The History of American Food
- Episodes
- 233
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 11, 2026
About the podcast
Starting with the first English settlements in the 17th Century, this podcasts traces how we went from barrels of salted meat & peas to Korean bbq tacos and the largest grocery store selections ever seen anywhere in the world. We'll go everywhere - and it is full of surprises.
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
Email: [email protected]
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Internets: @THoAFood
Episodes 233
190 Chili May Be the American Version of Curry
Americans have this crazy fetish for telling each other about what the "Authentic" or "Real" version of a dish is - and Chili (the stew) may have been the first. Snipey magazine articles about what "real chili …
Show notes
Americans have this crazy fetish for telling each other about what the "Authentic" or "Real" version of a dish is - and Chili (the stew) may have been the first. Snipey magazine articles about what "real chili is" have been written since at least the 1950's, and the "I'm right and you're stupid" of it all is about the same then as now.
Becasue chili originated in home and campfire cookery - two places not noted for their use of cookbooks, and the modern recipes are very "secret formula" related, there is no way to pinpoint "it started here." But if you want to get a sense of how the food of the U.S. started picking up ingredients from Mexico, check in!
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood189 Is This the Episode Where We Get Cowboys? Cattle & Beef in the Late 19th Century
I wanna be a cowboy? Maybe?Anyway - there were 50 years of the Good Cowboy Years... and the way the interacted with the opening up of the Louisina Purchase (remember that?) and the US Civil War and the arrival …
Show notes
I wanna be a cowboy? Maybe?
Anyway - there were 50 years of the Good Cowboy Years... and the way the interacted with the opening up of the Louisina Purchase (remember that?) and the US Civil War and the arrival of the railroad did so much to shape the American relationship with meat - and particularly beef.
Find out how the American stove top steak came into being.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood188 Food Safety v. Dangerous Food - The Fight for Food Labeling in the 19th Century
Do your own research is quite the thing to say - but imagine if there were no laws... iand more importantly no regulations around what you could say about what was in in your food, or what your medicine does …
Show notes
Do your own research is quite the thing to say - but imagine if there were no laws... iand more importantly no regulations around what you could say about what was in in your food, or what your medicine does.
All the research in the world would do you no good if anyone could say anything - and there were no repercutuions for simply making things up. This was the landscape in the 19th century, and from it grew our first laws on food purity and food and drug safety. They were vague, hard to enforce and full of holes, but for the first time there were consequences for selling strawberry jam with no strawberries, or selling milk that literally killed children.
It's a never ending fight... but a good one. Hear all about it.
Books: (CHeck your local library - that's where I got my copies!)
The Poison Squad
Feed the People
The Jungle Check out this cool Graphic Novel!
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood187 New Pig Butchery in the Train Age - You SHOULD Know How the Sausage Gets Made
Thi week I argue that you should pay attention to how the sausage gets made. And not doing so resulted in the bland, mostly the same American sausages that ruled the 20th century... AKA the hot dog. This is …
Show notes
Thi week I argue that you should pay attention to how the sausage gets made. And not doing so resulted in the bland, mostly the same American sausages that ruled the 20th century... AKA the hot dog. This is mostly sad, but not too bad.
What was worse - making a joke about how bad sausage making was resulted in conditions that were so bad that people were getting sick and dying from sausage.
Very Bad,
But this did result in insituting food safety, That's Good.
However, becasue our food safety does the bare minimum... it results in lots of bland food. That we live with today.
If you want to learn some easy sausage you can make at home - that is super tasty, swing by my substack
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood186 Business Beer at the End of the 19th Century
Normally my episodes are not timely - but it is fun to be releasing an episode on the start of the Modern American Beer Style when two of the great beer cities in the US are both in the MLB playoffs.After all …
Show notes
Normally my episodes are not timely - but it is fun to be releasing an episode on the start of the Modern American Beer Style when two of the great beer cities in the US are both in the MLB playoffs.
After all the Brewers are 1 of 2 MLB teams that have never won a world series. I know this becasue I live in Seattle. The Brewers have one up on us. They have been TO the World Series.
Anyway - join me to find out why "Cold" is so often used as a superlative in American Beer
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood185 New Ice in a New Age
There are lots of moments that have changed American Food - sugar imports, the discovery of sweet oranges, but nothing - to me is as defining as the mechanical manufacture of ice. It is at the base of the food …
Show notes
There are lots of moments that have changed American Food - sugar imports, the discovery of sweet oranges, but nothing - to me is as defining as the mechanical manufacture of ice. It is at the base of the food system we live in today. For better or for worse, the popular dinner of pre-cooked rotisserie chicken on a salad of bagged greens is not possible without this step.
So come along and find out about the democritization of ice cream, and the furthering of the US as the beef eating captal of the world.
Also - here is your link to Fancy Ices by Agnes B Marshall
and another important book for this episode - The History of Cookbooks by Henry Notaker
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood184 Fats - Slippery
Last Science Episode for awhile. This one is all about fats.What they are, what they do in our bodies, and some wild speculation about what effects our solid past had on our cooking and even our rush to …
Show notes
Last Science Episode for awhile. This one is all about fats.
What they are, what they do in our bodies, and some wild speculation about what effects our solid past had on our cooking and even our rush to refrigeration.
So come along and learn about fats and strang butter substitutes.
Also - The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK
and visit me on Substack - this time I talk about why we are bad a fake fats.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood183 Carbohydrates - Sticky
Come listen while I answer the important questions:What is a Carbohydrate? Tune in!Can you actually eliminate all sugar from your diet? Yes! But No in 3 ways.and Can you truly live on meat alone?Also - The …
Show notes
Come listen while I answer the important questions:
What is a Carbohydrate? Tune in!
Can you actually eliminate all sugar from your diet? Yes! But No in 3 ways.
and
Can you truly live on meat alone?
Also - The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK
and visit me on Substack!
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood182 Proteins: Stringy - Updated
Science - it is back!America has long had a thing about thinking about food as components rather than ingredients. So to help you navigate through what some of these parts are - I'll be doing some science at …
Show notes
Science - it is back!
America has long had a thing about thinking about food as components rather than ingredients.
So to help you navigate through what some of these parts are - I'll be doing some science at you. This week - Protein!
Links:
Velella Photo - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.817196/full
The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood181 Milk Pail, Milk Bottle, Milk at Home
I'll just grab a glass of milk...When did that become a thing? Becasue - it is a VERY American thing. RIght up there with cold cereal for breakfast.Turns out - it became possible at the end of the 19th century …
Show notes
I'll just grab a glass of milk...
When did that become a thing? Becasue - it is a VERY American thing. RIght up there with cold cereal for breakfast.
Turns out - it became possible at the end of the 19th century. But all the moving parts that had to come together to make it happen are kindof increadible. So come with me on the journey to find out just how a glass of milk at home became possible
Bridgerton Clip with Anachronistic Milk Drinking:
https://youtu.be/AwdTS5uY1KA?si=h4Ywxe8B0thq1Ea-
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood180 America Goes on a Diet - Part 2 : It's Time to Learn About Cold Cereal & How You Don't Chew Your Food Enough
This week we bust open the most United States of America food of all.Cold CerealMy research has lead me to this - Cold Cereal is the first thing that can be claimed as the first Original Food of the USA.Pumpkin …
Show notes
This week we bust open the most United States of America food of all.
Cold Cereal
My research has lead me to this - Cold Cereal is the first thing that can be claimed as the first Original Food of the USA.
Pumpkin Pie... maybe?
Bacon Cheese Burger - I'll consider it.
Fried Chicken sandwich - my favorite contender.... but late.
Let's talk about how the conditions of colonial America lead to Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes.
But we aren't there yet. Instead it is bad... but fast cereal.
To know how bad - check out my new Substack!
The First Cold Cereal
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood179 Food in Paper, Food in Boxes
An important element essential to modern American food didn't happen until the end of the 19th century. But as with so many of the other elements that are underpinnings of American food - it is not a food at …
Show notes
An important element essential to modern American food didn't happen until the end of the 19th century. But as with so many of the other elements that are underpinnings of American food - it is not a food at all. Instead it is paper made of trees rather than paper made of cloth that has reached the end of it's life.
And once wood pulp paper becomes part of the scene - how food is transported, labeled and sold will never be the same.
Think about a world before you put could wrap meat in Butcher's Paper, before crackers came in boxes - it looks almost unrecognizable. But come along for the debut of cheap-er paper in American food - and how this changes everything.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFoodAlas... a 3 Week Break
Hang in there ... and I'll be back.Hopefully - some interesting posts on the Socials MediaMusic Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleSubstack: https://thoafood.substack.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at …
Show notes
Hang in there ... and I'll be back.
Hopefully - some interesting posts on the Socials Media
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood178 The History of Paper
This week we go back in time to learn about how we got paper.It's been with us for a long time, but until the end of the 19th century it was mostly old clothes.To find out what paper used to be and how we got …
Show notes
This week we go back in time to learn about how we got paper.
It's been with us for a long time, but until the end of the 19th century it was mostly old clothes.
To find out what paper used to be and how we got to paper from trees - tune in.
Also - as promised... the links to the
W.E.B. Du Bois self tour:
https://www.duboisnhs.org/great-barrington-walking-tour/
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood177 Bringing the Sea's Bounty to You - In a Can - But at what Cost?
Wanna see bears? goto Explore.orgSee how many Alaskan canneries there where? Or see more about the Diamond NN Cannery?Follow the linksAnd then listen in to the rise of canned fish in the late 19th century …
Show notes
Wanna see bears? goto Explore.org
See how many Alaskan canneries there where? Or see more about the Diamond NN Cannery?
Follow the links
And then listen in to the rise of canned fish in the late 19th century. Instant protein you can take with you anywhere. The cottage cheese of the 19th century - but no refrigeration needed.
But - being able to can every last oyster and slamon we could get our hands on had a cost - as well as a payoff.
Listen in to find out more
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood176 New Technology for American Corn
Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not? I made the correct decision. Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef. Because this is the …
Show notes
Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not? I made the correct decision. Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef.
Because this is the episode where corn changes from an obvious food to one that can be present anywhere. With the advent of industrial milled corn starch we have entered the age when corn is as much chemical ingredient as it is food.
So iron your pinafore with starch and sit down to a miander through the past and late 1800's presence of corn in the American Food system.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood175 New American Sugar
Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar …
Show notes
Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"
It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.
The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all.
The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at the front of the Suger Consumer Pack. And we'll stay there.
To get into the nitty gritty of Sugar vs. The World - Check out Sidney Mintz Sweetness and Power
To dig deep into what American Corruption looked like at the start of the 20th Century check out The Teapot Dome Scandal by Laton McCartney
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood174 Foreign Salt, Local Salt, Industrial Salt
This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic. And it is all my fault.But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America. It used to be all about food but isn’t …
Show notes
This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic. And it is all my fault.
But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.
Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America. It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer. Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt. And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood173.5 BONUS Interview - The Pickled City
This week I talk to Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book The Pickled CIty Availible in Bookstores now!We dive into the history, culture and importance of …
Show notes
This week I talk to
Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book
The Pickled CIty Availible in Bookstores now!
We dive into the history, culture and importance of place of pickles. I also learn a few things about why pickles are that way. So listen in to this extra long bonus episode on Pickles, Salt and History
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood173 Potatoes for Frontier & Factory
How did America become the land of Meat & PotatoesI don't have all the answers yet - but I think I've found the well spring of the "& potatoes" portion. I'm about to sneak up on the big answer to the meat.But …
Show notes
How did America become the land of Meat & Potatoes
I don't have all the answers yet - but I think I've found the well spring of the "& potatoes" portion. I'm about to sneak up on the big answer to the meat.
But in the meantime, we look at whether you can have factory culture at the same time you pushing out a wild frontier - and what the potato has to do with it.
Side quests - the origin on the French Fry, the Potato Chip and Breakfast Hash - not to mention why didn't America get the potato blight. (short answer... actually, we did)
Tune in for lots of Potato News
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood172 The Potato - A History
Po-tay-toesWhere are they from? Why do we call them Irish? Are they poisonous? And what was the blight? I answer all these questions and more - as well as providing you with a link to a really cool paper …
Show notes
Po-tay-toes
Where are they from? Why do we call them Irish? Are they poisonous? And what was the blight? I answer all these questions and more - as well as providing you with a link to a really cool paper published about the origins of potatoes 9 Million Year Ago!
Cell September 2025 Full Text Article on the Origin of Potatoes
Cell Press Release on Potato Origins (less technical)
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood171 Iron Has New Jobs in Food
Iron is back and it has a bunch of new tricks up it sleeves. Sure we still cook on it - but it's doing lots of other new things it has never done before.And that is going to change the way we eat - because what …
Show notes
Iron is back and it has a bunch of new tricks up it sleeves. Sure we still cook on it - but it's doing lots of other new things it has never done before.
And that is going to change the way we eat - because what food we get, and how much we have to work to prepare it, and how fast we - and the food can travel is going to upset everything.
So much of how long we think things should take is about to change in a big way.
Hop on - don't miss the train.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFoodSeason 6 Preview - I Wanna Go Fast
Let's Go Season 6(last season was way more dreary than I had thought)All I can say is Ice Cream for Everyone - and let's road trip... Rail Trip?The end of the 19th Century is exciting, colorful and yeah full of …
Show notes
Let's Go Season 6
(last season was way more dreary than I had thought)
All I can say is Ice Cream for Everyone - and let's road trip... Rail Trip?
The end of the 19th Century is exciting, colorful and yeah full of mistakes. But we are Doing Things, Building Things and Going Places.
Let's Go.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood170 Prisoner of War Food for - Wait How Many Guys? The Long Tail of War
The LAST Civil War Episode becasue I'm writing this - and have decided that is ENOUGH Civil War.And, yes I'm not happy about writing about war while there is a "we are pretending it's not a war" going on. My …
Show notes
The LAST Civil War Episode becasue I'm writing this - and have decided that is ENOUGH Civil War.
And, yes I'm not happy about writing about war while there is a "we are pretending it's not a war" going on. My poor brain has said enough.
That said - it's an interesting topic. And despite how dire it is - things are actually better now than they used to be.
Eat your veggies, brush your teeth, wash your hands.
The American Battle Field Trust article on Andersonville: Hell Hath a New Name
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood169 Not Enough Railroads Will Make You Salty in the Bad Way
Every seasone needs a salt episode! And here it is. It's mainly about why the South was without salt - and how that meant they couldn't keep food around. That is - if they had been making enough. Which they …
Show notes
Every seasone needs a salt episode! And here it is. It's mainly about why the South was without salt - and how that meant they couldn't keep food around. That is - if they had been making enough. Which they were not.
This is also the last time I will blather on about the difference in railroad plans and how it helped back the Confeds into a corner they built themselves.
Don't invest in your people and pay attention to technology and you will be left behind. Especially if you are attempting to run your little corner of the world. It happened before, It's happening now - and it will happen again.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood168 If Music Be the Food of Love, Are Drugs the Food of War?
How long has America been dealing with Opiod Epidemics? If you said - since the 1860's you get a piece of Hardtack!Yes - just as war came up with more destructive weapons, the medical profession came up with …
Show notes
How long has America been dealing with Opiod Epidemics? If you said - since the 1860's you get a piece of Hardtack!
Yes - just as war came up with more destructive weapons, the medical profession came up with the hypodermic syringe. While the ability to inject and extract things with this tool have been largely amazing, it also brought in the addictive rush of injected drugs. And one of the first injected drugs was opium.
Even crazier than that was the fact the the US Government contracted with Chinese Immigrant farmers in Mexico to grow a large part of the supply of opium used in the war.
America has always used drugs to make America go - has depended on the sale of drugs - nicotine and cafffeine for starters - to make American farmig profitable.
Come find out about America's strange relationship with drugs - and how much we seem to not want to talk about it.
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood167 The American Civil War, Thanksgiving & Eating Our Feelings
Yeah yeah - why a Thanksgiving Episode in April? Is this worse than Christmas in July? No, really, it makes sense. Especially becasue during the Civil War, when everything was an Agrairain Society, Thanksgiving …
Show notes
Yeah yeah - why a Thanksgiving Episode in April? Is this worse than Christmas in July?
No, really, it makes sense. Especially becasue during the Civil War, when everything was an Agrairain Society, Thanksgiving planning was on the mind in April (well prboobly earlier)
But follow along as to why Thanksgivng really came to National Attention during the Civil War either as something to get behind - or something to hate.
And - look you have to start raising your Turkey in the Spring if you want one in Novenber (April is actually probobly too late - maybe?)
Anyway - Here's the Link to Lincoln's Address. Johnson had to submit it b/c well, you know...
Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood166 Feeding the Sick and Injured in The Civil War: Apparently You Can't Run a War Without Women
In the Last Big War we threw in America we still had "Camp Followers" to do the laundry, the nursing and a good amount of the cooking (not to mention helping with loading guns). And George Washington hated …
Show notes
In the Last Big War we threw in America we still had "Camp Followers" to do the laundry, the nursing and a good amount of the cooking (not to mention helping with loading guns). And George Washington hated having these women around so much that Army practice - and new war philosophies got rid of most of them.
But then, the American Civil War started producing injured guys in the 1000's.
Suddenly having women around to do nursing and laundry was important. And they had to call the women back. To be fair - they did it more officially this time.
To find out who these women were - and what they fed you - listen in.
Also - Spoiler: Still better to be an officer.
Books Referenced:
A Mother's Work: Mary Ann Bickerdyke by Mary Vangorder
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood165 Is This Enough Food to Feed an Army? & What Were They Thinking?
I am a producer on an Emmy Nominated Documentary. Check it out here:Women's Work - The Untold Story of America's Female FarmersThe Emmy Nomination!!!!!Why are military staffs so bad at predicting war length? …
Show notes
I am a producer on an Emmy Nominated Documentary.
Check it out here:
Women's Work - The Untold Story of America's Female Farmers
The Emmy Nomination!!!!!
Why are military staffs so bad at predicting war length? And when they do boy-oh-boy does that mean things are going to go poorly for the people in charge of planning food. It goes even worse, when nobody on staff has cooked Gumbo for 80.
Come listen to all the pitfalls facing the people planning for war food in the middle of the the 1800's.
But also a whole bunch of links.
A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry - the source documents for the Donkey Problem
The Charge of the Light Brigade - that catchy verse that keeps getting people killed for dumb reasons
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood164 Feeding an Army: A History with a Lot of Holes - On Purpose
This week we get to look back at more of why War is Awful - and it's not JUST becasue of the food. We also talk about why war food was predictably awful for everyone everywhere for approximately 5000 …
Show notes
This week we get to look back at more of why War is Awful - and it's not JUST becasue of the food. We also talk about why war food was predictably awful for everyone everywhere for approximately 5000 years.
Biology - and mainly the stupid microfauna of the Earth.
Understanding what war food was before the Civil War helps inform how such crazy supply errors and choices were made during the Civil War - and you can start to see how this is going to change war planning - and food system planning going forward.
Also also - here's where you can view
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Love your Library! Watch it on Kanopy
(free with your Library Card)
If your Library doesn't have Kanopy -
PBS - With Subscription
Other Options:
Amazon - alas with an ad-on
You Tube - but for a price
Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
Threads: @THoAFood
Instagram: @THoAFood
Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
& some other socials... @THoAFood
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