American Eats

Did you know that...Coca-Cola is the second most universally recognized word on the planet after "OK"? Each year, Americans drink enough carbonated beverages to fill more than 100,000 Olympic-sized pools. Sugar, water, carbon dioxide--these simple ingredients are the foundation for a $25-billion a year industry. Modern, state-of-the-art bottling plants supply Americans with 15-billion gallons of soda every year, in every variety of flavor, no calorie or low-calorie, caffeinated or caffeine-free, in a 12-ounce can or half-gallon bottle, all packaged and sold with some of the best marketing strategies ever developed. Inspired by miracle mineral waters, advanced by small town pharmacists, the story of soft drinks is the story of American ingenuity and competition, along with an insatiable thirst for profits.

For every new snack food introduced, there are about 100 duds! Americans buy more than 4.3 billion pounds of snack food a year--in fact, snacking is quickly becoming America's favorite meal. A snack is defined as a meal or food item eaten hurriedly or casually, which might include anything from a candy bar to a hamburger. Whether it's chips, pretzels, or popcorn, Americans love their snacks--especially if salty! Perhaps the first truly American salty snack was popcorn. But of all the salty treats we indulge in--pretzels, peanuts, corn chips--the potato chip is by far America's favorite snack, with annual sales in excess of $6 billion

From the ballpark to barbeque, the story of hotdogs.

History of Canned Foods. Canned food has been in pantries for more than 200 years. But long before it was a staple on store shelves, it was used to feed armies. In 1795, a confectioner came up with the concept of preserving food in bottles. In America, canning had a slow start but the 1849 Gold Rush and Civil War contributed to its popularity. A mere 50 years after its development, invention of the can opener made it more convenient. In America's post-WWII economy, rise of the suburbs meant supermarkets, and food with long shelf life became the modern convenience food.

History of foods using bread.

Few treats are as popular or American. At the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, a man selling waffles beside an ice cream vendor put a scoop of ice cream in a rolled-up waffle when his neighbor ran out of dishes--the totable treat caught on and is still a favorite way to enjoy the frozen confection. But whether in a sundae, ice cream sandwich, banana split, parfait, or baked Alaska, ice cream is a dessert we can't desert.

Whether on Santa's plate or at grandma's house, cookies are a part of American culture. What began as hardened biscuits (perfect for traveling), they grew lighter, richer, and sweeter once sugar became readily available in the Middle East in the 13th century. America made its mark in the cookie world with invention of the chocolate chip cookie. Along with the peanut butter cookie--and yes, the fortune cookie--the chocolate chip cookie is uniquely American. Whether dropped, rolled, molded, pressed, filled, or cut into shapes, cookies are ingrained in our culture and recognizable icons.

History of chocolate. How did this little pod from a little tree become a global obsession?

The old saying goes "you are what you eat." So what does that say about America? More than you might imagine, as AMERICAN EATS reveals. This irreverent, insightful and unique look at the nation reveals the secret tales behind our favorite indulgences, heads into the test kitchens where science combines with cooking, and visits temples of taste across the country. Though considered an American invention, ketchup can be traced back to European fish sauces used in the 18th century to help brine food and stop the growth of bacteria. Meanwhile, mustard seeds were purportedly first brought to the city of Dijon and its surrounding fields by Caesar. Another favorite was the product of necessity - after a victory over the British in 1756, the French chef of Duc de Richelieu created a victory feast that included a sauce made of cream and eggs. Realizing there was no cream in the kitchen, the chef substituted olive oil, and our obsession with mayonnaise was born. AMERICAN EATS traces the explosion of condiments beyond these basics and visits some of the giants of the industry to see how our favorite flavorings are made.

History of barbeque. Three out of four of US households own a barbecue grill. Between grills, charcoal, smokers, sauce, and spices, it's a multi-billion dollar industry.

History of beer. Whether light, dark, bottled, tapped, great tasting, or less filling America loves beer--20% of the world's beer is brewed here. As old as civilization and pre-dating bread, we'll take a look at beer's history in the US. Breweries had to survive the Prohibition until 1933 when it ended and beer was back on tap. After WWII, the aluminium can made beer drinkers happy because it now fit neatly in the fridge.

History of cereal. Move over pancakes, step aside bacon! Cereal is arguably the true breakfast king, a $9-billion industry with an indisputable place in pop-culture history. Full of surprise, nostalgia, and fascinating facts, our special celebrates the colorful--and crunchy--saga of a distinctly American breakfast.

Whether it's a thin crust or a deep dish ordered by the slice or the whole pie America has been head-over-heels for pizza for well over a century. On average Americans eat approximately 350 slices of pizza per second-about 100 acres of pizza a day! At last count there were close to 70000 pizzerias in the U.S. working tirelessly to satisfy that multi-billion-dollar craving. During this lip-smacking gastronomic tour discover how the history of pizza in America has come full circle-from small Italian-American communities to the cutthroat competition of global chains to the mass-produced world of frozen pizza and finally back to distinctive personal pies. Featuring visits to the nation's most fabled pizza houses and compelling interviews with chefs foodies and cultural historians AMERICAN EATS serves up the fascinating and mouth-watering story behind PIZZA.

A bird roasted to perfection, a steaming plates of succulent sides, a kaleidoscope of colorful holiday sweets...nothing quite announces the holiday season like food. Take a festive look at America's most delicious holiday foods. Among American's favorite trimmings are bread stuffing, candied yams and cranberry sauce--first introduced in 1864 when General Ulysses S. Grant ordered it served to the troops during the siege of Petersburg. Take a look back at America's obsession with the sweeter side of the holidays, from gingerbread to candy canes. Learn why the dreaded fruitcake--an invention dating back to Roman times--was once against the law! New trends in holiday feasting are always a hit, from a deep fried turkey born out of the Bayou of Louisiana, to the ever-humorous, and delicious, Turducken: a chicken stuffed inside a duck inside a turkey.

Dig into the sumptuous stories of great inventors, innovators, dreamers, and wizards who made eating into an industry and transformed the American table. Clarence Birdseye really did invent modern frozen food; John Harvey Kellogg reinvented breakfast; Milton Hershey turned an elite sweet into a treat for the common man; and yes, there really was a Chef Boyardee! Explore the roots of barbecue, Jell-O, and Spam--and meet the originator of nacho chips.