How the McRib, Pumpkin Spice Latte, and Other Food Obsessions Came To Be

How the pumpkin spice latte got plucked from the dust heap of market research to become a full-fledged fall obsession.

Even though there‘s not a rib to be found inside the sandwich, that pork patty drenched in barbecue sauce actually represents one of the greater innovations in meat science of the last century.

The price hasn‘t changed in nearly 35 years. What kind of sorcery is this?

From handshake deals to experiments at Home Depot, the history of Taco Bell’s disruptive faux cheese-dusted taco.

The soda was made from apple fibers and a cheese by-product.

On Popeyes vs. Chick-fil-A vs. our collective sanity.

Despite the wizardry that chef Dominique Ansel continues to constantly debut, the Cronut remains the most powerful pastry in terms of name recognition, novelty, and sheer viral hysteria.

America’s most popular non-chocolate candy is a flavor trick. And we keep falling for it.

Investigating the tallest tale in the ice cream business.

For the last decade, Richard Montañez has been telling the story of how he invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The world has been eating it up.

More than 60 years ago, a broken soda fountain led to this cool invention.

How one creamy, peppery salad dressing became America’s favorite flavor.

While seeming as American as imitation apple pie, Cheez Whiz wasn’t invented for palates in the USA; instead it was created for the British market as a shortcut for making the much beloved (in the UK) traditional dish, Welsh rarebit.

Searching for Mildred Day.

This controversial pie came from Ontario, not Oahu.

Today, the Oreo is the world‘s most popular cookie. With regional varieties and limited release flavors, the biscuit brand keeps sweet tooths around the world satisfied. But its origin story has a much less saccharine flavor to it.

In 2010, Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” was the song of the summer, the iPhone 4 was cutting-edge smartphone technology, and oversized, camouflage-printed cans filled with hypercaffeinated super-booze were fueling New York’s party scene.

Nutella‘s squat, oddly shaped jar has become a culinary icon across the globe, thanks to the addictively rich and creamy chocolate-and-hazelnut spread housed within.

Sriracha: You probably know it as that ubiquitous bottle of chile sauce, the one with the rooster on the label, green cap on top, fiery red sauce inside. Its creator, Vietnamese refugee David Tran, has become nearly as legendary as the sauce he concocted; a personification of the American dream.