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Gastro Obscura

Read 2005 Gastro Stories

A 212-Year-Old Ship Biscuit Is Selling for Only $3,580

This sailor's snack is well past its expiration date.

Galapagos Tomatoes Are Surprisingly Pest-Resistant

New research reveals that they can protect themselves from a number of common bugs.

april fools day

Help Us Solve This Gefilte Fish Mystery

Do you remember a spoof news segment about this traditional Jewish food?

great depression foods

The Depression-Era Glassware That Came in Boxes of Oatmeal

These vibrant dishes helped cheer up Americans during a bleak time.

This Scientist Explains Complex Concepts With Sushi

Sashimi meets science.

The Bygone Baguette Mailboxes of French Polynesia

Like birdhouses, but for bread.

How a Vibrant, Factory-Made Sweet Usurped the Original Maraschino Cherry

The same term describes two wildly different cherries.

'À La Mode' Is a Lonely Survivor of a French Culinary Code

In America, à la Nesselrode and à la Maryland are à la gone.

When Family-Owned Gelato Shops in Italy Almost Went Extinct

Did Big Gelato try to wipe out artisanal stores in the 1950s?

Looking Like a Flapper Meant a Diet of Celery and Cigarettes

A new standard of beauty led to today’s weight-loss regimens.

The 17th-Century Nursery Rhyme About Kneading Bread With Your Butt Cheeks

If cockle bread existed, you wouldn't want it anyway.

preservation methods

Can Putting a Frog in Milk Keep It Fresh?

Modern science may have an answer to this Russian folk belief.

Russia's Patriotic Alternative to Coca-Cola Is Made Out of Bread

For centuries, Russians have celebrated their Slavic roots with kvass.

The Ancient Walled Gardens Designed to Nurture a Single Citrus Tree

Giardini Panteschi are found only on the windswept island of Pantelleria.

How a Frozen Pizza Brand Became Norway’s Unofficial National Dish

Grandiosa has dominated both the country’s pizza sales and music charts.

The Rise and Fall of the Hormel Girls, Who Sold America on SPAM

The Spamettes sang and danced and glamorized canned meat.

Do You Order the Second-Cheapest Wine?

Help us investigate a popular ordering strategy.

How a Gang of Thirsty Thieves Stole Over $500,000 Worth of Wine

Two people have been sentenced for participating in several California heists.