Sam OBrien's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Cassata Siciliana
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Cassata Siciliana

The seductively delicious Easter cake once made an entire convent neglect its prayers.
Gastro Obscura
Chimney Cake
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Chimney Cake

After rotating over hot coals, the Transylvanian treat unravels in a sweet spiral.
Gastro Obscura
The King's Ginger
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

The King's Ginger

The liqueur was created “to stimulate and revivify His Majesty” while he was driving.
Gastro Obscura
Dulse and Yellowman
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Dulse and Yellowman

An unlikely pairing of honeycomb toffee and purple seaweed.
Gastro Obscura
Superman Ice Cream
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Superman Ice Cream

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a classic Midwestern treat!
Gastro Obscura
Nakládaný Hermelín
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Nakládaný Hermelín

The pungent pickled cheese is a popular Czech bar snack.
Gastro Obscura
Blaa Bread
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Blaa Bread

This adaption of French refugee bread is now a protected Irish specialty.
Gastro Obscura
Black Chicken Soup
Gastro Obscura
Story

Black Chicken Soup

In Asia, the black-skinned silkie chicken forms the base of a medicinal broth.
Gastro Obscura
Bamboo Pole Noodles
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Bamboo Pole Noodles

The dying art of flattening dough by seesawing on it.
Gastro Obscura
Mezcal de Pechuga
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Mezcal de Pechuga

For a meaty essence, producers dangle raw chicken breast over their stills.
Gastro Obscura
City Chicken
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

City Chicken

The Midwestern mock-poultry classic is fading away.
Gastro Obscura
Spaghettieis
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Spaghettieis

This German sundae masquerades as an Italian dinner.
Gastro Obscura
Jaboticaba
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Jaboticaba

The Brazilian tree gets covered by its tart purple fruit.
Gastro Obscura
Ranfañote
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Ranfañote

This vintage dessert of bread, cheese, and syrup nearly disappeared from Peru.
Gastro Obscura
Bara Lawr
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Bara Lawr

The seaweed tops toasts and enriches oatcakes in traditional Welsh breakfasts.
Gastro Obscura
Small Foods Party
Gastro Obscura
Story
Food Festivals

Small Foods Party

The competition that shrinks shrimp cocktail to the size of your pinky and fits bento into a matchbox.
Gastro Obscura
Exploding Chocolate Teacakes
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Exploding Chocolate Teacakes

In the 1960s, Royal Air Force pilots made a startling discovery about their sweets.
Gastro Obscura
Els Enfarinats
Gastro Obscura
Story

Els Enfarinats

In Ibi, “the Floured Ones” use food, face paint, and firecrackers to stage a commemorative coup.
Gastro Obscura
Mote con Huesillos
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Mote con Huesillos

A syrupy cup of peaches and wheat kernels is a customary reward after a Santiago mountain hike.
Gastro Obscura
Texas Sheet Cake
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Texas Sheet Cake

Funerals in the Lone Star State call for this comforting chocolate treat.
Gastro Obscura
Ayahuasca
Gastro Obscura
Story

Ayahuasca

One vine unlocks the powers of a psychedelic shrub.
Gastro Obscura
Medlars
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Medlars

The anus-shaped fruit tastes like cinnamon applesauce.
Gastro Obscura
Tonka Beans
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Tonka Beans

A legume so loved, it’s caused a “fever” in France and made Americans break laws.
Gastro Obscura
Snow Cream
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Snow Cream

Ice cream made with fresh snow is a beloved Southern tradition.
Gastro Obscura