Short Stuff: Pies | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
The discussion explores the history and evolution of pies, tracing their origins back to ancient Egypt over 8,000 years ago, where early versions included grains and honey. It highlights the Greeks' contributions to pie-making, such as the use of pastry dough, and contrasts the savory meat pies they favored with the potential sweetness of desserts that emerged later.
Key Takeaways
- Pie: humanity's ancient culinary multitasker since crop domestication, from Egyptian galettes to stuffed European coffins.
- Romans didn't add flavor to pie; they added Europe, setting up centuries of culinary globalization.
- Greeks transformed pies, making pastry dough a historic leap but committed the 'meat over sweet' crime.
- Empty 16th-century pies weren't madness; they were table showpieces—culinary theater, not food.
- English pies were 'coffins' with legs as handles; not just food, but a medieval utensil innovation.
Mentioned in This Episode
- Paula Tommpkins (person)
- Ethiopia (location)
- Spain (location)
- Quebec (location)
- Jamaican (location)
- medieval England (location)
- Europe in royal courts of Europe (concept)
- Sing a Song of Sixpence (book)
- German cookbook (book)
- Word (company)
- The Pie Hole (company)
- Mayflower (concept)
- American Cookery (book)
- Amelia Simmons (person)
- American Cookery by an American Orphan (book)
- Dutch (concept)
- 1928 (concept)
- Lou Hoover (person)
- Herbert Hoover (person)
- GIs (concept)