Modern foods that could have been wildly popular in the past?

I was thinking about pizza (specifically, the way it is made in America, but pizza in general) and how it has become such a hugely popular food around the world.

Although there were sorts of proto-pizzas thousands of years ago, making "real" pizza would not really have been possible until the introduction of the tomato around 500 years ago. But I can see no reason that, if the tomato were around, modern-style pizza could not be made.

And I think it would have enjoyed wide success.

There is a manga called Jin that has been published where a Japanese doctor goes back in time to the 1800's. In this manga, he helps popularize donuts :p

Thoughts?
 
Gyoza (fried dumplings) was also adopted in Japan (and to world through Japan) unusually late - in 1940. Can easily shift the adoption date to 18-19th centuries. POD is just one business-oriented individual with access to Chinese recipes.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2009/08/09/travel/sampling-a-pot-sticker-paradise/#.VsPfX7J95aQ

That is very interesting. You would think that Japan would have been at least passably familiar with that particular food. Well, I'm sure there were places in Japan that served them (like how there was pizza in America before World War II), but for whatever reason they didn't really take off.

It is also interesting to see how wars affect the transfer of cuisine....were it not for various wars, then certain foods just would not have become popular at certain times. In addition to World War II, off the top of my head I would guess that a lot of this happened during the Crusades.

edit: I just did a google search on this, and when I typed "Foods brought back...." the very first autocomplete option was "from the crusades". Weird.
 

trurle

Banned
I also remember Olivier salad in Russia. It had a 40 years lag between invention and a start of the wide dissemination (~1900). Some lucky event (i.e. recipe stolen earlier) may contribute to faster spread.
 
does anyone know when ground beef first came into use? that could be used as an indicator for the earliest time hamburgers could come up. if not actually beef, then maybe some facsimile of a burger with a different meat?
 

trurle

Banned
does anyone know when ground beef first came into use? that could be used as an indicator for the earliest time hamburgers could come up. if not actually beef, then maybe some facsimile of a burger with a different meat?

Meat grinder was invented around 1820 by Karl Drais. Therefore, hamburger may be theoretically available from around 1830.
 
Cheesecurds. Breaded Cheesecurds should always be popular :)

I could see cheesy snacks becoming popular in some areas.


does anyone know when ground beef first came into use? that could be used as an indicator for the earliest time hamburgers could come up. if not actually beef, then maybe some facsimile of a burger with a different meat?


A quick search on the history of the hamburger
indicates that the Romans may have had a type of hamburger in the 300's, and the Mongols ate minced meat in the 1100's-1200's at least (which means they probably had it for much longer in my opinion).
 

trurle

Banned

A quick search on the history of the hamburger
indicates that the Romans may have had a type of hamburger in the 300's, and the Mongols ate minced meat in the 1100's-1200's at least (which means they probably had it for much longer in my opinion).

The hand-mincing meat is work intensive. The recipe is possible, but unlikely to become popular until the invention of the mechanical meat grinder. Same with sausages (and hot-dogs). Sausages were known since prehistory, but become widespread only in late 19th century.
 
Wraps and Döner should be possible fast foods already in ancient times. Everything you can put into a piece of pita.
 
Last edited:
Wraps and Döner should be possible fast foods already in ancient times. Everything you can put into a piece of pita.
Yup. Although, given the minor role of meat (and the high prices of it!) in those urban contexts which would have been most prone to an adaptation of "fast food" in antiquity, I´d think vegetarian fillings (maybe chickpea like in Falafel; olives; hm, what else?) would be most widespread, in contrast to today`s Kebab Döners.
If I am rightly informed, Mediterranean antiquity`s precursor to ketchup / tomato sauce as a universal sauce was garum, a sort of fish sauce. That may have been smeared onto your fast food, too.
Not quite my döner kebab with zaziki, but well...
 
Potatoes, fat/oil, and salt are a divine combination to human tastebuds and could have replaced bread given greater distribution of the potato.
 
Yup. Although, given the minor role of meat (and the high prices of it!) in those urban contexts which would have been most prone to an adaptation of "fast food" in antiquity, I´d think vegetarian fillings (maybe chickpea like in Falafel; olives; hm, what else?) would be most widespread, in contrast to today`s Kebab Döners.
If I am rightly informed, Mediterranean antiquity`s precursor to ketchup / tomato sauce as a universal sauce was garum, a sort of fish sauce. That may have been smeared onto your fast food, too.
Not quite my döner kebab with zaziki, but well...

The romans consumed a lot of pork and chicken. They even granted tax privileges to dealers guaranteeing a steady delivery to the city of Rome. Just beef was not that popular in roman Italy. Add some vegetables and a white sauce with the also popular garlic, and you are fine. But I agree. Perhaps a vegetarian version for the masses plus a premium pita/wrap with pork or chicken. Also goat and sheep cheese was common. Wrap it in a flat pita and you got a fast food.

We don't know, what all these dealers around an amphitheatre, in the thermal bathes or around other events actually sold. We just know from lease contracts, that they existed.

Garum sounds very reasonable, too. Well, I doubt I would like it. :eek:
 
Last edited:
What are Breaded Cheesecurds?

Cheesecurds. Breaded Cheesecurds should always be popular :)


What are Breaded Cheese Curds?

I looked it up and read the recipes. I doesn't sound very good to me. The recipe calls for cheese curds, where do you get them? I don't recall seeing them in the store, but I wasn't looking for them either. Maybe I'll look today when I'm shopping.

Thank you,
MrBill
 
Top