It’s our first episode of the decade! In this episode, we discuss the development of food pouches in the western hemisphere, the mythology of Three Kings Day, and how non-Latinx Texas families started hosting tamaladas. Finally, we extoll the virtues of the deliciousness of tamales.
NOTE: In this new year, we’re resolving to release episodes on a more regular schedule by moving our release day to Sundays.
This week, we have a holiday episode about one of the most American pies. We discuss the etymology of pecans, the relationship between treacle tarts and sugar pies, and how a corn syrup company popularized pecan pie. Finally, we uncover the dark underbelly of the pumpkin pie conspiracy.
In this week’s episode, we’re talking eggs and tomatoes and brunch. That’s right. An entire episode dedicated to shakshuka. We discuss noncontroversial topics like immigration and Israel, analyze similar dishes, and uncover the Arab ties to Sicilian food. Finally, we reminisce over our very first shakshuka experiences.
We’re finishing our potato series the way we always end vegetable series: by going back to the beginning. This time, we discuss how the Incans built the largest empire in South America without a wheel, the religious importance of Axomamma, and the cost-benefits of fried potatoes. Finally, we revisit our dear friend Johnny Appleseed.
We’re back with another episode in our potato series, which comes off schedule (this time thanks to technical difficulties). This week, we take a look at the dynamics that led to the Great Irish Potato Famine, discuss Jonathan Swift’s biting satire, and formation of the United Kingdom. Finally, we talk stabbing plots and the end of Roman democracy.
We’re revisiting a common theme of ours this week: how did New World foods become so important to Italian food? In the first installment of our potato series, we’re discussing how Romeo and Juliet may have broken the law, how old gnocchi recipes might be (hint: they predate the introduction of potatoes to Italy), and why Carnival is gnocchi season in Verona. Finally, we debate the merits of various gnocchi recipes.
We’re back with another episode this week (again, we messed up the math!). In this episode, we discussing 12th century food storage systems, how Marco Polo cultured Europe, and one Dominican priest’s many miracles. Also, we discuss the logistics of enormous pierogi. Finally, Faye tries to uncover what exactly St. Hyacinth did to those women’s convents.
We missed a few weeks because we messed up the math and something about Labor Day, but we’re going to be back on track. In this episode, we’re discussing a beloved West African rice dish, the Wolof Empire’s rise and importance, and how the ingredients that make jollof rice came to Africa. Finally, we discuss the intensity of the culture wars around which jollof rice is the best.
We’re back in Mexico! This week, we dive into the very non-Mexican roots of the beloved taco al pastor. We discuss the collapse of the silk industry in Lebanon, the Ottoman Empire’s consulate program, and how tacos al pastor represent the classic immigration to America story. Finally, we learn about Spain’s jamon obsession.
We’re back! And we’re starting season 3 off on a far more cheerful note than we ended season 2. In honor of July, heat waves, climate change, and sweating, we’re starting off this new season with an ode to ice cream and how a snack for the 1% became the people’s dairy confection. We discuss Roman shaved ice, Marco Polo and Catherine de Medici revolutionizing European food (yet again), and the mechanics of refrigeration. Finally, we hypothesize why sundaes got their name.