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Food History

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Coriander <em>or cilantro</em> has a long history in Italy.
medieval

Why Italy Fell Out of Love With Cilantro

Coriander went from ancient staple to persona non grata.
Andrew Coletti July 1, 2024
A display at the Global Conference of Millets in 2023 featured a millet map of India.
music

In India, Music Helps Spread the Message of Millets

New and ancient songs show that there’s more to reviving a crop than planting seeds.
Andrew Coletti June 17, 2024
<em>A Midnight Modern Conversation</em> by William Hogarth depicts punch-drinkers in an 18th-century coffeehouse.
food

Tea Punch Was the First Cocktail

This boozy brew used to be the British and American drink of choice.
Andrew Coletti June 10, 2024
This Swedish school lunch features potatoes and other vegetables, juice, and a <em>knäckebröd</em> cracker.
food

School Lunch Around the World

Not every country has the same recipe for brain food.
Andrew Coletti May 27, 2024
Chinese bagels range from sweet to savory.
food

These Stuffed, Fluffy Bagels Are Taking China by Storm

Chinese bakers are putting their own spin on a North American classic...minus the poppy seeds.
Andrew Coletti May 23, 2024
Springtime meant strawberries, cream, and cakes.
victorian

The 19th-Century ‘Strawberry Parties’ That Raised Money and Spirits Each Spring

Servers wore strawberry hats and green gowns while guests feasted on shortcake, sherbet, and ice cream.
Anne Ewbank May 2, 2024
A waza (Kashmiri chef) carrying dishes and rotis from the kitchen to the dining room.
restaurants

This Tiny Restaurant Helps Keep Kashmiri Cuisine Alive in Pakistan

The Dilbar Hotel has been a hub and haven for Kashmiri Muslims since 1950.
Hasan Ali April 26, 2024
The original maple bacon doughnut is derived from a variation of the rectangular "Long John."
food

Meat-Filled Desserts From Around the World

Have you tried any of these literal sweetmeats?
Andrew Coletti April 22, 2024
Maria points to a mysterious symbolic representation of an early chemistry experiment.
ancient

The Ancient Female Alchemist Whose Name Is in Your Kitchen

Who put the Marie in "bain-Marie"?
Andrew Coletti April 8, 2024
Author Dan Pashman knows a thing or two about pasta.
pasta

Cream. Clams. Why Carbonara Once Looked Very Different

In his debut cookbook, Dan Pashman busts pasta myths alongside delicious, unorthodox recipes.
Diana Hubbell March 19, 2024
Old Javanese inscriptions describe vegetables eaten raw or boiled and seasoned with fermented shrimp paste.
monuments

How a Dinner Series Brought Borobudur’s Stone Reliefs to Life

The most famous monument in Indonesia shaped these ninth century–inspired feasts.
Andrew Coletti March 7, 2024
<em>Zhū nǎo tāng</em>, meaning 'pig brain soup,' is one of many preparations for brain in China.
brain

In Defense of Eating Brains

While some in the West are squeamish, globally, it's more common than not.
Andrew Coletti February 16, 2024
Al-Tujībī's recipe for marinated olives seasoned with oregano and salt.
medieval

A Longed-For Taste of Home in ‘The Exile’s Cookbook’

A 13th-century Arabic cookbook reveals the culinary life of al-Andalus.
Andrew Coletti January 23, 2024
The Virgin Mary was a common feature on Schluckbildchen.
objects of intrigue

These Tiny Baroque Prints Once Served as Edible Prayers

The sacred scraps were meant to be ingested.
Amelia Soth January 18, 2024
When fermented tuba gets distilled, just one fifth of the volume becomes vino de cocos.
alcohol

Is This Mexico's Oldest Spirit?

In the state of Colima, one man is reviving vino de cocos, a distillate that disappeared in the 1700s.
N.C. Stevens January 16, 2024
The gorkon will keep a stew boiling for more than 30 minutes after it's removed from a heat source.
objects of intrigue

One Man's Fight to Preserve Pakistan's Perfect Cooking Pot

The gorkon is a marvel of heat retention that's at risk of disappearing.
Juneisy Hawkins January 12, 2024
Made by simmering evergreen needles with water, sugar, and lemon, the Christmas tree cordial is a surprising shade of pink.
holiday

How to Eat or Drink Your Christmas Tree

Don't just throw out your tree; use it to spruce up your cocktails, stews, and more.
Sam O'Brien January 8, 2024
Behold, the bucolic marvel that is Welsh sheep-shearing cake.
food

Gastro Obscura’s Favorite Recipes of 2023

Feast on real-life zombie fungus and tiger tail ice cream.
Diana Hubbell December 28, 2023