Mental Floss

FOOD HISTORY

The diners of the 1950s featured a sleek, space age design.

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.

Sarah Lohman
The red velvet origin story is a widespread urban legend.

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.

Jake Rossen


The choices were made with a healthy dose of humility.

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

Jon Mayer


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

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.

Bethel Afful










Tacos de canasta are often sold by mobile vendors

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.

Jon Mayer


Doughnuts have a delicious but mysterious history.

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?

Michele Debczak


Many things about the hot dog are up for debate.

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.

Michele Debczak






jodiecoston // iStock via Getty Images Plus

Though fruitcake may be the butt of a lot of jokes, there’s a reason it secured its place in our cultural firmament.

Michele Debczak
Candy corn wasn't always associated with Halloween.

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.

Michele Debczak