food history

What You’re Using is a Fraud, Here’s What Real Balsamic Vinegar Is

It all started in the year 1046 AD, when the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III, was given a bottle of a local vinegar while passing through a small town on the […]

Origin of the Manhattan Cocktail

The Manhattan is one of the most classic and continuously popular drinks ever created –and we’re not just biased because of its namesake. Ok, maybe we’re a little biased, but […]

The Po’ Boy: New Orleans’ Super Star Sandwich

Submarine, sub, grinder, hero, hoagie, spuckie, zeppelin, zep. There are many names for a sandwich on a length of Italian bread split horizontally and filled with cold cuts, cheese, vegetables, […]

Sriracha: A Brief History of the World’s Most Popular Hot Sauce

Unless you’ve been living in under a rock, in a world devoid of flavor, you’ve probably heard about the extremely popular Sriracha. And if not, don’t worry, I was right […]

How to Make Obanyaki w/ MOCU-MOCU (Video)

Looking to satisfy your sweet-tooth, but tired of the same old New York glazed donuts and overpriced cupcakes? Well then, how about expanding your palate and trying some obanyaki? What […]

Muffaletta: The Big Sandwich of the Big Easy

Look at any list of great American sandwiches and you’ll see two from New Orleans near the top of the heap: the Po’Boy, most often stuffed with shrimp or oysters, […]

Giardiniera: The Unsung Superstar of Condiments

Most of us have come across it in the course of our culinary adventures. We’ve found it tucked into the muffaletta sandwich we ate in New Orleans or scattered across […]

What is Sake? The Art Behind the Drink

Forget the warm, cloudy, not particularly good sake you’ve sipped for years as part of the sushi ritual. Good sake – seriously good sake – is invading New York. But […]

What is Peking Duck?

When I was in college at the University of Iowa, there wasn’t a lot to do on Sundays, so we banded together for Sunday survival parties. Lots of people, lots […]

What is Egg Foo Young?

Egg foo young, like chop suey and chow mein, seems like a relic from menus past, something Ralphie and his family might have eaten with their Chinese turkey in the […]

Gelato: The Taste of Summer All Year Round

Who can think of summer without thinking of summertime treats? That first spoonful of cool, intensely flavored gelato always gives me that under-the-Tuscan-sun feeling, no matter what time of year […]

Chef’s Salad: Long Live the King

One of the great perks of modern living is being able to have fresh, crisp salad greens on hand all year round, no farther away than your refrigerator. And when […]

Bisque: Elegant But Oh, So Simple

There’s a phrase in the food lexicon that I love – mouth feel. It’s the way you experience food once you put it in your mouth, and I love it […]

What is Jambalaya?

With roots in France, Spain, Africa, the Caribbean, and Native America, jambalaya is about as USA as food gets, a literal melting pot of cuisines and cultures. It’s one of […]

Paris on Your Plate: The Croque Monsieur

With a name that’s most often translated as “crispy mister,” you might think this sandwich was destined to appear on a fast food menu. And so, eventually, it did. From […]

What is Chicken Paprikash?

When 16th century explorers began sending new foods back from the Americas, it was as if a giant cornucopia had been emptied over Europe. Italy and Spain made tomatoes a […]

Goulash: A Fascinating Dish of Necessity

When I was very young, my mother sometimes presented us with a casserole dish called goulash, made of hamburger, spaghetti, something tomato-ish, and a can of alphabet vegetable soup. Even […]

Cherries Jubilee: Simple Yet Grand

Twice a year, I celebrate the fact that sometimes life really is just a bowl of cherries. One of these occasions is July 4th, when cherry pie is the order […]

Hot Cross Buns Featured

Hot Cross Buns: A Tasty Bite of Easter Tradition

Hot cross buns seem to be making a comeback in the U.S. Though always popular in the U.K. and Australia, where the buns are in such high demand that bakeries […]

Whoopie Pies: A Delicious and Surprisingly Controversial Treat

Whoopie Pies have long been a classic dessert found in bakeries all around the US. However, with such a long-standing history, often passed down from generation to generation without much […]

Beef Wellington: Past and Present

Beef Wellington. It seems like a no-brainer, right? Beef from the land of the Cornish pasty, Beefeater Gin, and the Duke of Wellington. Surely this dish must have been created […]

Beef Consommé: Elegant Comfort

Beef consommé has been a long time pantry staple for me. I use it in combination with beef or mushroom broth to make onion soup, French dip sandwiches, and the […]

Saint Patrick's Day Toast

Sláinte! Cheers to St. Patty w/ These Traditional Irish Toasts (& Cocktails)!

St. Patrick’s Day is approaching and I’m sure we’re all making plans, stocking up on spirits, and making sure we have an entire outfit comprised of varying shades of kelly […]

Irish Soda Bread: A Recipe for Feast or Famine

Here in the US of A, Irish Soda bread has long been associated with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. As a child, I remember it making an appearance next […]

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