Food Stories you can’t miss out on

Source: https://www.century-foods.com/easy-recipes-for-dinner/

Delve deep into the historical roots of different food items from around the world and understand how they these items came to be.

Food has always been more than just sustenance; it is deeply intertwined with culture, history, and even mythology. Across different civilizations, myths and legends have not only explained the mysteries of the universe but also provided a divine narrative for the origins of various foods. Some of these stories have inspired culinary traditions that continue to be celebrated today. This article explores a selection of mythology-inspired recipes that bring ancient tales to life in the kitchen, offering a unique way to connect with the past.

Food hasn’t just acted as a means of sustenance but is also connected to the culture and history of the areas it is native to. There are several myths and legends which explain the origin as well as the purpose of these dishes in their culture. Many even set a divine narrative to explain why the dishes were created and made popular.

Some of these stories are not what you would want to miss out on. They offer a peak into different world and their myths through the lens of their culinary arts.

Panettone from Italy

^{Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/traditional-christmas-panettone-cake-with-chocolate-pieces-on-a-cutting-board-among-scattered-fruits-and-nuts-19287209/}

Panettone is one of the most delicacies which are part of Italy’s delicious cuisine which has withstood the passage of time and is still eaten as Christmas’s signature cake over there.

The most popular myth regarding this cake dates back to the 15^th century at the court of Ludovico Il Moro. It was Christmas time and the court’s chef had prepared a scrumptious dinner for the nobles. Unfortunately for him, the dessert got burned in the oven and he remembered only later that he had forgotten to take it out.

Desperate, he had asked his helpers when one of them, Toni, gave him an idea. The idea was to cook dessert using whatever was left in the kitchen in the morning- this included flour, butter, eggs, citron zest and raisins. The chef did so and the dish was a hit! Guests loved what the cook had prepared for them and Panettone became a signature food item.

Haggis from Scotland

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The Haggis (dish) has its roots in Scottish culture. The story goes that in ancient Scotland, there was once a surplus of “sheep parts and a glaring absence of Tupperware” and so, it was decided that this food could be stuffed inside the sheep’s stomach to store it.

So, it was done and Haggis was created. As time progressed, the recipe was developed. Soon, it was getting cooked with onions, oatmeal, spices as well as “the tears of Englishmen”, and then, finally enclosed inside the stomach. This dish gained more popularity as Scottish warriors felt the need for a recipe which was easy to carry and travel with and Haggis fit just right.

Today, Haggis is still eaten by a plenty of people as it has been embedded in Scottish as well as other cultures because of its adaptability and superb taste.

Mooncakes from China

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/snow-skin-mooncakes-on-a-tray-13826796/

In China, there are four different tales told by the elders to the young when they ask about the origins of mooncake:

The most popular tale is about Hou Yi, a great archer, who shot down nine of the ten suns blazing in the sky in ancient China. For his bravery, he was given the elixir of life but he gave it to his wife, Chang’e to hide from him. The reason was that he loved his wife so much that he didn’t want to be apart. But an evil man, Peng Meng decided to steal the elixir on the 15^th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. He stormed into their house when Chang’e was alone and seeing that she couldn’t protect it from him, she drank it all alone and ascended to heaven. Today, legend has it that she lives on the moon as it is the closest to the Earth. Hou Yi, on the other hand, set up an incense table and laid out his wife’s favorite food on it to pay tribute.
In the second tale, Buddha disguised himself as an old hungry man who approached three animals- a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit- for food. The fox brought him a fish, the monkey some fruit. The rabbit threw himself into the fire after saying “You can eat me” so that the old man could feast upon him. Touched by this, Buddha brought the rabbit back to life and sent him on the moon as a reward for his selflessness. This rabbit is said to continousuly pound cakes on the moon.
The third story is about Wu Gang, an ordinary mortal who wanted to become immortal but never actually worked for it. As a punishment, the Emperor of Heaven created a huge osmanthus tree for him to cut down and this was planted on the moon. Wu Young was told that cutting it would grant him immortality. Wu Young, who didn’t know the tree could heal itself and probably never get cut down, set to work and is said to be cutting the tree till date.
The fourth and last story in this list is said to have happened in real during the late Yuan Dynasty between the years 1271 and 1368. This was when Mongols were ruling over the country and a nationwide rebellion was being led by Zhu Yuanzhang. There was one problem though- they couldn’t spread their messages because of the ban on large gatherings. Zhu’s military counselor, Liu Bowen came up with a solution for this- they hid the messages inside mooncakes which included the date of the revolt. These were then given to people who received the message. The plan worked and the rebels soon took over the palace to make Zhu the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Avial from India

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Avial is a dish from India which is home to several different cultures, beliefs, and religions. As a result, there is not one but two stories behind the creation of this dish which are both equally interesting.

According to the first backstory, we have to dive deep down into the world of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Our hero here is Bhima, who is the second eldest Pandava brother, looking around for work in the kitchen. This happens after the Pandava brothers are forced to disguise themselves and hide from their rivals and cousins, the Kauravas.

One day, whilst disguised as a cook and chopping vegetables, Bhima got to know that Sage Durvasa had arrived as the king’s guest. Sage Durvasa was well-known for his ill-temper and no one wanted to risk the wrath of the sage. Bhima got the task of cooking for the Sage but there wasn’t anything but those chopped vegetables in the kitchen. Since, there wasn’t any time on his hands, he quickly cooked the vegetables and made a new dish- the Avial! And luckily for him, Sage Durvasa was very pleased and satisfied with what he had been served.

Now onto our next story, we go to the South of India, to the kingdom of Travancore, where the King had ordered for a feast to be prepared for the public. Since, this was a huge event and lots of people came to eat, the food got depleted very quickly. But they couldn’t make the guests leave empty stomach, could they? The King was informed and he quickly came to address the problem.

When he arrived, he saw that some vegetable scraps had been lying around as waste. An idea came to his mind and he told the chef to cut them up and cook together like a curry. And voila! Here was Avial again, in a new region with a different story.

Fufu from Western Africa

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Fufu is a very culturally important dish and people from West Africa hardly go more than a few days without eating this item. The interesting part is that Fufu has real history and its origins aren’t based on myths.

It dates back to the 16^th century when Portuguese traders from Brazil brought with them fufu which was first taken to Ghana. There it was called “Fufuo” and it was prepared by mixing fermented beans with plantain. This is then pounded until we get a sticky mixture. This recipe has been passed down from generation to generation and according to West Africans and African Americans, eating this dish reconnects them to their ancestors from the 16^th century. It is also worshipped in many parts in that region.

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