America's Food History
America’s food history is short, compared with the ancient cuisines of the world. Some of its greatest hits were imported, and not everyone loves its outsize influence on the rest of the globe. But one thing is clear: 250 years of eating, cooking and innovating have produced a distinct and abundant culinary culture. With help from several food historians and writers, we’ve developed a decade-by-decade tour of the most important dishes, books, movements and inventions that have shaped the national diet. Like anyone who declares they’ve found the best burger or the perfect restaurant, we are prepared for a fight over our selections. See you in the comments section. At the end of this article, you can cast your vote on the next big innovation. 1770s The Johnnycake Hunger is an unexpected enemy during the Revolutionary War, when more than twice as many soldiers die of malnourishment than fall in combat. But the troops persevere with the help of a simple Native American recipe of corn and w...
