FOOD HISTORY

People who could not afford to buy a pineapple to display used to rent one.

The Super Luxe History of Pineapples—And Why They Used to Cost $8000

Pineapples used to be expensive in Europe and colonial America. The South American fruit has been a symbol of wealth, luxury, and hospitality.

The bagel's path to breakfast dominance wasn't straightforward.

How Bagels Changed the Breakfast Game

The bagel’s success is undeniable, but its path to breakfast dominance wasn’t straightforward.

The choices were made with a healthy dose of humility.

4 Foods That Shaped Human History

Which food has done the most to shape human development? Like a lot of interesting questions, it’s kind of impossible to answer.

Coffin bread, Taiwanese nostalgia wrapped in a deep-fried bread bowl. / 54613 / Shutterstock

A Lively History of Coffin Bread

In this episode of "Food History," host Justin Dodd tells us the story of coffin bread—a dish that is not nearly as morbid as its name suggests.

How did these delicious drinks make their way into your cup?

A Brief (But Complicated) History of Coffee and Tea

Collectively, coffee and tea have been credited as catalysts for everything from the Enlightenment to the Opium Wars.

A Brief History of Molecular Gastronomy

Explore the complicated and controversial history of molecular gastronomy.

A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (on a controversial bread).

A Delicious History of the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich

'The New York Times' restaurant critic Pete Wells once said the humble bacon, egg, and cheese was “designed to satisfy practical needs rather than voluptuary desires." But is that selling the sandwich short?

How the TV Dinner Revolutionized American Life

How the humble TV dinner changed American life in the mid-20th century.

15 Delicious, Discontinued Girl Scout Cookies

Through the years, we've had to bid adieu to a long line of good Girl Scout cookies.

The history of pizza isn’t as straightforward as you may think.

A Brief History of Pizza

We take a bite out of pizza’s past in the latest episode of Food History.

A Salty History of Pretzels

From Lenten fare to street food, pretzels have come a long way.

Even serious Sriracha fans might not be aware that the history of hot sauce goes back thousands of years.

How Hot Sauce Became the World’s Favorite Condiment

Hot sauce wasn't always considered a staple of pantries around the world. If you've ever wondered who invented Tabasco sauce, or what Scoville Heat Units really measure, read on.

A Brief History of SPAM

From Monty Python to Minnesota's SPAM Museum, this little packaged luncheon meat has a big cultural footprint.

Gummy bears have a surprisingly dark origin.

The Surprisingly Dark Origins of Gummy Bears

From their dark roots to their migration to America, gummy bears play a large role in the history of candy.

Tom’s Restaurant, famous from the sitcom ‘Seinfield.’

The Delicious History of the Diner

In this episode of Food History, host Justin Dodd explains how diners proliferated throughout the United States, and touches on what they mean to the country’s culture and cuisine.

Tacos de canasta are often sold by mobile vendors

A Brief History of “Basket Tacos”

Tacos de canasta (or “basket tacos”) were not the first tacos ever made, but their origin is inextricably linked with the history of that culinary classic.

Why Do People Give Apples to Teachers?

The link between teachers and apples goes back centuries.

The Struggling Poet Who Reinvented Cookbooks

In the latest episode of Food History, host Justin Dodd tells us about the innovations in cookbook publishing instigated by this perhaps-unlikely source.

The California Roll, an American sushi classic

A Brief History of the California Roll

The California roll is practically synonymous with sushi for some people.

From Fries to Tots: A Delicious History of Fried Potatoes

French fries have gifted us with a whole class of fried potato dishes, from fast food to the freezer aisle. But before processed potatoes became a standard side in many cuisines, some people didn’t even consider them edible.

Jell-O Journalism: Investigating the Origins of Watergate Salad

The original recipes for Watergate salad appeared during the Watergate scandal. But who named it?

Doughnuts have a delicious but mysterious history.

A Deep-Fried History of Doughnuts

The history of doughnuts is difficult to trace. Did doughnut history begin the first time a sweet dough was fried in oil? Does it start when the first hole was punched into a yeasted dough before frying? And what do oil balls have to do with it?

The Controversial History of McDonald's Happy Meal

The latest episode of Food History traces the rise and fall of the McDonald's Happy Meal.

Many things about the hot dog are up for debate.

The Disputed History of the Hot Dog

The story of this quintessential American food begins with the invention of sausages thousands of years ago. Where it goes from there is more complicated.