IN 1895, at a time when diet reformers had made “pie” a dirty word, “The Century Cookbook” felt obliged to note that mince pie (“the most indigestible of all”) was still “the one universally accepted ...

The British often catch more flak than flattery in matters of cuisine, and foods like mincemeat pies can put off many Americans. A sweet pie that contains spiced fruit, brandy and… chopped meat? Hard ...