The Empress Ate Pizza : True Stories of Hot Dogs, French Fries, and Other “american” Classics Born in Ancient Kitchens, Royal Courts, and Battlefield Camps

Americans claim pizza, hot dogs, and apple pie as their own—but these beloved foods carry passports stamped in Naples during cholera outbreaks, Frankfurt during religious wars, and Belgian monasteries during medieval famines. This book uncovers the stunning true origins of foods we consider quintessentially American, revealing how each dish survived plagues, revolutions, and collapsing empires before landing on our tables. From the Mongol horsemen who invented the hamburger to the Caribbean slave trade that gave us barbecue, these stories explode everything you thought you knew about “American” cuisine.Inside these pages, you’ll discover how a Turkish sultan’s craving shaped the croissant, why Italian anarchists smuggled pizza recipes into New York tenements, and how Napoleon’s armies accidentally created the restaurant industry. Each chapter reads like historical fiction—except every twist, scandal, and surprise is completely real. These aren’t just food stories; they’re tales of survival, innovation, and the unexpected ways global chaos has always shaped what we eat.Perfect for fans of Salt by Mark Kurlansky and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, this book serves up history that’s as addictive as the foods it describes. You’ll never look at a hamburger, taco, or slice of pizza the same way again.