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Arts & Culture / Food

A Coney Island hot dog

The Origin of the Coney Island Hot Dog Is a Uniquely American Story

They also have very little to do with the New York City amusement park

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Age of Humans

Video: The Past, Present and Future of Agriculture

Globalization and new technologies have given us more control and more power over our food than ever before. What’s next?

Tagliatelle with meat sauce, an iconic Italian dish.

Immerse Yourself in Italian Cuisine at These Eight Cooking Schools

From local women to world-renowned chefs, here’s a delicious way to get in touch with your inner Italian

The Svalbard seed bank is one of many seed libraries in the world, and one of the best funded.

Age of Humans

From Lack Of Diversity To Lack Of Funding, Seed Banks Face a World Of Challenges

Gene banks are meant to protect biodiversity, yet they themselves are in need of protection

Fleet Farming turns yards into "farmlettes."

A Band of Biking Farmers in Florida Reinvents Sharecropping

Fleet Farming transforms lawns into farms to create a new local food system

At Sky Hill, guests learn how to throw pottery and make sweet-scented hay by gathering grass into small heaps that will dry in the sun. Marius and Cornelia bought the land in 2006 and have used it to teach travelers of all ages about organic farming and construction.

Europe

Try Your Hand at Organic Farming in Southwest Romania

By hosting travelers, local farmers hope to reverse the impact of big industry

Voskehat, “the queen of Armenian grapes”

Armenia

History in a Glass: (Re)discovering Armenian Wine

With more than six thousand-year-old history of viniculture, Armenian wines are gaining popularity

Cascade, Centennial and Goldings hops are three varietals planted in Persephone’s demonstration hop yard.

Canada

From Farm to Bottle: Sip Brews Among the Hop Bines at This Vancouver-Area Beer Farm

Persephone Brewing Company brings beer and farming to the Sunshine Coast

Playing with your food requires talent.

Need a New Hobby? We Recommend Playing Musical Vegetables

From carrot flutes to to zucchini clarinets, vegetables have musical potential

Can you tell the difference between bourbon and rye?

Can You Really Tell the Difference Between Bourbon and Rye?

Drexel University puts professional tasters to the test

Austria

Nine Unique Gifts to Buy in Vienna

From specialty fruit preserves to Habsburg figurines, Austria’s capital has it all

The ramen shops.

Discover the Real Ramen at a Shrine to Slurpy Noodles

The iconic dish has surprising regional roots

The Mangalitsa pig, a "heritage breed" hailing from Hungary, is prized for its flavor. The woolly coat is a bonus.

Age of Humans

Fuzzy Pigs, Squash Swords And More of the World’s Amazing, Vanishing Heirloom Breeds

These odd fruits, veggies and animals show the vanishing diversity of our food

Marillenknoedel, or apricot dumplings, are a Wachau Valley specialty.

Austria

Ever Tried an Apricot Dumpling? You Need To

The rich soils of Austria’s Wachau Walley yield some of the tastiest apricots and apricot products in the world

The village and vineyards of Dürnstein form part of Lower Austria's Wachau Valley.

Austria

For a Culinary Scene Steeped in Tradition, Head to Austria’s Wachau Valley

A new generation of chefs and vintners is seasoning this sleepy, vineyard-dotted valley with fresh ideas

Goulash began as a humble soup-stew, cooked over an open fire by Hungarian herdsmen. The addition of refined varieties of paprika from ground red chilies made the dish an international staple.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: The Danube

The Humble Beginnings of Goulash

The hearty soup-stew known around the world began as the everything-goes-in meal of Hungarian herdsmen

Is yogurt the elixir of longevity? Not exactly.

A Science Lecture Accidentally Sparked a Global Craze for Yogurt

More than a century ago, a biologist’s remarks set people searching for yogurt as a cure for old age

Rima Timbaryan collects dough for baking.

Armenia

Tastes of Memory: How to Bake an Authentic Armenian Lavash

Preserving Armenian culture, memory and identity in the kitchen

A Cheese-Lover’s Guide to the Midwest

America’s heartland is a cheesy paradise

What Questlove Has to Say About Today’s Food-Obsessed Culture

In a new book, the bandleader and hip-hop star stirs up music and cooking

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