we're used, i think, to thinking about the major changes to european food and culture following the spanish conquest of central and south america - tomatoes, potatoes, chilies, vanilla, avocado and maize (let alone tobacco) all changed our diets.but in one of those strange flashes in the brain, i started to think last night about shifts the other way, prompted by a net discussion about why the wheel was never part of the cultures of the americas before europeans arrived. i knew the spanish introduced horses, of course, but what else?
the list may surprise you: garlic, cows, pigs, sheep and dairy products....
isn't food history fascinating?
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Dave,
ReplyDeleteThat last item really grabs my attention! No dairy? No beef? There goes a quarter of my diet. I hope you revisit this topic, I'd like to hear more.
Thanks,
Darci