Special Report
Food, Glorious Food
From jambalaya to Tex-Mex or apple pie, food is a central hub of American culture, celebrations and history. As part of the 2019 re-opening of the National Museum of American History's “Food: Transforming the American Table” exhibition, we pulled together this list of stories that show how eats, sweets and other sustenance are fundamentally linked to our history, culture and technological advances.
Here’s What’s Brewing in the New Smithsonian Beer Collections
After two years of documenting the nation’s craft brewing industry, curator Theresa McCulla makes ready for a public debut
Remembering Julia Child
Smithsonian curator Paula Johnson addresses many of the questions visitors ask about America’s beloved cooking teacher and her kitchen
Meet the Award-Winning Activist Campaigning for Food Justice
Danielle Nierenberg, the recipient of the 2020 Julia Child Award, is working to make global food systems more equitable
American Food History
The History of the Doughnut
A look back at the men, women and machines that made America’s favorite treat possible
The KitchenAid at 100
Even celebrity chef Julia Child said that the sleek appliance made mixing 'marvelous'
In 1976, California Wines Bested France's Finest
Forty years ago, a Copernican moment took place in viniculture when the world realized the sun didn’t always revolve around French wines
¡Salud! to the Mexican-American Wine Revolution
Ceja Vineyards breathes new life into Napa Valley’s wine industry
Hungering for Halloween?
Candy Corn Hasn't Changed Since the 19th Century
The Halloween sweet was invented in the 1880s
Festivals of the Dead Around the World
In the United States, Halloween is mostly about candy, but elsewhere in the world celebrations honoring the departed have a spiritual meaning
The Halloween Tradition Best Left Dead: Kale as Matchmaker
Be happy this Scottish tradition is passé, your future marriage may have depended on it
Barmbrack, Toffee and Other Around-the-World Halloween Treats
This weekend’s celebrations extend beyond snarfing down Hershey and Mars bars
Savoring Thanksgiving Day
How the Pumpkin Became a Thanksgiving Treat
The history of Cucurbita pepo has a surprising connection to the abolitionist cause
The Woman Who Invented the Green Bean Casserole
Dorcas Reilly came up with the iconic American dish in the 1950s
This Man Made the First Canned Cranberry Sauce
How Marcus Urann's idea revolutionized the cranberry industry
Even Colonial Americans Liked Pumpkin Spice
A recipe for pumpkin (or rather, “pompkin”) spice appears in America’s oldest cookbook
Fabulous Finds for Your Holiday Fare
The Long, Rich, Boozy History of Eggnog
This December, we’re exploring the drink’s storied history
Why Japan Is Obsessed With KFC on Christmas
Thanks to the successful “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (Kentucky for Christmas!) marketing campaign in 1974, Japan can't get enough KFC on Christmas Day
The Un-Christmassy Origin of Gingerbread Houses
This tradition dates back to the story of Hansel and Gretel
A Brief History of Figgy Pudding
The dense, spicy dish has been giving good cheer for centuries