All hail the queen! Of Italian cheese, that is: Burrata di Andria. A kind of cream-filled mozzarella, it rules a plate like no other cheese. Gary Allen explains.
About Gary Allen
Gary Allen teaches food writing and various food and culture courses at Empire State College and has been vice president, newsletter editor, and webmaster for the Association for the Study of Food and Society. His books include The Resource Guide for Food Writers, The Herbalist in the Kitchen, The Business of Food: Encyclopedia of the Food and Drink Industries, the anthology Human Cuisine, and his most recent title, Herbs: A Global History, a volume in The Edible Series of Reaktion Press. He’s currently at work on another book for the same series—on sausage. Visit him at his website, On the Table, and blog, Just Served.
The History of Chicken Fingers
Chicken fingers—that favorite meal of kids—have an interesting history, filled with thrift and greed. Who knew a kids’ snack could be so profitable?
U.S. Helps in Locating U.K. WWII Celebration Cake
Victory cakes, also known as celebration cakes, were popular after World War II and were centerpieces of U.S. and U.K. parties. Gary Allen reports.
The Green Fairy Flies High
Absinthe, also known as the green fairy due to its hallucinogenic properties, is basking in the glow of a revival of interest among discerning drinkers.
The Naked Truth About Aphrodisiacs
For Valentine’s Day, food history editor Gary Allen takes a look at comestible aphrodisiacs and unravels their magic, myth, and mayhem.
Manchup: Cape Verde’s National Dish is a Savory Mix
Food history editor, Gary Allen, discovers the root of manchup, Cape Verde’s beloved dish. Manchup is a rustic dish filled with meats, beans, and grains.
High School Chemistry Pays Off…in Ice Cream
Food history editor Gary Allen, who has a bent for all things food science, delves into the mystery of a batch of ghastly blue-grey blackberry ice cream.
Crazy for Salt Cod
Our food history editor, and sometime science guy, Gary Allen, helps a reader understand how to keep and care for salt cod.
Readings: “Bananas” and “Fat Lady Burritos”
Gary Allen recounts the pleasure he derives from noshing on bananas while vacationing.
A Hunt for the Classic Icebox Cake Leaves a Cold Trail
Food history editor Gary Allen tracks down the classic icebox cake. The recipe for the original icebox cake is on the Nabisco chocolate wafer box.
Pacific Rim in the Center of the Plate
Gary Allen, our food history editor, answers a reader’s question about the origins of Pacific Rim cuisine and related culinary trends.
Dipping into the History of a Super Bowl Favorite
Chips and dip are a natural match–and a natural accompaniment to the big game. But has that always been so? Food history editor Gary Allen checks it out.
New York Cheesecake Stands Alone
Food history editor Gary Allen takes on the task of defending the superiority of his native New York cheesecake and finds it’s a cheesecake that stands alone.
Caesar’s Last Salad: The Foods of Ancient Rome
The food of ancient Rome–with all its intensity of flavor, spicing, reliance on sauces, and ingredients–are discussed by our food history editor.