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Gastro Obscura

Read 2154 Gastro Stories

Abalonia: The Island Nation That Never Was

It was meant to be a seafood paradise.

Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

How Laos Got Its First Buffalo Dairy Farm

First, two friends rented a buffalo.

Timi Siytangco, Atlas Obscura

How Isaac Newton's Apple Tree Spread Across the World

Clones and descendants of the famed tree grow on 6 continents.

Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

The Gnarled History of Los Angeles's Vineyards

It was once known as the “city of vines.”

Paula Mejia, Atlas Obscura

The Ornate Ice Cream Saloons That Served Unchaperoned Women

They welcomed women back when American restaurants prohibited dining without a man present.

Jessica Gingrich, Atlas Obscura

How Iceland Beat the British in the Four Cod Wars

For decades, two island nations came to blows over fish.

Natasha Frost, Atlas Obscura

Step Inside These Members-Only Temples of Basque Gastronomy

For centuries, txokos have been crucial to shaping culinary traditions.

Elizabeth Hlavinka, Atlas Obscura

Why One Island Grows 80% of the World's Vanilla

Now, it's more valuable than silver.

Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

The Tragic Roots of America's Favorite Cherry

The Chinese Exclusion Act likely exiled the man who first cultivated it.

Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

The Story Behind Red-Hued Juneteenth Food and Drink

Red fare at June 19 celebrations has significance that predates American slavery.

Christina Ayele Djossa, Atlas Obscura

Remembering When Runners Drank Champagne as an Energy Drink

At the 1908 Marathon in London, athletes hit the bottle mid-race.

Katherine Alex Beaven, Atlas Obscura

Gladiator Diets Were Carb-Heavy, Fattening, and Mostly Vegetarian

To survive the arena, they ate a mash of barley and beans.

Ryleigh Nucilli, Atlas Obscura

An All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant Went Bankrupt Because People Ate Too Much

Unlimited hot pot gone wrong.

Paula Mejia, Atlas Obscura

The Forgotten Chefs Who Made Carne con Chile a Texas Mexican Standard

"Chili queens" spread the dish from San Antonio's plazas.

Tom Little, Atlas Obscura

great depression foods

During the Great Depression, 'Penny Restaurants' Fed the Unemployed

Dishes cost a cent, or even came free.

Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

How Georgia's Winemakers Went Underground to Survive Soviet Occupation

The world's most ancient winemaking culture almost disappeared.

Nickolaus Hines, Atlas Obscura

The Dark and Fabulous Dinner Parties of the First Professional Food Critic

Grimod de La Reynière hosted his own funeral.

Natasha Frost, Atlas Obscura

The Many Reasons Biologists Eat Their Study Subjects

Snacking on specimens from raw monkey to bee vomit can help scientists figure stuff out.

Cara Giaimo, Atlas Obscura