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Business & Tech

Local Author Details the History of Food and Civilization

Book Ends hosted author, Andrew Rimas, along with chef Paul Turano of Tryst.

When civilizations become extinct, historians would do well to look at their food production and the eating habits of their citizens. That's part of the theme of the multi-layered  Empires of Food: Feast, Famine and the Rise and Fall of Civilization by co-authors Evan D.C. Fraser and Andrew Rimas, editor of The Improper Bostonian.

Rimas read from his book and discussed its implications with a group of listeners at . Chef Paul Turano complemented Rimas' reading with appetizers from his restaurant in Arlington.

"This book was a collaboration between me and my childhood friend Evan," explained Rimas. "When we worked on our previous book, Beef:The Untold Story of How Milk, Meat and Muscle Shaped the World, we focused on cultural history and agriculture's shaping of society.

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"It got us thinkinking about the historical and social implications of food production and the societies that grow out of that. It was too broad a subject to be included in Beef so we decided to research it for a second book." 

During the event, Paul Turano served freshly made favorites from his restaurant menu.

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"I grew up loving food," said Turano. "I have a passion for it and look for ways to express it in the foods I serve. People should be able to relax with each other over a dish that's made from scratch and look forward to the experience."

Turano opened Tryst in August 2004 with the idea of serving seasonal produce in popular American dishes with some occasional surprises.

"America is a melting pot," Turano concluded. "I take from various traditions. Creating with food is all I've ever wanted to do."

Turano's food paired well with Rimas' well-researched discourse leaving his audience musing about the implications the history of food holds for our own civilization. 

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