Latest Articles
Food Preservation: How On Earth Did Our Ancestors Keep Food Fresh?
How did people keep food fresh during harsh winters, long voyages, and failed harvests? From icehouses to salt, fermentation, and canning, our ancestors developed ingenious ways to preserve food. Discover how simple survival techniques gave us flavors, traditions, and foods we love today.
What Was Gazpacho Before Tomatoes? The Origins of Spain’s Famous Soup
Before tomatoes transformed it into Spain’s iconic cold soup, gazpacho was a very different dish. Discover the fascinating history of this Andalusian classic and the centuries of cultural exchange behind every bowl.
Why Do Doughnuts Have Holes?
Who put that hole in the doughnut? How did it change everything? Meet the sailor behind one of America's sweetest food legends. Discover how wartime volunteers comforted soldiers, and learn how a clever machine turned humble fried dough into a national obsession.
Sacred, Bitter, and Worth a Fortune: Where Does Chocolate Come From?
Chocolate’s story was not sweet. Once sacred, feared, and fiercely controlled, cacao fueled empires, financed wars, influenced fashion, and sparked obsessions. Learn the secret history of the world’s most delicious treat, and why its allure has never faded.
Southern Comfort Food: A Rich Culinary History of Odds and Ends
Alabama’s mysterious Jubilee to Mississippi’s Kool-Aid pickles and slugburgers, Southern comfort food is full of fascinating stories. Explore traditions, celebrations, and culinary oddities that shaped the South’s food culture.
The Pies We Know as “American” Have Unexpected Origins
Each slice of Thanksgiving pie evokes history, tradition, and shared family memories. Uncover the journey of these beloved holiday treats. From their ancient beginnings to their place on your table, discover the heartwarming story of how they bring generations together.
Why Do We Celebrate with Sweets?
Why do we celebrate with sweets? Discover the intriguing history and cultural meaning behind sugar, from Mexican sugar skulls and Chinese tang yuan to Indian mithai, baklava, and Japanese wagashi.
Once Peasant Food: How Six Humble Staples Became Trendy
There was a time when peasant food like polenta, oats, or offal wasn't trendy. Today? That polenta is served with black truffles, heirloom beans are a gourmet ingredient, and bone marrow is served on tiny pieces of toast. Let's go on a journey through poverty, migration, tradition, and a wee bit of culinary snobbery.
What Did Pirates Really Eat?
What did pirates really eat? Not a Hollywood feasts. Life at sea meant hardtack, salted meat, and whatever fresh food a crew could catch, trade for, or steal. Archaeology from Blackbeard’s ship reveals surprising clues about the real pirate pantry.