*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy.

Shaikh frequently encountered war-torn or conflict areas. During this time he was able to examine how these conflicts change the foodways, cultures, and food traditions in those areas. In this book he combines those experiences with the history and current changes for those foodways. And even throws in some recipes at the end of each chapter.

The book flip flops between positive (recipes, overcoming hardship, reconnecting to food) and truly horrific explanations of some of the ways food can be used as punishment (the use of forbidden foods to show "loyalty" or face repercussions). I think what's most disheartening is that this is modern issues, these aren't historical. These are active things happening now.

This book is a great exploration of modern sociology in conflict areas for food. I highly recommend to anyone who focuses on food and community.

Review by M. Reynard 2025

This is an important account of the intersection between a culture’s cuisine and human rights. I am very interested in food, history, and human rights so I was excited to read this book, but I was surprised by how tangible the connections were. Going in to the book, I expected it to be about how hard it is to preserve culinary traditions when you’re in a war zone and don’t have access to the same ingredients, resources, and time—and that would be absolutely valid, but it’s a more incidental effect of war than it is an intentional destruction of culture. What I learned from this book is how much culinary loss is due to intentional destruction.

How does cuisine/culture suffer when food is forced to be standardized under communism; when people’s use of knives is restricted; when people are forced to consume forbidden substances (e.g. Muslims and pork/alcohol); and when use of sacred/traditional ingredients is restricted?

Another thing I found interesting is the discussion of how the diaspora preserves culinary traditions. Often, we think of the original inhabitants of a particular area having the most authentic food, whereas when people emigrate, after a couple generations it’s assumed to be “watered down” or influenced by the dominant’s culture. It was a totally novel idea that when people leave their homeland before or during a conflict, they be one the guardians of recipes that are being destroyed in their place of birth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book explores cuisine of countries impacted by conflict and details the impact of cuisine in culture. The book includes recipes. The topic of the book was very interesting. The author's thorough research, experience, and expertise shines through. For me it read too academic for my personal taste. I wish there was an expansion of the personal stories, but understand the privacy limitations due to the serious nature. Loved the addition of the recipes.

This book in many ways is a collection of stories of repression, if not flat-out attempted genocide at times, so much so that at times it was almost uncomfortable to read on multiple different levels. The chapter on the Rohingya people’s persecution and resulting statelessness broke my heart, and right after that reading about the systematic and multi-layered oppression weighed upon the Uyghur by the Chinese government in Beijing stirred genuine anxiety in me. However, "The Last Sweet Bite" is also very, very much a collection of stories of resilience that include individual parents striving to pass recipes to their children, talented and passionate chefs reviving, reinventing, and shining spotlights on their native cuisines, and tireless activists from all walks of life.

And overall, it’s a book that packs a mighty informative punch to the mind. Shaikh shares everything from glimpses into several cultural traditions, musings on the importance of cuisine to cultural identity, and also of course reminders about the myriad injustices that wrought so much pain and led to the endangerment of the cuisines highlighted here in the first place. This is definitely my first read of 2025 that I can sincerely and without hesitation call eye-opening in the best, most appreciate way possible.

The Last Sweet Bite is an interesting book containing history, culture, and recipes. This book reads like a combination of a non-fiction book and a cookbook. Each chapter is about a different culture and their food and at the end of each chapter are recipes from the chapter. I enjoyed this book and learned a ton about many different countries, cultures, and cuisines. I also discovered many new and unique recipes. I enjoyed this book and I all I learned from it.

this is an interesting read. I think there was a lot of deep and interesting perspectives and issues brought up. I think there was a lot going on in this book

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!