In this eye-opening, witty work of reportage, David Sax uncovers the world of food trends: Where they come from, how they grow, and where they end up. Traveling from the South Carolina rice plot of America's premier grain guru to Chicago's gluttonous Baconfest, Sax reveals a world of influence, money, and activism that helps decide what goes on your plate. On his journey, he meets entrepreneurs, chefs, and even data analysts who have made food trends a mission and a business. The Tastemakers is full of entertaining stories and surprising truths about what we eat, how we eat it, and why.
Covered in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, NPR, and dozens of other publications around the world.
Translated into 3 languages.
Reviews
“Sax has seized on a big, juicy topic, and is at his best in on-the-scene reporting, where the brisk, funny, assured voice that earned him many fans for his previous book, keeps us galloping through the aisles of the gigantic annual Fancy Food Show as he trails a head buyer for Whole Foods, who rightly calls herself the J. Lo of the event…. No matter whom he’s describing, Sax is great company, a writer of real and lasting charm.”
— Corby Kummer
“His portraits of the food evangelists at the root of some trends are highly entertaining and, in addition, it’s hard to imagine anyone else who could trace the provenance of the cupcake as thoroughly and comprehensively as Sax.
And, unlike the cupcake, whose 15 years of fame seems to be just about up, this book is sure to be trending this summer.”
— Christine Sismondo
“Sax...embarks on a lively culinary tour of America, consulting chefs, producers, foodies, food buyers, and trend forecasters to find out why one day sriracha sauce is all the rage, and the next, people are adding kale to every meal."
— The Economist
Interviews and Media Coverage
