Gastro Obscura
Holiday Gift Guide: Atlas Obscura Books and Calendars
What's near me?
Gastro Obscura
This contemporary yet classic strawberry shortcake from convenience store chain Lawson costs 2,980 to 4,600 yen (US$27-$46), depending on the size.

Every December, Japan Is Awash in Elegant Christmas Cakes

Romance, magazines, and technology made delicate confections a must-have.

BY Makiko Itoh
A scene from the 11th annual oyster festival.

In a Town That Escaped Slavery, an Oyster Festival Celebrates Black Culture and Resistance

The shells may have once pointed the way to freedom.

BY Tarisai Ngangura

The Return of Japan’s Female Sake Brewers

You Can Still Buy the Actual Fruitcakes Served at British Royal Weddings

Blank
The Gastro Obscura Newsletter

Updates from Gastro Obscura, delivered twice a week.

Blank
Blank

Food & More

Place

Haoma

An on-site urban farm and fish pond supply some of the produce for this upscale restaurant.
Place

Polo's Taqueria

Some of Arizona's best spit-roasted tacos al pastor can be found at a weekend swap meet.
Prepared Foods

French-Fried Turkey Breast

In South Range, Wisconsin, a decadent take on Thanksgiving dinner is served year-round.
Sweets

Pumpple Cake

Called the turducken of desserts, this multilayered cake hides two pies inside.
See All Food & Drink

Stories

To make <em>perlas</em>, Salas sucks the mezcal through a straw.

How a Master Mezcalero Makes a Unique Venison Mezcal

Meat is the secret ingredient in this take on the traditional Mexican spirit.
BY Lindsay Talley
The historic bar has been a meeting point for area cowhands and sheepherders for nearly a century.

For Sale: The Only Bar in a 14-Person Montana Town

You could own the busiest watering hole for miles.
BY Luke Fater
A backlit conveyor belt allows workers to pick out double-yolked eggs.

The Chinese City Famous for Eggs With Two Yolks

Gaoyou ducks are bred to produce tasty double-yolkers.
BY Anne Ewbank
In late summer, Copenhagen residents can pluck sun-warmed raspberries at the edge of the city, where urban sprawl gives way to woodlands.

Copenhagen Wants You to Forage on Its City Streets

It’s part of a movement to introduce local foods to Danish diets.
BY Reina Gattuso
Private railways once offered fine cuisine for the well-heeled.

A Newly Digitized Menu Collection Shows Off America’s Lost Railroad Cuisine

Once, Americans rode the rails for charbroiled steak, golden French toast, and prunes.
BY Claire Voon
The vibrant colors are enchanting but they may in fact be a sign of pollution.

China’s Dead Sea Is a Visual Feast

Yuncheng Lake is one of the country's oldest salt-production sites.
BY Reina Gattuso
Mao found mangoes to be too messy.
How a Fruit Basket From Mao Made China Mad for Mangoes

Regifting the fruit created a potent political symbol.

BY Jessica Gingrich