Latest Articles
The First Meal of the Day: A History of Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Who decided that? For centuries, people skipped it or delayed it. How and when did breakfast become something we were told we absolutely needed?
The 200-Year History of “Health Food”
Health Food has a 200-year history, from Sylvester Graham and the graham cracker to organic foods and today’s wellness trends.
The Empanada Was Invented on Four Continents at Once
Empanada, samosa, börek, pasty: four cultures independently invented the same brilliant idea. Here's how dough-wrapped meals conquered the world, one continent at a time.
What’s Behind the Stairs? A Gilded Age Kitchen Story.
At an 1880s Fifth Avenue dinner, opulence was served upstairs while exhaustion reigned downstairs. Meet the chefs, scullery maids, and forgotten workers who ran a Gilded Age kitchen.
Edible Poisonous Foods Hidden in Nature
Can you spot edible poisonous foods? Think about it. From fugu and ackee to kidney beans and wild mushrooms, discover the foods that can be deadly when nature’s toxins are left unchecked.
What Is Ceviche? Where Did It Originate?
Who invented ceviche? It wasn't the Spanish. Limes weren't even part of the original recipe. This ancient dish is over 2,000 years old. It takes us from Moche fishermen to Inca kitchens and Japanese-Peruvian chefs.
The Spanish Paella I Grew Up With Was Wrong.
Do you REALLY know Spanish paella? Mentioning chorizo in authentic paella may start an argument in Valencia. So what is authentic paella? Why is the pan itself called a paella?
The Story Behind the Hawaiian Luau
What do cornbread, grits, maple syrup, and cedar plank salmon have in common? Their stories begin with Indigenous dishes that helped shape American food.
Birthday Cake: When Did We Start Eating It?
Before birthday cakes were decorated with buttercream and sprinkles. Honey cakes celebrated Greek goddesses, only the wealthy enjoyed medieval spice cakes, and German children’s parties inspired today’s candles and birthday wishes.