Food History

History of the Mint Julep

A history of the mint julep cocktail, a favorite cocktail served each year at the Kentucky Derby…. Read More

Do These Natural Foods Fight Cancer?

Nourishing nutritional foods to boost health and support healing. Natural healing ingredients, their history and benefits…. Read More

Turmeric – The Ancient Healing Spice

Learn the ancient history of turmeric spice, a powerful healing food and natural coloring used for thousands of years. Includes turmeric recipes…. Read More

Foods of the California Gold Rush

What did miners eat during the Gold Rush? Learn about the food culture of California after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill…. Read More

A Tribute to Gil Marks

A tribute to Gil Marks – cookbook author, culinary historian, James Beard Award winner and my dear friend…. Read More

Mark Twain – Recipes from A Little Bill of Fare

Recipe roundup inspired by Mark Twain’s “A Little Bill of Fare” from “A Tramp Abroad,” 1891…. Read More

Magical Mushrooms: The Allure of Edible Fungi

Learn the history of edible mushrooms and a few other things you might not know about our favorite culinary fungi!… Read More

Edible Aphrodisiacs

Learn about the history of foods that are historically described as aphrodisiacs, and try recipes inspired by these culinary aphrodisiacs…. Read More

From Pythagorean to Pescatarian – The Evolution of Vegetarianism

A brief history of the vegetarian diet and its evolution, from Pythagorus to modern day vegetarian subcategories – vegan, pescatarian and more. … Read More

The History of Gingerbread & a Recipe for Gingerbread Cookies

The History of Gingerbread and a Recipe for Gingerbread Cookies with link to Royal Icing tutorial…. Read More

A Slice of Pumpkin History

Learn about the colorful history of pumpkins, from early Central America to present. … Read More

Popcorn: A “Pop” History

Learn the history of popcorn, from maize to movie theaters and everything in between! Includes links to popcorn recipes from around the web…. Read More

The Secret History of Okra – Okra Soup

Learn the history of okra, from its ancient origins to its African American roots, then try a historically-inspired recipe for peppery okra soup…. Read More

Food Will Win The War: History of Meatless Mondays

Meatless Mondays have a history stretching back to World War I, when it was Tuesdays, not Mondays, that Americans were asked to limit meat…. Read More

A Brief History of Hamburgers

Learn the origins of America’s favorite sandwich, the hamburger! From German immigrants to roadside diners, burgers are a uniquely American treat… Read More

Banking on Butterfat – The History of Häagen-Dazs

Learn the true story of a Jewish immigrant couple who, with creativity and hard work, created the top super-premium ice cream brand in the world…. Read More

What was Cooking in Leonardo da Vinci’s Kitchen?

In addition to being a gifted artist and polymath, Leonardo da Vinci was also a budding nutritionist. Read his thoughts on kitchen efficiency, diet and cooking…. Read More

What Lewis and Clark Ate

Learn the foods that Lewis and Clark ate on their Corps of Discovery Expedition. … Read More

Coffee – A Caffeinated History

Learn the history of coffee from its early Arabian roots to modern-day Starbucks, and try five unique coffee-inspired recipes…. Read More

Who Is Betty Crocker?

Betty Crocker is a household name in the American kitchen. Who was she, and how did she inspire millions of home cooks? Read all about it here!… Read More

Speakeasies, Sofas, and the History of Finger Foods

Learn how finger foods became a part of American food culture, with a history dating back to 18th century France. Canapés, cocktail appetizers…. Read More

The History of Chicken and Waffles

Explore the history of fried chicken, waffles, and the unlikely pairing of chicken and waffles. How this soul food favorite became popular in America…. Read More