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The Fantastic History Of Food

The Fantastic History Of Food

By Nick Charlie Key

Strange but true stories from history that in some way involve food.
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Jam-packed with stories like "The Swedish King Who Tried To Kill A Prisoner With Coffee" and "When Tomatoes Were Blamed For Witchcraft and Werewolves", there's something for everyone to enjoy.
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Join me as we explore The Fantastic History of Food.
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Contact me on foodhistorypod@gmail.com
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Website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com
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Twitter: @foodhistorypod
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Currently playing episode

20 - Al Capone Once Ran A Soup Kitchen

The Fantastic History Of FoodOct 02, 2020

00:00
17:33
31 - Using Onions To Heal Gunshot Wounds
Feb 21, 202215:47
30 - Japan's Accidental Killer Rice

30 - Japan's Accidental Killer Rice

In the late 1800s in Japan, there was a disease that seemed to target not just inner-city dwellers in Edo, what we know as modern-day Tokyo, but it affected mainly the upper classes. Not even the emperor and his family were immune to this slow, agonizing disease that saw people waste away in front of their loved ones. It would be a few years until the true culprit was discovered and it would throw Japanese culture into a frenzy when the cause was found to be none other than their beloved, white rice.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, and bonus content.

Find transcripts and sources on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode.

Get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor and signing up at BetterHelp.com/listener

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Shout out to Pair.com for sponsoring this episode

When you sign up with Pair Networks, you’ll receive one free month of web hosting. See for yourself how easy it is to build your website for free! Visit Pair.com/free to get your first month of website hosting for free by using the code QUICKSTART.

Feb 05, 202220:49
29 - Food Obsessed Pirate William Dampier

29 - Food Obsessed Pirate William Dampier

Pirates weren’t known for their discerning tastes in cuisine. If movies and television are to be believed they seemed to subsist purely on rum alone. But it was out of this quagmire that one of food history's earliest pioneers arose. He was so incredibly influential in fact that he is responsible for giving us the words barbecue, cashew, tortilla, soy sauce, breadfruit, and chopsticks.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, and bonus content.

Find transcripts and sources on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode.

Get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor and signing up at BetterHelp.com/listener

-------------------

Shout out to Pair.com for sponsoring this episode

When you sign up with Pair Networks, you’ll receive one free month of web hosting. See for yourself how easy it is to build your website for free! Visit Pair.com/free to get your first month of website hosting for free by using the code QUICKSTART.

Jan 20, 202219:17
28 - When Parmentier Tricked People Into Eating Potatoes

28 - When Parmentier Tricked People Into Eating Potatoes

It’s almost unthinkable that just a few hundred years ago, potatoes were only eaten in a very small corner of the earth. They are now one of the most widely eaten vegetables around the globe and a lot of that has to do with the cunning and trickery of our man Parmentier.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, and bonus content.

Find transcripts and sources on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode.

Get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor and signing up at BetterHelp.com/listener

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Shout out to Stamps.com for sponsoring this episode

  • Save time and money this holiday season with Stamps.com.
    • Sign up with promo code POD for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale. No long-term commitments or contracts.
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Dec 17, 202121:29
27 - The Nottingham Cheese Riot

27 - The Nottingham Cheese Riot

The people of Nottingham don't take kindly to people fleecing them for their very own cheese. The time had come to stand up and fight the gouda fight.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, and bonus content.

Find transcripts and sources on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks also go to PODGO for sponsoring this episode.

PODGO is the easiest way for you to monetize your podcast. Providing podcasters with a flat rate for ad space so you always know how much you get when you include an ad from PODGO. Apply today to become a member and immediately be connected with advertisers that fit your audience.

Sign up at www.podgo.co

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Oct 15, 202117:07
26 - The Giant Frog Farming Swindle

26 - The Giant Frog Farming Swindle

Albert Broel was a man of mystery. Claiming to be the son of Polish nobility, he arrived in America during World War 1 and set out to make his fortune. After a few failed ventures in alternative medicine and matchmaking, he turned to raising and canning giant frogs. Not content to stop there, he made up ingenious ways to get other people to pay him to start their own farms too. 

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and more.

Find full episode transcripts and sources/references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks also go to HelloFresh for sponsoring this episode.

Get fresh pre-measured ingredients with mouth-watering seasonal recipes delivered right to your door.

Offer: $80 Discount ($50 - $20 - $10) Including Free Shipping on First Box!

Tap this link and use the code below: https://hellofresh-ca.o5kg.net/c/2544961/791027/7893

Code: HFAFF80

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Oct 01, 202123:11
25 - Pushing A Peanut Up A Mountain With Your Nose

25 - Pushing A Peanut Up A Mountain With Your Nose

3 men, at different times, have all tried to push a peanut up Pikes Peak with nothing but their noses. This episode tells you all about their grueling efforts and what led them to attempt such an astonishing feat.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and more.

Find full episode transcripts and sources/references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks also go to MISEN for sponsoring this episode.

Misen went through 37 different prototypes until they knew they had the perfect knife. The final result? A knife that’s a pleasure to hold, sharp enough to glide through even the toughest foods, and a blade that stays sharper for longer.

Get your Misen knife today here: https://bit.ly/3mWH8UT

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Sep 17, 202118:53
24 - The Eggnog Riot

24 - The Eggnog Riot

What begins as just a little bit of seasonal fun, ends with smashed windows, bannisters ripped from stairways and a military barracks surrounded by rubble in a state of near ruin. By the end, our cast of characters are in a serious amount of trouble, and surprisingly, amongst them was a student who would one day become a future president of the United States Confederacy. And all of this carnage was caused by eggnog.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

-------------------

Huge thanks also go to PODGO for sponsoring this episode.

PODGO is the easiest way for you to monetize your podcast. Providing podcasters with a flat rate for ad space so you always know how much you get when you include an ad from PODGO. Apply today to become a member and immediately be connected with advertisers that fit your audience. 

Sign up at www.podgo.co

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Mar 19, 202122:43
23 - The Nazi's Exploding Chocolate Bar

23 - The Nazi's Exploding Chocolate Bar

Food inherently is meant to sustain life, but this has not always been the case, in fact, for as far back as history goes food has also been used as a vehicle, not for invigorating life, but for delivering death. In this episode, we’re looking at some of the most bizarre moments in which food was involved in assassination plots throughout history. 

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In an extra special segment in today's episode, my friend Moxie LaBouche from the podcast Your Brain On Facts takes us through some of the more creative assassination attempts on the late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks also go to Kind Bar for sponsoring this episode.

KIND is working hard to shift the food industry and empower their community and our listeners to make better, informed choices about their health.

Kindness can be a transformative force for good and that is why we are teaming up with KIND and PODGO to bring our listeners between 10% and 15% off for military, teachers, students, first responders, doctors and nurses in a time where they have given so much to all of us.

Go to www.podgo.co/kind

Kind Bar, creating a kinder and healthier world - one act, one snack at a time

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Feb 25, 202118:54
22 - Leonardo da Vinci The Waiter, Chef & Party Planner

22 - Leonardo da Vinci The Waiter, Chef & Party Planner

For many of history’s most famous characters, we all know, at the very least, the basics of what makes these men and women famous to begin with. And of history's most famous people, outside of religious figures, one of the most well known, revered and mysterious is the Renaissance Man himself, Leonardo Da Vinci. Today, we’re going to look at one of the lesser-known sides to a man most famous for his artistic works that include but are in no way limited to The Mona Lisa and the famous image of The Last Supper, which incidentally may have been inspired by one of the stories in today's episode. That’s right, today, we’re going to be looking at Leonardo Da Vinci, the waiter, chef and party planner.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

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Huge thanks to Free Lunch Coffee for sponsoring this episode.

When you buy just one bag of Free Lunch Coffee, you are also providing 10 meals to children in need.

· Specialty Grade, Certified Organic & Fair Trade!

· 100% money-back guarantee for 30 days.

Go to www.freelunchcoffee.com for a 10% discount. Use coupon code ‘History Of Food’ at check out.

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Huge thanks also go to Kind Bar for sponsoring this episode.

KIND is working hard to shift the food industry and empower their community and our listeners to make better, informed choices about their health.

Kindness can be a transformative force for good and that is why we are teaming up with KIND and PODGO to bring our listeners between 10% and 15% off for military, teachers, students, first responders, doctors and nurses in a time where they have given so much to all of us.

Go to www.podgo.co/kind

Kind Bar, creating a kinder and healthier world - one act, one snack at a time

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Feb 05, 202118:03
21 - Crazy True Stories About Ice Cream

21 - Crazy True Stories About Ice Cream

From it's origins in ancient China, to the accidental discovery of the first ice cream cone, we take a journey to see how ice cream has influenced cultures all around the world. World War 2 plays a surprising role in the story as some navy men valued it almost more than their own lives and safety. Listen to the episode to find out even more crazy stories from the long and interesting history of ice cream.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

-------------------

Huge thanks to www.roastersmarketplace.com for sponsoring this episode. If you love coffee this is the place for you. Shop by origin, roast level, processing method, and even by flavour notes.

www.roastersmarketplace.com is a veteran-owned business, run by a great guy called Chris. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him and his vision for the coffee market and I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough.

Get FREE SHIPPING on your first order by using the offer code: "FOODHISTORY" at checkout.

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Huge thanks also go to www.factor75.com for supporting the show. Get meals designed by dietitians and hand-crafted by world-class chefs delivered to your door. Listeners of this show can get $50 off over their first two weeks. Just go to www.factor75.com pick your meals and use code "PODCAST50" at checkout to claim this limited-time offer.

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Jan 22, 202118:31
20 - Al Capone Once Ran A Soup Kitchen

20 - Al Capone Once Ran A Soup Kitchen

Al Capone was a model student for most of his childhood, but he didn't take long to go from fresh-faced to scar-faced.

The Great Depression had just hit and people were out of work and starving. The man who was known to the law as a gangster was seen by the public as a hero. Every day Al Capone's soup kitchen served 350 loaves of bread and more than 1200 rolls to 2000+ hungry people in the city of Chicago, no questions asked.

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

-------------------

Huge thanks to www.roastersmarketplace.com for sponsoring this episode. If you love coffee this is the place for you. Shop by origin, roast level, processing method, and even by flavour notes.

www.roastersmarketplace.com is a veteran-owned business, run by a great guy called Chris. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him and his vision for the coffee market and I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough.

Get FREE SHIPPING on your first order by using the offer code: "FOODHISTORY" at checkout.

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Huge thanks also go to The Podcast Discovery Show for supporting this episode.

In just four seasons they have discovered over 200 amazing shows for listeners just like you to listen to. 

And, if you’re interested in finding out new things about the world as well they drop bonus episodes called The Other Discovery Show on the same feed. From food to science, history to art, you really can’t go wrong, and remember with the Podcast Discovery Show, there is always more to discover. Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3cMBVHY

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Oct 02, 202017:33
19 - Tomatoes Were Blamed For Witchcraft & Werewolves
Sep 19, 202016:24
18 - The Worlds Most Dangerous (And Illegal) Cheese

18 - The Worlds Most Dangerous (And Illegal) Cheese

For this episode we're travelling to the small Italian island of Sardinia where we explore the a generations long delicacy known as Casu Marzu. While the Sardinian people love it, it's been named as the worlds most dangerous cheese by the Guinness Book Of Records and has been made illegal to buy or sell all throughout Europe!

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Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

-------------------

Huge thanks to www.roastersmarketplace.com for sponsoring this episode. If you love coffee this is the place for you. Shop by origin, roast level, processing method, and even by flavour notes.

www.roastersmarketplace.com is a veteran-owned business, run by a great guy called Chris. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him and his vision for the coffee market and I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough.

Get FREE SHIPPING on your first order by using the offer code: "FOODHISTORY" at checkout.

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Huge thanks also goes to www.onedayu.com for their support of this episode. For just $7.95 per month, you can get world-class lectures on almost any topic under the sun by professors from Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, UCLA and so many more.

They would love you to check them out FOR FREE! You can get one month free by going to www.onedayu.com and make sure to enter code FANTASTICFOOD for one months free membership.

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Aug 30, 202018:21
17 - When Drinking Coffee Could Get You Decapitated

17 - When Drinking Coffee Could Get You Decapitated

This is the 2nd episode in our two part series on coffee. Last time we heard about the origins of coffee discovered by dancing goats in Ethiopia, as well as a few scandinavian kings who took a particular dislike to what they believed was the devils brew. After a few human experiments and Prussian sniffer squads we find ourselves back here today about to talk about coffees role in the Ottoman empire. So if nothing of what I said back there made any sense, make sure to go back and have a listen to the previous episode titled “When a Swedish King Tried To Kill A Prisoner With Coffee" - https://bit.ly/2CFdI8y

Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

Huge thanks to www.roastersmarketplace.com for sponsoring this episode. If you love coffee this is the place for you. Shop by origin, roast level, processing method, and even by flavour notes.

www.roastersmarketplace.com is a veteran-owned business, run by a great guy called Chris. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him and his vision for the coffee market and I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough.

Get FREE SHIPPING on your first order by using the offer code: "FOODHISTORY" at checkout.

Jul 17, 202017:42
16 - The Swedish King Who Tried To Kill A Prisoner With Coffee

16 - The Swedish King Who Tried To Kill A Prisoner With Coffee

Coffee was discovered in the 9th century in Ethiopia. From there it spread across the globe, making its way through Europe and at some point into Sweden. It was not as welcome there as in other parts of the world, especially not for King Gustav III. With no ethics board to hold him back, he embarked on a mad plan to prove once and for all that coffee was the root of all evil.


Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

Huge thanks to www.roastersmarketplace.com for sponsoring this episode. If you love coffee this is the place for you. Shop by origin, roast level, processing method, and even by flavour notes. 

www.roastersmarketplace.com is a veteran-owned business, run by a great guy called Chris. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know him and his vision for the coffee market and I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough.

Get FREE SHIPPING on your first order by using the offer code: "FOODHISTORY" at checkout.

Jun 30, 202017:13
15 - 3 Tales of Cheese: From Egyptian Mummies to Uruguayan Cannonballs

15 - 3 Tales of Cheese: From Egyptian Mummies to Uruguayan Cannonballs

In this episode we explore one of the worlds favourite foods, CHEESE! We hear a bit about it's origin story and then dive into 3 different stories involving cheese throughout history, and it's a cracker! (Pun very much intended).

Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, bonus content and even free merch!

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/

Support for this show also comes from Fruit Of The Bean, an online supplier of premium coffee. Their beans are only roasted AFTER you place your order so as to ensure maximum freshness in every pack. 10% of their net proceeds go towards supporting widows and orphans, so every cup of coffee you drink is making a difference in the world.

Use offer code "FOOD" at checkout to get a whopping 25% off your coffee order when you purchase from www.fruitofthebean.com

Jun 12, 202018:15
14 - Piracy, Witches and Hot Chocolate

14 - Piracy, Witches and Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate has been a favourite drink of so many households throughout the ages. Not many people know the rich and varied history that this simple drink actually has. From Columbus first encountering chocolate in the 1500s to the deep connection it has to witchcraft and potions, the drink has evolved in so many ways from the first frothy, bitter mugs consumed by those early explorers.

Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod

Find transcripts and references on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com

Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/

Support for this show also comes from Fruit Of The Bean, an online supplier of premium coffee. Their beans are only roasted AFTER you place your order so as to ensure maximum freshness in every pack. 10% of their net proceeds go towards supporting widows and orphans, so every cup of coffee you drink is making a difference in the world. 

Use offer code FOOD at checkout to get a whopping 25% off your coffee order when you purchase from www.fruitofthebean.com

May 16, 202018:24
13 - Charles Darwin & The Glutton Club
Apr 26, 202015:03
12 - The Man Who Ate King Louis XIV's Heart
Mar 20, 202015:53
11 - When People Bathed In Meat Soups
Mar 06, 202014:44
10 - Hitler And The Secret 'Margarine Whale' Plan
Feb 21, 202016:28
9 - The German Coconut Cult

9 - The German Coconut Cult

The bizarre story of a man named August Engelhardt who started a cult on a tropical island in the early 1900's. He forced his followers to only eat coconuts and to worship the sun. They weren't even allowed to wear clothes. After a few mishaps, diseases and unfortunate circumstances, things began to look bleak for the little German coconut cult.

Sep 12, 201915:59
8 - Tapioca Time-Bomb
Aug 23, 201912:16
7 - The Deadly Tidal Wave Of Molasses

7 - The Deadly Tidal Wave Of Molasses

Just 2 months after WW1 one of the most bizarre tragedies in history would strike a crowded neighbourhood in Boston. Thanks to some unseasonably warm weather, some poor construction and the greed of some factory owners,  the saying "sugar is bad for your health" has never been more true.

Jul 26, 201914:10
6 - The California Egg War of 1863

6 - The California Egg War of 1863

The California gold rush in the mid-1800's brought hundreds of thousands of people through San Francisco in a very short amount of time. The sudden demand for food sparked an entirely different type of rush, and fortune hunters turned their attentions to a distant set of islands, that would make many of them wealthy beyond imagination, and a spark a decades long war!

Jul 15, 201916:17
5 - Ancient Warrior Diet: Ninjas From Medieval Japan
Jun 29, 201912:44
4 - NY Yankee vs. Ostrich Spaghetti Eating Competition
Jun 29, 201913:51
3 - A Gross History Of Competitive Eating
Jun 29, 201915:29
2 - A Conspiracy. A Murder. An Egyptian Bread Pudding.
Jun 29, 201916:06
1 - The Day Paris Ate Its Zoo Animals
Jun 29, 201914:46
Introducing The Fantastic History Of Food

Introducing The Fantastic History Of Food

Season One of 'The Fantastic History Of Food' will soon be launching with the first 5 episodes.

I'd really appreciate all of your help in getting more listeners for this podcast as we head towards the launch. The best way to do that is to leave a rating on Apple Podcasts, or whichever platform you listen on. If you have the time to leave a comment of support as well, that will help immensely.

Coming up in the first season:

We take a deep dive into the backstory of one of the middle easts most famous desserts and how it’s linked to the conspiratorial rise and fall of a powerful queen. We’ll also be looking at the time Paris was forced to eat their own zoo animals and the story of Ping Bodie, the New York Yankees hitter who once challenged an ostrich to a spaghetti eating competition.

For more information check out www.foodhistorypodcast.com

Jun 25, 201901:16