With historical facts and quotes, personal memoir, and both ancient and modern quick-and-easy recipes, this book describes how the reverence for these three foods developed and what keeps it going, from the land of Ur to the contemporary kitchen. In a concise, informative narrative, the book covers the origins, cultivation, healthful attributes, and culinary preparation of these foods that have become integrated into international cuisines from the Old World to the New. Also contains lists of suggested pairings of meals with wines, and a helpful bibliography.