Think lasagna is centuries old? Think again. In this episode, Dan and Rory unpack the myth of “authentic” Italian cuisine—and how dishes like spaghetti and meatballs were born in New York, not Naples.
We dive into how post-war Italy reinvented its food identity, how America reshaped the global palate, and why Britain was obsessed with Indian spices long before curry houses ever opened. It’s a story about flavour migration, nostalgia, and how cuisine is as much about storytelling as it is about taste.
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🍝 ON THE MENU
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📖 Why Italy’s most famous dishes may be post-war inventions
🧳 How Italian-American food shaped what we think of as “authentic”
🔥 Britain’s secret 19th-century spice obsession
🏠 Home kitchens vs restaurant timelines: who leads, who follows?
🌍 What globalised food gets right—and hilariously wrong
For founders, chefs, and food thinkers, this one’s a reminder: every dish has a backstory… and it’s rarely what you think.
Full episode here → https://youtu.be/XOtyXPJlldU
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This episode was edited by:
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2 Comments
Ciabatta bread was invented in 1982!
Tomato is an american crop. Also potatoes and beans. Those are like half the European "traditional" diet.
Maybe if europeans go back to eating turnips and parsnips they may find their roots.