The history of diner dining, from their Lunch Wagon ancestors to those “We Are Happy to Serve You” take-out cups—and what the future might hold for these beloved establishments.

FOOD HISTORY
From what makes red velvet cake red (and velvet, for that matter) to its highly dubious origin story, here’s what you need to know about this delicious dessert.
Pineapples used to be expensive in Europe and colonial America. The South American fruit has been a symbol of wealth, luxury, and hospitality.
Which food has done the most to shape human development? Like a lot of interesting questions, it’s kind of impossible to answer.
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.
Collectively, coffee and tea have been credited as catalysts for everything from the Enlightenment to the Opium Wars.
Explore the complicated and controversial history of molecular gastronomy.
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.
From their dark roots to their migration to America, gummy bears play a large role in the history of candy.
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.
The link between teachers and apples goes back centuries.
The original recipes for Watergate salad appeared during the Watergate scandal. But who named it?
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 latest episode of Food History traces the rise and fall of the McDonald's Happy Meal.
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.
Open your takeout containers, break apart your disposable chopsticks, and dig into the cuisine of the Chinese diaspora.
Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day with a World War I-era recipe for peanut loaf or peanut butter soup.
Though fruitcake may be the butt of a lot of jokes, there’s a reason it secured its place in our cultural firmament.
From health trends to the evolution of marketing, we can learn a lot about American culture from the history of breakfast cereal.
Part fusion dish, part government propaganda, pad thai has a complicated background.
Whether you view a piece of candy corn as a nostalgic treat or a cloying nugget of disappointment, you can’t deny its place in the Halloween season. Here's how it got there.