Massimo Francesco Marcone

Marcone is a scientist, not a writer, and it shows. However, he's so transparently and passionately in love with food science I was able to gloss over the quality of the writing. I do have to say that he scatters exclamation marks like a Cosmo feature editor.

The pure joy that Marcone derives from people is delightful. The arcane science knowledge that he feels compelled to share is alternately riveting and incomprehensible. The fact that he's just as willing to talk about cheese mites as his relationship with God makes me want to hug him. I came away from this book with some worthwhile trivia and a real sense of the person who needs to share his world with me.

… (meer)

There are great mysteries in the world and this book has cleared up one of them, but unfortunately posed another one that is going round and round my brain. Kopi luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world. It is made in a unique double-process, the first being in the digestive tract of the civet. The question was why would anyone pick coffee beans out of shit and think they might brew a nice drink from it? Ok, so now I know the answer (no spoilers!). The question though - argan oil is one of the world's most expensive oils. It is made from nuts in a unique double-process ... yes, you've guessed it, but goats this time. Tree-climbing goats. Really. Goats that climb trees so they can eat the nuts. How in hell does a goat climb a tree?… (meer)