內容簡介

薯片是美國超受歡迎的小吃,它的獨特風味造就了一個世界美食奇跡。然而薯片的真正歷史卻是這樣的,1853年,一個備受挫折的廚師為了滿足挑剔的客戶發明了這種食物。

George Crum是個非裔美國人,有莫霍克血統,愛好打獵。1822年,他出生在紐約的薩拉托加,但也有人稱他來自阿迪朗達克山脈。年輕時,他曾是教人打獵,用陷阱誘捕動物.也曾在與妹妹Catherine Wicks在薩拉托加溫泉的Lake House餐館做廚師,他在那里學了一手好廚藝,特別勇于嘗試新料理。由于鐵路貫穿小鎮,Lake House的顧客很多,生意蒸蒸日上。

直到一天,餐廳里來了一個挑剔的客人. Crum 每次做出一份炸土豆,對方都非常不滿意,總是說土豆切得太厚了,這令Crum非常沮喪。惱火的廚子在做一份炸土豆時,將土豆切得極其細,炸脆后灑了大量鹽。出乎意料的是,這位客人對這種特別的味道感到非常滿意。

我們愛吃的薯片就這么誕生了！

憑借廚房系列聞名的澳大利亞插畫師Felicita Sala以輕盈的筆觸繪制了這個歷史故事,與Anne Renaud有趣的文字相結合,非常適合大聲朗讀。

這個故事在告訴孩子們食物歷史的同時還能向他們傳達發明與創造的精神。

When Filbert P. Horsefeathers walks into George Crum＇s restaurant, he tells the waitress, “I have a hankering for a heaping helping of potatoes.” Fine cook that he is, George prepares a serving of his most scrumptious, succulent and sublime potato wedges, only to have Filbert send them back. “Too thick,” he says. So, George makes thinner wedges. But his picky customer sends them back again. And again. Feeling a bit mischievous, George decides to use his sharpest knife to cut paper-thin potato slices, which he fries until they are crackling and then showers with salt. At last, Filbert is satisfied, proclaiming, “Perfection!” Which they are. Because, quite by accident, George Crum has invented potato chips!

This fictional picture book tale by Anne Renaud is based on a real man named George Crum, a cook in Saratoga Springs, New York, in the 1850s, who is purported to have created the first potato chip in response to a demanding customer. Included at the back of the book is a historical note with a list of sources describing the legend and the remarkable and inspiring story of Crum, a trapper of mixed Native American and African American descent, who supplied restaurants with fresh game, then became a chef and successful restauranteur himself.

Felicita Sala＇s gorgeous illustrations accurately portray the historical period but with a lighthearted touch. They work beautifully with Renaud＇s playful language and quirky characters for a lively and deliciously fun read-aloud.

This book is an excellent choice for lessons on inventions and inventors, history, or why we eat the foods we do.

費希塔・莎拉Felicita Sala

　　1981年出生於羅馬，童年時舉家到澳洲定居，大學就讀西澳大利亞大學哲學系。她是一位自學出身的藝術家，和美國、加拿大、義大利和法國的出版社合作出版許多圖畫書，並參與動畫製作。《She Made a Monster》獲選《紐約時報》年度最佳十本圖畫書之一。《Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street: a collection of recipes to share》是她自寫自畫的第一本圖畫書。

　　費希塔從小就是個挑剔的美食家，現在她喜歡吃和煮不同國家的料理。她最喜歡泰國綠咖哩、那不勒斯的綠花椰菜和花生醬。她喜歡旅行，會說四種語言。費希塔與丈夫和女兒妮娜目前住在羅馬，女兒最喜歡的料理是菠菜乳酪燉飯。