Feature The Culinary Enlightenment The belief that you are what you eat emerged in 19th-century France, where the pleasures of the table were sautéed with philosophy and medicine. Manon Mathias | Published in History Today Volume 71 Issue 1 January 2021 ‘Meditations of a Gourmand’. Coloured engraving from Almanach des Gourmands, 19th century © Bridgeman Images. To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.