Distinguished food writer and historian Bee Wilson offers up a unique history of food, the kitchen, and kitchen tools in her new book “Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat.”

Just in time for Thanksgiving, when our culinary history is so heavily in play, “Consider the Fork” blends Wilson’s personal anecdotes in with an elaborate history of how people use their kitchens. The titular fork, for instance, endured years of ridicule before becoming a commonplace kitchen utensil. Wilson’s writing has drawn praise from fellow professional foodies and regular home cooks alike -- The New York Times called her style “supple [and] sometimes playful.”

What is the history behind the modern kitchen? How has the way we eat changed, and how has it stayed the same?

Bee Wilson, author of Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat (Basic Books)