Introduction

Eating might seem ordinary, everyday, even obvious. But, while it can be a relentlessly mundane activity, merely a way of supplying the body with energy, it can also be one of the most sublime of all bodily experiences. Food is a hot topic. But while the celebrity chef ’s conjuring up of rare gastronomical delights is regarded by contemporary Western culture as a source of endless fascination and accolade, the o2 en thankless responsibility for the thrice-daily preparation and supply of family meals is nothing short of tyrannous.