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Food History

  • airline stewardess pushing food cart

    The Fascinating History Of Airplane Food

    Airline food used to be the height of glamorous fine dining. Now, it's the butt of countless jokes. What went wrong with in-flight dining to cause such a fall?

    By Elias Nash June 24th, 2024 Read More
  • Ice cream sundaes

    Ice Cream Sundaes Were Invented Because Of A Bizarre Law

    The United States' laws have changed a lot over the years, but one law actually gave us the sundaes we know and love today, including its unique spelling.

    By Andrew Amelinckx June 24th, 2024 Read More
  • Different pasta shapes

    5 Obscure Pasta Shapes With Fascinating Backstories

    There are hundreds of unique and delicious pasta shapes in the world, and here are the unique backstories behind some of the stranger designs.

    By Tony Cooper June 24th, 2024 Read More
  • Farmer harvesting red coffee cherries

    What Your Coffee's Source Country Tells You About Its Flavor

    Coffee is enjoyed all around the world, and where it comes from has a significant impact on its flavor. Here's what its origins can tell you about its taste.

    By Matthew Lee June 23rd, 2024 Read More
  • Julia Child in her kitchen

    The Only Cooking Tasks Julia Child Used Her Microwave For

    It's never a bad idea to borrow some cooking tips from Julia Child, and while it wasn't always her friend, there were somethings she used the microwave for.

    By Buffy Naillon June 22nd, 2024 Read More
  • Two street hot dogs with onion sauce

    What Are 'Dirty Water' Hot Dogs?

    Sure, they might sound unappetizing, but New York City's 'dirty water' hot dogs are actually delicious, and here's why they've got that unusual name.

    By Alex Springer June 16th, 2024 Read More
  • punch with lemons

    Party Like It's 1795 With This Boozy Philadelphia Punch

    America's Founding Fathers sure enjoyed their booze. And according to legend, George Washington drank too much of a very boozy Philadelphia punch.

    By Patricia Grisafi June 16th, 2024 Read More
  • Bottle and glass of moonshine.

    Is Moonshine Still Illegal In The US? The Answer Is Complicated

    Moonshine is a name that's familiar to most Americans, but has the government finally changed its mind about this pungent liquor and made it legal at last?

    By Matthew Lee June 16th, 2024 Read More
  • spilled jar of salt

    The Macabre Origin Of The Phrase 'Take It With A Grain Of Salt'

    When you hear the phrase "take it with a grain of salt," it seems pretty harmless. But the truth is that its origins have a much darker meaning. Here's why.

    By Chloe O'Donnell June 15th, 2024 Read More
  • Flatbread on a grill

    How Vikings Stored Their Bread And Why It Worked

    While you might keep your loaves in a box or plastic bag, the Vikings had an ingenious and resourceful way of storing their bread for future enjoyment.

    By Buffy Naillon June 14th, 2024 Read More
  • James Beard smiling

    Iced Coffee Spiked With Whiskey Is James Beard-Approved

    Iced coffee with a splash of whiskey is an elite brunch beverage, and one that was favored by culinary expert James Beard. Of course, he jazzed his up.

    By Matthew Lee June 14th, 2024 Read More
  • Bottle of Tabasco sauce

    The Critical Process Behind Tabasco Sauce's Iconic Red Color

    In the case of Tabasco sauce, the company was after consistency of flavor and color, so it needed an easy way to find the peppers that were at peak ripeness.

    By Andrew Amelinckx June 13th, 2024 Read More
  • Joey Chestnut arms raised

    Joey Chestnut's Most Glorious Moments As A Nathan's Hot Dog Contest Champion

    Joey Chestnut is royalty in the competitive eating game, particularly Nathan's Hot Dog Contest. See his career highlights, including when he unseated Kobayashi.

    By Chloe O'Donnell June 12th, 2024 Read More
  • packs of Juicy Fruit Gum

    Juicy Fruit Gum Existed During The Gilded Age

    You might think that Juicy Fruit gum is a fairly recent invention, but it actually existed during the Gilded Age, which ran from the 1870s to the late 1890s.

    By Robyn Blocker June 9th, 2024 Read More
  • City Tavern building in Philadelphia

    The Historic Restaurant Where The First-Ever 4th Of July Was Celebrated

    The first ever 4th of July was celebrated at a historic restaurant that was frequented by plenty of famous American figures. Here's what it was.

    By Emmy Schneider-Green June 8th, 2024 Read More
  • child and dad sharing ice cream

    4 Nostalgic Treats That Have Been Totally Reinvented

    Craving an old-school snack? You're in luck, because most of your favorites have been reinvented. Here's why these four nostalgic treats are making a comeback.

    By Emmy Schneider-Green March 2nd, 2024 Read More
  • Broken crust of ancient pie

    Pastry Wasn't Exactly For Eating In The 16th Century

    We all know and love pastries as a soft and sweet breakfast or dessert. However, the actual origins of pastry-making indicate the exact opposite.

    By Matthew Lee February 18th, 2024 Read More
  • Starry soda bottle close-up

    How Sierra Mist Evolved Into Starry

    Now that Sierra Mist is off of the shelves, Starry has stepped into the spotlight. But the evolution of this lemon-lime soda from Pepsi is a little complicated.

    By Elias Nash February 13th, 2024 Read More
  • Gatorade stand at football stadium

    The History Of Betting On Gatorade Colors At The Super Bowl

    After an American football team wins an important game, it's customary for the players to dump a cooler of Gatorade over their coach's head in celebration.

    By Elias Nash January 30th, 2024 Read More
  • white chocolate pieces

    Why The FDA Once Ruled Out White Chocolate As Real Chocolate

    The FDA originally defined white chocolate as "white confectionary coating" or simply "confectionary coating" because it's missing one particular ingredient.

    By Elias Nash January 25th, 2024 Read More
  • plate of waffles

    Waffles Are Deeply Ingrained In American History

    Waffles have a long history stretching back thousands of years. But, these golden treats quickly became an American favorite. So, here's how that happened.

    By Elias Nash January 23rd, 2024 Read More
  • ground beef patties

    The Historic Reason Ground Beef Is Sometimes Called Hamburger

    It's understandable that ground beef is also called hamburger meat. But, despite sharing a common history there are some marked differences separating the two.

    By Elias Nash January 22nd, 2024 Read More
  • bowl of conversation hearts

    The Little Known History Behind Valentine's Day Conversation Hearts

    Valentine's Day is approaching, and nothing's more iconic than those little candy hearts. But where did they come from? And why weren't they on shelves in 2020?

    By Hilary Wheelan Remley January 18th, 2024 Read More
  • Spoonful of ketchup

    The Bizarre Evolution Of Ketchup

    Ketchup's as stereotypically American as the hot dogs it so often flavors, but the condiment, at least its earliest iterations, predates the U.S. by centuries.

    By Tim Forster January 16th, 2024 Read More
  • Hand holding Coca-Cola bottle

    The Little Known History Behind Coca-Cola Bottles

    There's nothing like a glass bottle of Coca-Cola. No other soft drink bottles curve quite like Coke's does. But did you know that this is entirely intentional?

    By Elias Nash January 15th, 2024 Read More
  • vintage TV dinner image

    The Little-Known Origin Of TV Dinners

    Explore the fascinating history of TV dinners, from Clarence Birdseye's flash-freezing breakthrough to the disputed origins of the iconic Swanson's trays.

    By Elias Nash January 7th, 2024 Read More
  • Fig pizza

    The Ancient Culinary Ancestor To Pineapple Pizza

    Pizza (in some form) has been served for nearly 2,000 years. One of the most popular versions was topped with figs, proving fruit really does belong on pizza.

    By Hilary Wheelan Remley December 31st, 2023 Read More
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