New recipe discoveries. Food stories. From around the world.
Welcome to The Menu, our weekly newsletter and blog. Smart stories, curious facts, and recipes worth making.
How Japan made Ramen noodles its own
Ramen came from China, yakisoba isn't really soba, and yaki udon may owe its existence to a postwar shortage. Japan's noodle story is one of borrowing,…
Did Sticky Rice really help build the Great Wall?
The mortar was real. The familiar story is a little too neat. Sticky rice belongs in a bowl, not a wall. Or so you'd think. Ancient…
Carbonara has no cream. So why did old recipes add it?
Today’s Roman recipe is famously strict. Its own history wasn’t. Carbonara looks creamy enough to hide a splash of cream. It doesn’t need one. Today’s Roman…
From the Andes to patatas bravas: How the potato went global
The potato wasn't born in Europe. Spain helped give it a passport. Europe has spent centuries claiming the potato as its own: Spanish bravas, Belgian fries,…
Mexico City After Dark: Street Foods Worth Staying Up For
By day, El Vilsito fixes cars. After dark, the trompo starts turning – and Mexico City's street-food night shift gets interesting. When the mechanics leave El…
The surprisingly sticky history of Rice Krispies Treats?
The cereal came first. Who turned it into America’s famous marshmallow treat is where the story gets complicated. Rice Krispies cereal hit grocery shelves in 1928.…