Eating in Two or Three Languages

"Eating in Two or Three Languages" by Irvin S. Cobb is a lighthearted look at food and dining after World War I. This book, probably a bunch of essays from around the 1910s, tells of Cobb's time as a war reporter and his intense desire for American home cooking after eating bland food overseas. The book centers around the idea of wanting familiar American tastes compared to the food in England and France during wartime. Cobb shares funny stories about the big differences between eating in the United States and in Europe after the war. He talks about not having enough good food and how different the English and French food were, pointing out the weird and bad parts of eating in different cultures. He makes a funny comparison between wanting classic American meals, such as friend chicken, and the disappointing English and European food options. His stories show how much he missed American food and shows the common feeling of wanting something you can’t have, while also using his humor and sharp observations.