The History of American Food

The History of American Food

Author: Margaret Hardin Language: English Episodes: 100
Hosted by historian Margaret Hardin, The History of American Food is a journey through the pots, pans, and pantries that built a nation. This isn't just a chronicle of recipes; it's an exploration of how every meal tells a deeper story of migration, technology, war, and cultural exchange. We begin in the challenging early settlements, where survival hinged on barrels of salted meat and dried peas, and trace the winding, often unexpected path to the modern landscape of Korean BBQ tacos and overwhelming supermarket aisles. Each episode digs into the forces-the people, the policies, the accidents of history-that transformed what we eat. You'll hear about the intersection of food with broader arts and society, understanding how a single ingredient can ripple through culture. The podcast moves from farm to factory to food truck, revealing the surprising connections on your plate. It’s a narrative full of detours and revelations, showing how American food has always been a global, ever-evolving conversation. For more details on each episode's topics and sources, visit the show's website.
Episodes
161 Hardtack, Softbread & Meal - Daily Bread in the War of Rebellion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:13
I'm Back and it's bread.The American Civil War (the War of Rebellion is where suddenly we start really naming American Bread.Sure yeah, hard bread is nothing new, but the Fast Bread of fast moving America starts to becom…
160 Season 5 Preview: War Changes Everything Except it Never Does [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:21
Welcome back to American Food!Sorry about the big break, and even more sorry to be talking about war food ... during war. BlechBut it is interesting, and my ever growing fascination with American Food and how it keeps em…
Season 5 Promo - War Food... but with Trains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:38
I'm back and it's been so long.Find out why!Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot comThreads: @THoAFoodInstagra…
159.5 The Turkey History Episode... Just for Fun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:04
It's been a little while since I put up this Tukey History Episode!Since Thanksgiving Week is also Episode Week - why not throw this one in for fun?Learn about the wild history of an American bird with a huge travel resu…
159 The Roots of Grocery Store Culture Lie in a Big Country [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:15
It's the last Episode of Season 4!And I think I've finally answered one of my opening questions - why did America make our grocery stores the way we did? As soon as Americans could, we ignored the food on the ground (unl…
157 More Plates You Say?  Let's Make Dining More Complicated [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:14
After years of no plates, not enough plates and just enough plates - you suddenly have access to many plates and pretty plates. What's a hostess of fashion to do?Obviously - upend the way food is served. Obviously if you…
156 The History of Plates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:17
Every wondered how we got into this fix of needing so many plates - or more specifically why you’re supposed to put a set of plates on a registry for a wedding that you are never gonna use? Or at least why did people do…
154 Fashionable Vegetables from Europe & Stealth Ones from America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:14
Celebrate National Public Lands Day by finding a place to visit and get involved at NEEFAUSA.ogorNPS.govAnd get into what was getting to be popular as vegetables in the early 19th century.How did Avocado Toast become a t…