ALLTOURS

What do you think of eating? Explore 7 Surprising Culinary Histories

1. The Fish-Shaped Treat's Royal Impersonation

Taiyaki Naniwaya Souhonten, Azabu-Juban, Tokyo, Japan

This iconic fish-shaped cake was originally a delicious, affordable stand-in for a more expensive seafood dish.

2. Matera's Cave-Forged Loaf

Matera, Basilicata, Italy

This bread's unusual horn shape and long shelf life are born from its origins in caves and shared community ovens.

3. The Magi's Turban Cake

Colmar, Alsace, France

This distinctive brioche-like cake is baked in a pan whose fluted shape traces back to a legendary gift from the Magi.

4. Viking Survival: The Pungent Shark

Húsavík, Iceland

Taste a dish born from Viking necessity, where toxic shark meat is rendered edible through a surprising, multi-month fermentation process.

5. The Modern Pastry of Ancient Silla

Gyeongju, South Korea

This seemingly simple red bean pastry is a 20th-century invention that quickly became a beloved symbol of ancient Silla's capital.

6. Newfoundland's Salty Sea Feast

St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

The ultimate comfort food here is a direct link to the island's centuries-old cod fishing industry and the resilience of its communities.

7. Oaxaca's Culinary Language of Mole

Oaxaca, Mexico

The complex mole sauces here are not just food, but a culinary language with ingredients tracing back to pre-Hispanic civilizations.

UNCOVER MORE STORIES

Your Camera, Their Culinary Secrets

Point your phone at a landmark or landscape, and hear its history, geology, and culture narrated in your language. Discover the world's hidden narratives.