history
Iconic food and gustatory moments in history.
Gender, Age, and Rationing
The traditional family structure in its idealized form has the father working and earning money to support his wife and children, the wife running the home, and the children going to school and playing, blissfully innocent and carefree. In the best case scenario, the father is able to provide for his family and they benefit from his labor, but the best case scenario very rarely reflects reality. In times of war, the traditional workers and breadwinners are sent off to fight and the civilians at home must step out of their usual roles. Women take on jobs outside the home to help the war effort and to support themselves and their children. A child’s innocence is threatened by the harsh and brutal realities of war. Both have to do without the pleasures they had previously enjoyed and often suffer from outright deprivation. The experiences of civilians during the First and Second World Wars, especially in rationing and the efforts to keep them fed, illustrate how war reverses society’s roles: In peacetime, men work to support women and children while in wartime, women and children must fend for themselves.
By Rachel Lesch8 years ago in Feast
How People Prepared Food in the Dark Ages
Cooking is one of the most human acts that you can perform. The art of cooking is something that has bonded people together, become a part of our cultural identities, and also become part of our history. Though the very basics of cooking never seem to change, the truth is that cooking styles do change over the years.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Feast
What Is Umami?
The other day, I got my friend to try a Vegemite sandwich. Though I'm American, I absolutely love Vegemite. I love the umami taste it offers, and I tried to explain why it's so tasty to people who aren't from New Zealand and Australia before. It's not easy. The conversation usually goes like this:
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Feast
Here Are Seven Things You Might Not Know About Coffee
For many of us, it's how we begin every day. There are those among us who would sooner give up a pint of blood than suffer a single day's absence of their caffeinated paramour. It has almost limitless regional variations as far as preparation and ways to enjoy it. Its exports account for more than half the foreign exchange of some countries. Coffee is a multifaceted thing, equal parts drinkable satisfaction, constantly-evolving art medium, and big business. Let's take a look at this beverage with which the world's love affair has endured for centuries and shows no sign of cooling anytime soon.
By Anthony Beal9 years ago in Feast
How Nello Ended Up Getting a Reputation as the Worst Ripoff in NYC
Reputation is everything in the restaurant industry. If you don't believe it, take a moment to consider how many restaurants and chains have made it big solely based on the fact that they were spearheaded by celebrity chefs or restaurateurs. For example, would Bobby Flay's Burger Palace really have been as widely known if Bobby Flay himself didn't have his spots on television?
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Feast
Why Is America So Obsessed with Cupcakes Lately?
They’re tiny and overpriced but nonetheless delicious “gourmet” treats. America's cupcake obsession is spread long and far. I’m not sure if it's the trendy shop itself or perhaps the huge variety of mouth watering flavors that make cupcakes so tempting to the passerby. All around the country in virtually every city and town you are sure to find one of these trendy cupcakeries, a bakery dedicated to producing cupcakes. And it’s not just a fad anymore; with 669 million cupcakes sold from October 2010- October 2011, we have to admit that this obsession is serious. From Georgetown Cupcakes to Magnolia Bakery, we know the names well and there is certainly no shortage of cupcakes to fuel America’s obsession. So where did this cupcake obsession come from anyway?
By Sophie Heller9 years ago in Feast
What Victorians Really Ate
During the Victorian Era, there were a number of inventions that revolutionized the way that food was produced, made, and enjoyed. If you were lucky enough to be a member of the upper crust, this meant that you could enjoy some of the nicest meals imaginable on a regular basis.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Feast
Best Cuts Of Beef
Quick. Think about meat. No, not bacon, stop it. Stop thinking about bacon. There you go, that’s it, steak. The meatiest of meats. Most likely, it’s not something you’re cooking every day, and if it is you’re probably just going with the same cut you always do. Don’t you think it’s time to branch out? Try something new? Here’s a quick guide to the best cuts of beef for every recipe.
By Erik Skaarsgard9 years ago in Feast
Luxury Meals That Were Once "Poor Man's" Food
Most of us equate being poor with having a pretty awful diet. After all, these days, only the financially independent have both the time and the money to enjoy lobster and other fine foods these days. Meanwhile, for the super poor, McDonald's is the only restaurant they can afford.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Feast
