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Sign up todaySerendipity
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Learn moreEataly founder Oscar Farinetti reveals the accidental, serendipitous discoveries that gave birth to some of the world’s most well-known gastronomic delights.
Did you know that your morning coffee could be thanks to a herd of energetic goats? Or that a forgotten ingredient is behind the invention of the beloved brownie? Who got the fright of their life discovering corn could pop? And which popular soft drink first started out as a medicinal syrup?
In Serendipity, Oscar Farinetti, founder of the high-end global food chain Eataly, shares fifty remarkable stories of how some of the greatest successes and examples of excellence in the food world came about by chance, from the invention of foods such as tarte tatin to the sandwich, as well as products like Nutella and corn flakes, plus some of the world’s best wines, Gorgonzola cheese, balsamic vinegar, French fries, rum, and even the ice-cream cone. As Farinetti dives deep into these extraordinary histories, insightful and entertaining interviews with leading artisan food producers, chefs, inventors, and CEOs around the world provide additional color and rare context.
The result is a remarkable listen that explores humankind’s never-ending quest to discover something new and reminds us that our mistakes, our flaws, and our failures can often be the most necessary ingredient in finding success.
Oscar Farinetti is an Italian entrepreneur and author. He is the founder of the food store chain Eataly, with thirty-seven locations around the world. His most recent project is Green Pea—a sustainability-themed shopping center.
Barbara McGilvray has been translating from Italian to English for over forty years and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016.
L. J. Ganser is a triple Audie Award-winning narrator with over 600 titles recorded to date. Prized for versatility, his work ranges from hard science to magical fantasy, from stinging ants to the Civil War, from Roger Rabbit to infinity-and yes, even beyond. Some of his favorite titles include: Jurassic Park, Capital in the 21st Century, The Guns at Last Light, and The Game of Stars and Comets. He lives in New York City with his family and dog, Mars.
Barbara McGilvray has been translating from Italian to English for over forty years and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016.
Reviews
“This book explores the happy accidents that happen in the world of food and wine. A terrific and insightful read.”
“An elegy to imperfection…That imperfection that stimulates you, motivates you, and opens new horizons.”
“Mouth-watering fun, told with the relish of a gourmand.”
“Who put the bubbles in champagne?…This book will quickly turn you from food bore to knowlegable, giving the reader an easy way to impress over drinks and dinner…Highly recommended.”
“Its structure of short stories makes it incredibly easy to pick up, put down, and then come back to…It is illuminating and slightly addictive to discover new and interesting facts about the history of food and drinks.”
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