Topic

Food & Lifestyle

A collection of 44 issues

Beyond the Shaker: The Chemical Magic That Makes Salt a Cook's Most Powerful Tool

Salt is more than a simple seasoning; it's a chemical tool that enhances food's natural character. By suppressing bitterness on our taste buds, it allows subtle sweet and savory notes to become more prominent. It also helps release aroma molecules, making food taste more vibrant and true to itself.

An Invented Tradition: The Surprising Truth Behind the Ploughman's Lunch

The Ploughman's Lunch feels like a timeless British pub classic, a meal for labourers stretching back centuries. While its core ingredients are indeed ancient, the name itself is a modern invention, created in the 1950s by a marketing board to sell more cheese after wartime rationing ended.

Is Your Dental Floss Toxic? The Unsettling Truth About 'Forever Chemicals'

Your dental floss, especially 'glide' types, may contain PFAS, 'forever chemicals' linked to serious health issues. A 2019 study found using certain flosses was associated with higher levels of these toxins in the body, prompting consumers to seek safer, PFAS-free alternatives.

Unlock the Secret of Your Dairy: The Plant Code Hiding in Plain Sight

Did you know a secret code on your milk and dairy containers reveals the exact plant where it was processed? This FDA-required number, often near the expiration date, allows for food safety traceability. A simple online tool can help you decode it and uncover the true origin of your food.

From Spite to Spice: The Fiery Origin of Nashville Hot Chicken

Nashville Hot Chicken began as an act of revenge. A woman tried to punish her cheating boyfriend, Thornton Prince, with an overly spicy chicken dish. Instead of suffering, he loved it, perfected the recipe, and opened the now-famous Prince's Hot Chicken Shack.

From the Bronx to the Outhouse: The True Story of the Häagen-Dazs Name

The premium ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs has a surprising origin. The name, meant to sound Danish as a tribute, was invented in the Bronx by a founder with no knowledge of the language. It's linguistically nonsensical, and by a hilarious coincidence, can be roughly translated to 'Garden Outhouse'.

From Fields to Feet: The Ancient Barleycorn Secret Behind Your Shoe Size

Did you know modern shoe sizes are based on an ancient unit of measurement called the barleycorn? Defined as 1/3 of an inch by English royalty in 1324, this medieval standard dictates the seemingly arbitrary numbers on your shoes using a simple, centuries-old formula. It's a true historical relic.

An Act of Camel: The Thirsty Beast Who Cancelled an Irish Christmas Party

In 2006, an Irish Christmas party was cancelled due to an 'act of camel.' Gus, a star of the holiday show, escaped his enclosure, drank six cans of Guinness, and devoured 200 mince pies, leading to a legendary and hilarious festive fiasco at Mullingar Equestrian Centre.