and pears adopted an exclusive savoir faire, especially as the "natural phenomenon" of taste evolved into a cultural attitude. Montanari's delectable history straddles written and oral traditions, economic and social relations, and thrills in the power of mental representation. His ultimate discovery shows that the enduring proverb, so wrapped up in history, operates not only as a repository of shared wisdom but also as a rich locus of social conflict"--Publisher ""Do not let the peasant know how good cheese is with pears"" goes the extremely well known yet hard to decipher saying. Intrigued by this proverb, which has endured since the Middle Ages, Massimo Montanari launches an adventurous history of its origins and utility. Perusing archival cookbooks, agricultural and dietary treatises, literary works, and anthologies of beloved proverbs, Montanari finds in the nobility's demanding palettes and delicate stomachs a deep love of cheese with pears from medieval times onward. At first, cheese and its visceral, earthy pleasures was treated a 1. A Proverb To Decipher -- 2. A Wedding Announcement -- 3. Peasant Fare -- 4. When Rustic Food Becomes The Fashion -- 5. A Hard Road To Ennoblement -- 6. The Ideology Of Difference And Strategies Of Appropriation -- 7. A High-born Fruit -- 8. When Desire Conflicts With Health -- 9. Peasants And Knights -- 10. To Savor (to Know)/taste (good Taste) -- 11. How A Proverb Is Born -- 12. Do Not Share Pears With Your Master: The Proverb As The Site Of Class Conflict. Massimo Montanari ; Translated By Beth Archer Brombert. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [89]-110) And Index. Contents Series Editor's Preface Acknowledgments 1. A Proverb to Decipher 2. A Wedding Announcement 3. Peasant Fare 4. When Rustic Food Becomes the Fashion 5. A Hard Road to Ennoblement 6. The Ideology of Differenceand Strategies of Appropriation 7. A High-Born Fruit 8. When Desire Conflicts with Health 9. Peasants and Knights 10. To Savor (To Know)/Taste (Good Taste) 11. How a Proverb Is Born 12. “Do Not Share Pears with Your Master”: The Proverb as the Site of Class Conflict References Index