Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchClarence Birdseye: How Arctic Ice Fishing Created Frozen Food
Episode 11905
In the 1920s frozen food meant mushy, tasteless leftovers, yet a frozen turkey served on Marjorie Merriweather Post's yacht helped spark a $22 millio…
13 hours ago
The Chili Pepper: Capsaicin Science, Global Spread and Space Farming
Episode 11904
The chili pepper evolved a chemical weapon to keep mammals away, and humans turned it into a global obsession. This episode explains how capsaicin tr…
13 hours ago
Buffalo Wings: The Disputed Origin and Economics of a Bar Snack
Episode 11903
The chicken wing was once a scrap cut that kitchens tossed or boiled for stock. This episode explains how it became the Buffalo wing, starting with t…
13 hours ago
Bubble Tea History: From Taiwan Tea Shops to a Global Boba Boom
Episode 11902
When the Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal in 2021, North American boba shops faced a tapioca pearl shortage. This episode uses that strange supply c…
13 hours ago
Breadfruit: Canoe Plant, Mutiny on the Bounty and Global Staple
Episode 11901
One towering tree has shaped ancient migrations, naval mutinies and cuisines around the world. This episode explores the breadfruit, starting with th…
13 hours ago
The History of Baklava: Empires, Janissaries and Layered Pastry
Episode 11900
In the Ottoman Empire, a tray of pastry could signal loyalty or looming rebellion. This episode dives into the rich and contested history of baklava,…
13 hours ago
Baked Alaska: The Physics and History of Fire-and-Ice Dessert
Episode 11899
How can ice cream survive a blistering hot oven? This episode unpacks the Baked Alaska, a dessert that has baffled diners for over a century, and rev…
13 hours ago
The True Origin of Carbonara: How WWII Shaped a Roman Classic
Episode 11898
Spaghetti alla carbonara is treated as untouchable Roman heritage, yet its first published recipe appeared in Chicago in 1952. This episode investiga…
13 hours ago
The History and Science of Cheese: From Ancient Curds to Factories
Episode 11897
Cheese was once among the most shoplifted items in supermarkets worldwide. This episode explores how a prehistoric accident of storing milk in an ani…
13 hours ago
Bourbon Explained: Laws, Chemistry, Myths, and the Barrel Glut
Episode 11896
Some bourbon grows so strong in the barrel that it is classified as a hazardous material and banned from passenger planes. This episode breaks down w…
13 hours ago