As every great hostess knows, the right dinner plates bring design, color, and drama to the table and elevate an ordinary meal into something special. "Dish" is a visual celebration of these everyday pieces of art that have been the objects of desire of kings, queens, brides, chefs, and hostesses for centuries.

A New York Times Notable Book: A renowned scholar explores the way we eat across cultures and throughout history. From the wild parties of ancient Greece to the strictures of an Upper East Side meal to the ritualistic feasts of cannibals, Margaret Visser takes us on a fascinating journey through the diverse practices, customs, and taboos that define how and why we prepare and consume food the way we do. With keen insights into small details we take for granted, such as the origins of forks and chopsticks or why tablecloths exist, and examinations of broader issues like the economic implications of dining etiquette, Visser scrutinizes table manners across eras and oceans, offering an intimate new understanding of eating both as a biological necessity and a cultural phenomenon. Witty and impeccably researched, The Rituals of Dinner is a captivating blend of folklore, sociology, history, and humor. In the words of the New York Times Book Review, “Read it, because you’ll never look at a table knife the same way again.”

A head server at a renowned NYC restaurant dishes out stories and trade secrets from the world of fine dining in this behind-the-scenes memoir. While recent college grad Phoebe Damrosch was figuring out what to do with her life, she supported herself by working as a waiter. Before long she was a captain at the legendary four-star restaurant Per Se, the culinary creation of master chef Thomas Keller. Service Included is the story of her experiences there: her obsession with food, her love affair with a sommelier, and her observations of the highly competitive and frenetic world of fine dining. Along the way, she provides insider dining tips, such as: Never ask your waiter what else he or she does. Never send something back after eating most of it. Never make gagging noises when hearing the specials—someone else at the table might like to order one.

As a highly experienced dinner lady, Jeanette has long been at the heart of Jamie Oliver's revolution to change the bad eating habits of our children both in and outside school. As part of her campaign to improve children's diets, she has written a unique family cookbook full of tasty, healthy, inexpensive and appealing recipes that are easy to make and can be enjoyed whatever age you are! She believes in simple, traditional dishes with a modern twist, made with the freshest local and - where possible - organic ingredients. All the recipes are big hits from Jeanette's kitchen and are accompanied by personal anecdotes and comments from the children at St Peter's, the school in which she worked for years as a dinner lady. They include Pasta with Peas and Bacon, Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Real Chicken Nuggets, Cowboy Stew, Toffee Cream Tart, Apple Cobbler and Muffins. This beautifully illustrated book also tells the inspirational story of how Jeanette became Britain's most vocal campaigner for good food for our kids. It includes her advice (after years of experience)on cooking for children at home, ideas for getting (even the fussiest!) children interested in and excited by food. Also practical tips for busy parents to make life in the kitchen easier with notes on nutrition and advice for making meal times an enjoyable occasion. Plus a list of resources and suppliers.