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Who are the most notable culinary historians and what have they discovered about the origins of different dishes?

Lex Kuban

Hey there! Great question! There are so many notable culinary historians out there, but I'll highlight a few of them and touch on some of their discoveries about the origins of different dishes.

First up is Barbara Ketcham Wheaton. She is a food historian and the author of "Savoring the Past: The French Kitchen and Table from 1300 to 1789." Through her research, she has discovered a lot about the evolution of French cuisine, particularly during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. She has found that many of the dishes that we now associate with French cuisine, such as bouillabaisse and ratatouille, were actually created by the people of Provence, not the aristocrats of Paris.

Another notable culinary historian is Rachel Laudan. Her book "Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History" explores the ways in which food and cooking have shaped human history. One of Laudan's most interesting discoveries is that many of the most popular foods in the world today, such as pizza and sushi, are actually the products of globalization. For example, pizza is a fusion dish that combines the tomatoes of the New World with the bread and cheese of the Old World.

Michael Symons is another culinary historian worth mentioning. He specializes in the history of British cuisine and has written extensively on traditional British dishes such as fish and chips and roast beef. One of his most interesting findings is that many of these dishes were actually created by the working class rather than the upper class. Fish and chips, for example, were originally sold by street vendors to laborers in the 19th century.

Finally, we have Ken Albala. He is a food historian and the author of "Eating Right in the Renaissance," which explores the dietary habits of people living during the 16th century. One of his most interesting discoveries is that people in the Renaissance were very concerned with the health benefits of different foods. They believed that certain foods, such as almonds and figs, had medicinal properties and could cure various ailments.

These are just a few examples of the many notable culinary historians out there and some of their most interesting discoveries about the origins of different dishes. I hope this has been helpful and informative!