S&s/Simon Element Tasting History: Explore the Past Through 4,000 Years of Recipes (a Cookbook)

Bought this for my wife as a surprise. We follow Max's show on Youtube and love the food, history and his presenting. This book will make for many an interesting meal.

Beautifully done book. Great recipes and information. Love the channel as well. Great illustrations.

Very good book indeed

Every bit as engaging as the YouTube channel it sorting from. With a background in historical cooking from medieval and Roman reenactment, many recipes were familiar to me. Still an excellent buy. The author has enough material for a 2nd cookbook, and I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I absolutely love this cookbook. It’s equal parts history book and cooking guide, and it flows through time in a way that makes both subjects genuinely engaging instead of intimidating. What really sets this apart is the work the author has already done for you. Historic ingredients are clearly explained, renamed where necessary, and paired with modern substitutions when something is difficult to find today. You’re never left guessing what an ingredient actually is or how to make a recipe achievable in a modern kitchen. Each recipe feels thoughtfully researched and respectfully adapted, so you’re not just cooking something inspired by history—you’re as close as possible to recreating it authentically. All you have to do is follow along, and suddenly you’re eating food with real context behind it. If you love food, history, or both, this book is a perfect match. It’s educational without feeling academic, practical without losing its soul, and genuinely fun to cook from. One of those cookbooks you’ll keep reaching for, not just read once and shelve.

Awesome book I bought to gift to a friend.