Libguides: 603-LPE-MQ: Writings and Writing About Food (Khoo): Selected websites

Websites and evaluation

The websites you will find on this page were specifically selected by the Library in consultation with your professor to support your research. As a result, you can trust that they will be reliable sources of information.

However, it is important that you always think critically about any source you use. This is particularly important when using sources that you have found on the internet. To help you with this, the College has developed a simple test, the PAARC test, that you can use with any resource.

Food staples

The Domestication of the Common Bean (Article)
A brief article on the original geographical centres of domestication for the common bean.
History of Bean-Hole Beans (Article)
An article from the University of Maine about the North American tradition of "bean-hole beans."

14,000-Year-Old Piece Of Bread Rewrites The History Of Baking And Farming (Article)
This article examples the 2018 discovery of a 14,000-year-old piece of bread and what it can tell us about the diet of ancient peoples.
The Complete History of Sliced Bread
The (surprisingly short) history of pre-sliced bread.

How the Chicken Conquered the World (Article)
The Smithsonian's history of the chicken.

Rethinking the Corny History of Maize (Article)
Reports on a recent study that looks into the genetic history of corn and what it can say about its domestication.

The Exotic History of British Fish and Chips (Article)
The Telegraph writes about the unexpected history of fish and chips.

Historical Perspective on the Use of Garlic (Article)
The Open-Access Journal of Nutrition presents an in-depth article on many historical uses of garlic.

Lemon: Citrus Limon (Article)
An article from the Purdue University Horticulture and Landscape Architecture department about lemons, their origins, varieties, uses in food, and more.

4,000-Year-Old Noodles Found in China (Article)
National Geographic reports on the oldest known bowl of noodles.
The History of Noodles: How a Simple Food Became a Worldwide Staple (Article)
This article from The Atlantic talks about the history of the noodle and how noodles have become common in many cultures.
The History of the Ramen Noodle (Article)
The New Yorker's brief history of the ramen noodle.

Three Cheers for the Onion (Article)
A BBC News article about the lengthy history of onions.

How the Potato Changed the World (Article)
An article from the Smithsonian that details the impact of the introduction of the potato to European and North American cuisine in the 18th century.

Debating the Origins of Rice (Article)
A discussion of the historical origins of rice as a food staple.
Domestication: The Birth of Rice (Article)
The origins of rice as a staple food.

The Tomato Was Feared For 200 Years by Europeans Who Called it 'Poison Apple' and Thought it to be Sinful and Seductive (Article)
Describes the odd history of the tomato in Europe and North America and how it went from being believed to be poisonous to being a very common ingredient in many cuisines.