FOOD HISTORY

The California Roll, an American sushi classic

A Brief History of the California Roll

The California roll is practically synonymous with sushi for some people.

Jell-O Journalism: Investigating the Origins of Watergate Salad

The original recipes for Watergate salad appeared during the Watergate scandal. But who named it?

Doughnuts have a delicious but mysterious history.

A Deep-Fried History of Doughnuts

The history of doughnuts is difficult to trace. Did doughnut history begin the first time a sweet dough was fried in oil? Does it start when the first hole was punched into a yeasted dough before frying? And what do oil balls have to do with it?

The Controversial History of McDonald's Happy Meal

The latest episode of Food History traces the rise and fall of the McDonald's Happy Meal.

Many things about the hot dog are up for debate.

The Disputed History of the Hot Dog

The story of this quintessential American food begins with the invention of sausages thousands of years ago. Where it goes from there is more complicated.

How American Chinese Food Became Its Own Cuisine

Open your takeout containers, break apart your disposable chopsticks, and dig into the cuisine of the Chinese diaspora.

How World War I Turned Peanut Butter Into a Kitchen Staple

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day with a World War I-era recipe for peanut loaf or peanut butter soup.

Phở is a dish with a fascinating history.

The Delicious History of Phở in 10 Facts

Phở is a delicious dish, but it also tells us a lot about the history of Vietnam, and about how cultures collide.

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A Brief History of Fruitcake

Though fruitcake may be the butt of a lot of jokes, there’s a reason it secured its place in our cultural firmament.

Jell-O salads were an unforgettable food fad.

A Brief History of Jell-O Salad

From medieval aspics to lime and tuna concoctions, Jell-O salad has a surprisingly long history.

Masturbation and Mascots: The Strange History of Cereal

From health trends to the evolution of marketing, we can learn a lot about American culture from the history of breakfast cereal.

A Brief History of Pad Thai

Part fusion dish, part government propaganda, pad thai has a complicated background.

Candy corn wasn't always associated with Halloween.

How Candy Corn Became a Halloween Staple

Whether you view a piece of candy corn as a nostalgic treat or a cloying nugget of disappointment, you can’t deny its place in the Halloween season. Here's how it got there.

What Is Yakult? A Brief History of the Japanese Yogurt Drink That Became a Twitter Sensation

This Japanese yogurt drink became a Twitter sensation after it appeared in a 2018 Netflix teen comedy—learn more about the history of Yakult here.

A Brief History of Pickles

From ancient Mesopotamia to New York deli counters, pickles have played a vital role in the global culinary scene. But where do pickles come from, and how did the cucumber become the standard-issue pickling vegetable in the States?

The Delicious History of Pocky Sticks

In the 50-plus years since they were first introduced, Pocky sticks have taken the world by storm. Learn more about the history of this popular Japanese snack food here.

Some people will do anything for cheese.

Revenge of the Curds: Remembering the Great Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766

Residents of Nottingham showed up at the annual Goose Fair expecting fair cheese prices. When that didn't happen, the army had to be called in.

What Is Tajin? A Brief History of Mexico's Citrusy, Spicy Phenomenon

An overview of the popular seasoning made from chiles, lime, and sea salt. Tajín's blend of flavors makes it the perfect condiment for all foods.

Use your culinary skills and your knowledge of where these terms came from to impress in the kitchen.

The Unexpected Origins of 20 Culinary Terms

The backstories behind some words and phrases we use when cooking and eating, from 'amuse-bouche' to 'umami' and beyond.

A Brief History of Restaurant Menus

The menu is a restaurant staple nowadays, but they haven't always been a part of dining out. From the Song dynasty in China to the first inns and taverns of France, the path toward the humble menu is a long and winding journey.

Who needs a knife when you have a Ritz cracker?

The Surprising Reason Why Ritz Crackers Have Scalloped Edges

If you've been using a knife to cut cheese for your Ritz, you've been ignoring a genius part of the cracker's design.

A Brief History of Ramen

If the first thing you picture when you hear ramen is a precooked block that comes with a flavor packet, you can thank Momofuku Ando. And World War II ... and the Yakuza crime syndicate.

Alabama white sauce might look like ranch dressing, but it certainly doesn't taste like ranch dressing.

The Delectable History of Alabama White Barbecue Sauce

Though it may look like ranch, Alabama white sauce bears little flavor resemblance to the salad dressing—and we have former railway worker Big Bob Gibson to thank for the convention-busting, and often overlooked, white sauce.

Over the course of its history, chocolate has gone from a sacred beverage to a sweet treat.

A Brief History of Chocolate

Chocolate’s worldwide popularity streak has lasted centuries, but it wasn’t always the sweet, easily accessible treat we know today.

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