28 episodes

What makes us human? Humans are just animals who know how to cook. Whether you're interested in food, history, or both like I am, this podcast is for you

Visit anthrochef.blog for recipes.

Theme music by Michael Levy of Ancient Lyre. “An Ancient Lyre” and much more is available from all major digital music stores and streaming sites.

THE HISTORY OF FOOD Anthrochef

    • Arts
    • 4.7 • 171 Ratings

What makes us human? Humans are just animals who know how to cook. Whether you're interested in food, history, or both like I am, this podcast is for you

Visit anthrochef.blog for recipes.

Theme music by Michael Levy of Ancient Lyre. “An Ancient Lyre” and much more is available from all major digital music stores and streaming sites.

    HOF Episode 28: The Ancient History of Chefs

    HOF Episode 28: The Ancient History of Chefs

    Everyone knows the saying about what the world’s “oldest profession” is, but you will find a very close runner up in the kitchen. The history of those who cook professionally to make their living goes way, way back to the origins of civilization itself. It’s another epic journey across the ages, this time with a … Continue reading "HOF Episode 28: The Ancient History of Chefs"

    • 1 hr 7 min
    HOF Episode 27: A Day in the Life (of a Peasant Farmer)

    HOF Episode 27: A Day in the Life (of a Peasant Farmer)

    Have you ever wondered if there’s more to history than dates and major events, what some of the stories and daily lives of regular people looked like? Do you need a reminder that history is populated with real people, who had lives just like we do? Come take a sweeping journey back into the past … Continue reading "HOF Episode 27: A Day in the Life (of a Peasant Farmer)"

    HOF Episode 26: Factory Food (Industrial Revolution)

    HOF Episode 26: Factory Food (Industrial Revolution)

    When Britain industrialized in the late 1700s and the rest of the western world soon followed, humans were transformed to a degree not seen for 10,000 years when we first settled into farming life. But it wasn’t some simple flick of the switch, where some entrepreneurs decided to build some factories and invent the modern … Continue reading "HOF Episode 26: Factory Food (Industrial Revolution)"

    HOF Episode 25: The Soul of American Cooking (Colonial USA)

    HOF Episode 25: The Soul of American Cooking (Colonial USA)

    Who founded America? George Washington? Thomas Jefferson? America had founding fathers alright, but they aren’t the ones you’re thinking of. Would you believe that African slaves and Indians were the true minds and bodies behind birthing America’s culture? It’s all true. Come listen to the story of how American ingredients , cooked by African Slaves, … Continue reading "HOF Episode 25: The Soul of American Cooking (Colonial USA)"

    HOF Episode 24: The Feeling of Fullness (Sub Saharan Africa)

    HOF Episode 24: The Feeling of Fullness (Sub Saharan Africa)

    Is good cooking defined by ingredients, skill in preparation, style of cuisine, or is it something even more fundamental and deeply human? We left out of Africa all the way back in Episode 1, and rarely looked back, but in this episode we finally return to the vast continent, specifically south of the Sahara desert, … Continue reading "HOF Episode 24: The Feeling of Fullness (Sub Saharan Africa)"

    HOF Episode 23: The Great Sobering (Coffee and Colonialism)

    HOF Episode 23: The Great Sobering (Coffee and Colonialism)

    Save this episode to go with your morning coffee. Sip that dark and bitter brew, maybe with cream and/or sugar, maybe not, and listen along as you learn of coffee’s origins, how it came to Europe, displaced alcohol and sobered everyone up, and how it would foster revolutions in finance, science, and philosophy. Thanks to … Continue reading "HOF Episode 23: The Great Sobering (Coffee and Colonialism)"

    • 1 hr 11 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
171 Ratings

171 Ratings

Zzzzz ,

Please don’t stop

I always feel that learning history though the lens of some specific topic (rather than just the wars and politics and great men and whatnot) offers a unique perspective and a lot of insight. And I’m also very much a foodie. So the history of food is a good fit for me, but this is so much more than just the combination of my interests: it’s one of the best (maybe the best) history podcasts I know of — and I listen to a lot of history podcasts. I listen to the Anthrochef so carefully and slowly that I’m not even completely caught up yet, but I see that the most recent podcast is over a year old. I truly hope that this brilliant podcast keeps going (I believe the potential topics are more or less endless). In the meantime, I’ll keep listening to the whole thing, and when I’m caught up I’ll start over and listen again. It’s that good.

olivejuice678 ,

Love this podcast so much!

I too am a food history nut and I think anyone who cooks should listen to this elegantly crafted, well researched, enthusiasm-driven podcast series! You will learn ancient history, anthropology, global trade, and economics through the lens of food and daily life, and it brings so much context and perspective to how our modern lives are so different from the way most people lived throughout human history. It is so refreshing to listen to something that is not so entertainment driven but very educational (think college lecture with your food and culture professor). This is the best, most well written, and most expansive food history podcast I have ever listened to. I can’t say enough good things, and don’t let me write this review without mentioning the accompanying blog!

madpoli ,

Learn to pronounce!

Nice podcast, but if you want to talk about non European cultures, please learn those two words! Really not difficult

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