The Food History Newsletter by the Kitchen Project

Food History Newsletter Vol 1 #1
February 14, 2008

The Food History Project

From the Kitchen Project

In this Issue,

Many of you were asking about the History of Valentines and why we give sweets and gifts
So here is some information to clear up the mystery.

Read this Newsletter online

Giving Cards, Gifts of Chocolate and Sweets

The tradition of giving gifts to our Sweetheart on February started a few years ago .....say 400 BC, with a festival called Lupercalia
More about the history of valentines here

Love Talk

"Hey, Sugar Pie, ...Honey,...... cupcake"

....Why do we call our our lover after sweet foods anyway ?

Love Foods
The history of aphrodisiac foods

Love Sayings

Famous Love quotes to go with your love meal

If would still love to hear your question please just drop me an email at Food History Question

Food history is becoming so popular now. it seems almost any cooking program or article on food contains something about it's origins.

There really is no way to completely verify some information about food history. I don't believe that it is that important to find out always who was the FIRST to create a dish.

My interest in food history is discovering our roots and our progression as a specie that derives pleasure and sustenace from eating. It shows how an idea catches hold and spreads and eventually becomes part of our culture. It's fun to read about how dishes are modified by people who brought them from their homeland and blended them with other cultures. This also gives you an idea about how new dishes today may become transformed and become a "traditional" dish in the future.

I want to welcome you to this project not just as a reader but invite you to interact. If you have something to add to any of these articles or dispute, or tell me I am way off the track, please email me Stephen Block

Here is a lovely food history Reference guide to any questions you may have on American foods in specific. From traditional dishes like Strawberry shortcake to favorite American products and even restaurant terms.

This is my favorite food history reference book that I can find the answer to almost any question. Alan Davidson is one of the top food historians in the world and dispels food myths and tells only the well documented facts about a dish or food.

Other References

Online Etymology Dictionary

The Lady's Receipt-Book: A Useful Companion For Large Or Small Families.

Feeding America, historical cookbooks

Burt Wolfs Website

Last updated February 14, 2008