The video above is the first of five videos that discuss the history of FOOD – everyone’s favourite topic!
Cooking has been humanity’s favourite science experiment for thousands of year! From roasting animals over open flames to perfecting the art of meringues, the evolution of cooking is a delicious story of creativity, culture, and a bit of chaos!
Imagine being the first person to ever cook food. One minute, you’re gnawing on raw, tough food, and the next, you accidentally drop it into the fire only to realize it’s now softer and tastier than ever! That one “oopsies” moment sparked a revolution. Soon, people were roasting their meats, experimenting with herbs, and probably arguing over which tasted better.
Fast forward to ancient civilizations, and cooking became an art form. The Egyptians were baking bread and brewing beer, the Greeks were drizzling olive oil on everything, and the Romans were having elaborate dinner parties showcasing the show and share of cooking. Spices then became the gold of the food world, driving global trade and exploration!
Then came the Middle Ages, where food was either about feasting or surviving. Some were indulging in fancy banquets with endless meats, while others were perfecting heart breads and stews to fill as many bellies as possible.
The Industrial Revolution changed everything. Suddenly, food became canned, processed, and transported worldwide. Stoves replaced open fires, and people had access to more ingredients than ever before.
Today, cooking is a mix of tradition and innovation. We have high-tech kitchen gadgets and a global pantry at our finger tips around every corner. But at its core, cooking is still about one thing – bringing people together. Whether you are flipping pancakes on a Sunday morning or recreating ancient recipes just for fun, every meal is a little nod to history and still holds the focus on sharing.
So, here’s to cooking – the original human experiment that just keeps getting better (and tastier!).
If you are curious about the timeline of food, check out this interesting site that tracks how food evolved over time.
“The kitchen is the heart of every home, for the most part. It evokes memories of your family history.”
Debi Mazar