Wondrous food to explore and enjoy

Gastro Obscura

Read 2013 Gastro Stories

How America Embraced Aspics With Threatening Auras

From futuristic test kitchens to Under-the-Sea Salad, midcentury Jell-O took a turn for the weird.

The Hidden Histories of To-Go Container Art

Who drew that winking chef on your pizza box?

The Vietnamese Cafés Where Koi Fish Are the Stars

These lavish coffeeshops are aquatic wonderlands.

A Roman Emperor's Villa Is Now Producing Olive Oil

Hadrian's estate has trees found nowhere else on Earth.

forgotten foods

What Happened to Montreal’s Legendary Melon?

A medley of efforts, and one abbey's monks, may bring back the forgotten fruit.

scientists at work

How to Eat Like an Anglo-Saxon King

Hint: It involves way less meat than you might think.

Navigating la Ruta del Lechón in Puerto Rico’s Central Mountains

Explore the unexpected and tasty tradition of chinchorreo along the "Pork Highway" of Guavate.

How to Turn a Volcano Into an Oven

From hot-springs stew to lava-baked pizza, a tour of the world's most amazing volcanically-cooked meals.

The Triumphant Story of Britain's Desi Pubs

Once places of refuge, these Anglo-Indian bars are now institutions.

This Challah Is Key to Good Fortune After Passover

Shlissel challah is a centuries-old Jewish tradition.

A Mystery Worm Is Threatening the Future of Washington’s Oysters

Clues from 1,000-year-old shells could reveal the parasite’s past—and portend the future.

The Powerful Symbolism of Ukraine's Easter Bread

All around the world, bakers are making paska in solidarity.

How Coconut Macaroons Earned a Place on the Passover Table

Industrial innovations and a heavy push from Jewish companies helped cement the cookie as a new tradition.

Armenia's Culinary History Hides in a Museum's Manuscripts

Using rare documents and notebooks, Sonia Tashjian is piecing together the nation's food story.

Inside the Beer Lab That’s Wrangling Wild Yeasts

Bootleg Biology unlocks new flavors for brewers.

One Woman's Quest to Create Truly Japanese Cheese

Sakura blossoms, sake, and local microbes set Chiyo Shibata's cheese apart.

Tasting the Fabled Peanut Butter Fruit

This elusive treat lives up to its nickname.

great depression foods

This Depression-Era Science Trick Transforms Water Into Pie

How resourceful home bakers managed to make dessert from practically nothing.