If I could have dinner with any author, I think I’d choose Jean Anthelme Brillat‑Savarin — the man behind The Physiology of Taste. And no, I haven’t read it yet. It’s sitting patiently on my Amazon list as we speak, waiting for me to stop buying kitchen gadgets and finally click “purchase.” But even from a distance, he feels like the kind of dinner guest who would make the evening unforgettable.
Brillat‑Savarin was a French lawyer and politician during the Revolution — the kind of person who lived through enough chaos to appreciate a good meal. He escaped France during the Reign of Terror, wandered through Europe and America, then eventually returned home to become a judge. But despite all that drama, he’s remembered most for his writing about food, pleasure, appetite, and the rituals that make eating meaningful.
And, The Physiology of Taste wasn’t dashed off in a summer. He wrote it over decades, refining it until it became this strange, wonderful blend of philosophy, storytelling, culinary observation, and wit. It’s not a cookbook. It’s not a memoir. It’s more like sitting across from someone who can talk about cheese and mortality in the same breath — and somehow make both sound profound.
He’s also responsible for one of the most quoted food lines of all time: “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” A little dramatic, sure — but also kind of true.
Oh … and there’s this: “The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of the human race than the discovery of a star.”
So, yes — if I could choose any author to share a meal with, I’d pick the man who believed food wasn’t just sustenance, but identity. Culture. Pleasure. A lens for understanding life itself.
Plus, anyone who can write about eating with that much passion is bound to be an excellent dinner companion.
Cover art created with Jetpack.
If this spoke to you, be sure to “like” and share it over social with someone who’d appreciate the flavor …
DISCLAIMER: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic advice. Also, I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
Leave a Reply