We are what we eat. This premise, which establishes a relationship of equivalence between identity and food, is the essential starting point for Christopher Kissane’s historical, cultural and anthropological research. Kissane, author of Food, Religion & Communities in Early Modern Europe, was named as a ‘New Generation Thinker’ by the BBC in 2016. In this article, he examines the history of food in Europe and how it intertwines with its political history.