Researching Food History

Robert Seymour (c1800-1836) drew a series of humorous sketches (including several on pic-nics) from 1834-1836.  Picnic problems included b...

The fluffy, yeast cake topped with peaches existed by 1910 when it was mentioned in a poem by a Baltimore Sun writer.  It was and is sold ...

Wild garlic, grown among the wheat plants, caused problems in the mills by gumming up the mill stones and later, the rollers.  Although it...

To feed the hundreds of guests, the waiters marched to the band's music: "Norma" to lay down the place settings; a march to e...

Ending this Ice Cream Month with a late 19th century cookbook with wonderful descriptions of types of ice creams and molds.  Bombs, introdu...

Incredibly , six confectioners who worked at the Berkeley Square shop wrote cookbooks - Nutt, Jarrin, and lesser known Jeanes, Abbott, Bar...

The "very light form of whipped" ice cream was popular in Italy, but less known in the UK.    Francatelli, chef to Queen Victori...

William Fuller of London invented his "Neopolitan Freezing Machine" (an early mechanized ice cream maker, replacing the sorbetiere...

"Independence Day celebration in Centre Square" Philadelphia, 1819 by John Lewis Krimmel [Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Phi...

The 1850 City Cries book of Philadelphia contained this image and description below.  By this time great amounts were raised in Maryland,...

This 1861 sketch "dining under difficulties" depicted the large hoop skirt dilemma; but food "dripping with grease," br...

During strawberry season the demand "is enormous" and in an 1857 article they sold for 12 or 15 cents a quart so "even the m...

Years ago I wrote a post on Army tables and chairs with creative ways to close and transport on mules or wagons during the Rev War and Civi...

For those of us who like mechanical devices - check out Vittorio Zonca’s (1568-1603)  Novo Teatro Di Machine Et Edificii .   Padoua: 1607 ...

Visitors to Naples noted the "great coppers filled with macaroni ready prepared, sprinkled over with cheese" and customers ...

This cake was named for a Dickens character in an 1839 novel and the ensuing 1870s dress style.   The earliest recipe, in 1877, had four la...

Virginia "Jennie" Carter Benedict (1860-1928) created Benedictines - the green cucumber sandwich common at Kentucky Derby partie...

On the trip north from her South Carolina plantation the 67 year old made a point to stay at "Mrs. Randolph's" - a renowned ...

Once sold on the streets on Good Friday, the buns, marked with a cross on top, are now remembered as a nursery rhyme "One-a-penny, tw...

In an early (1842) detailed description to pipe icing onto cakes, paper was rolled into a cone, and the end was cut.  In addition to "...