Roald Dahl’s Anti-Black Racism
The first edition of the beloved novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory featured "pygmy" characters taken from Africa.
Turtle Soup: From Class to Mass to Aghast
During the days of the British Empire, soup made from sea turtles was a delicacy. Now it's almost unheard of. What explains the change?
Our Long-Running Love Affair with Pigeons
Through crazes of pigeon-fancying, these birds have been reshaped into a dizzying variety of forms.
The Desperate Quest for American Cinnamon
Centuries ago, Europeans went to extreme and horrific lengths in search of the spice.
Who Invented Weird Hipster Ice Cream Flavors?
From asparagus to pâté de fois gras, early modern ice cream was decidedly different from plain chocolate and vanilla.
The Great Grape Graft That Saved the Wine Industry
Grape varieties from North America seemed harmless to French winemakers. But destructive bugs were imported with the plants.
Everyone in Pompeii Got Takeout, Too
Archaeologists have found that snack bars called tabernae fed much of the city in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dates Back to the 1900s
Tofu turkey was created in 1990, but some Americans celebrated Thanksgiving with veggie dishes over a century ago.
New York City Bans Foie Gras
The practice of eating fatty goose livers dates back to at least 2500 BCE. Is there a humane way to produce it?
