Wondrous food to explore and enjoy

Gastro Obscura

Read 2019 Gastro Stories

This Italian City Is Obsessed With Squash

Ferrara is the place for all things pumpkin.

October 25, 2023

Ancient Egyptians May Have Spiced Their Mummies

Most ingredients in embalming perfumes were good enough to eat.

October 25, 2023

aleister crowley

The Decadent Diet of Aleister Crowley

From sex-magick oysters to fantastical haggis, his diaries reveal an adventurous gourmand and accomplished chef.

October 20, 2023

The Magic Spells That Herded Medieval Bees

For European beekeepers, “swarm charms” were once a tool of the trade.

October 20, 2023

Why Halloween’s ‘Poison Candy’ Myth Endures

Even though we know better.

October 19, 2023

The Joy of Third-Culture Cooking

Chef Jon Kung wants you to make spaghetti with lion's head meatballs.

October 16, 2023

Make This Fallout Shelter–Friendly 1960s Ham Spread

The author of this recipe hoped you would never need it.

October 13, 2023

The Oat-Milk Cocktail That Took Down an Army

Amanda Schuster explores the origins of the Atholl Brose in “Signature Cocktails.”

October 12, 2023

The 10th-Century Master Chef Who Wrote Food Poetry

His verses offer a glimpse into the good life during the Islamic Golden Age.

October 12, 2023

Gastro Obscura's Favorite Fall Treats and Autumn Feasts

Celebrate the season with deep-fried maple leaves and black apple butter.

October 9, 2023

What Would You Eat in a Cold War Fallout Shelter?

Nuclear war readiness meant stocking the pantry and recipes for canned ham salad.

October 6, 2023

Yewande Komolafe Explores the Many Flavors of Nigerian Food

‘My Everyday Lagos’ is an uncompromising guide to this diverse city's cuisine.

October 4, 2023

This 1960s Anarchist Group Believed Food Should Be Free

For the Diggers of San Francisco, stew was subversive.

October 3, 2023

The Forgotten Dessert Loved by a Roaring '20s 'It Girl'

When life gives you marshmallows, turn them into marlow.

October 2, 2023

Meet America's Godmother of Tofu

A century ago, Dr. Kin Yamei broke ground trying to popularize tofu. The nation's tastes have finally caught up.

October 1, 2023

Slovenia's Beautiful Beehives Turn Apiaries Into Art

Dating back to the 18th century, AŽ hive panels depict stories of marriage, damnation, and daily life.

September 29, 2023

How Cults and Religious Groups Forever Changed American Food

In ‘Holy Food,’ Christina Ward examines how our belief systems end up on the plate.

September 26, 2023

Every Year, Rabbis Search Calabria for the Perfect Etrog

An ideal fruit can go for as much as $300.

September 26, 2023