Sprung On Food

In the spirit of Halloween, let's spruce up on our history of black licorice! It's sad it's been at the top of least-favorite Halloween candy lists, but maybe you're like Colleen and love it too? In this episode of Sprung On Food, we dive into the history of black licorice with comedian and podcaster Colleen Doyle. They discuss Colleen's love for Australian black licorice, her...

With Pasta Day on Saturday, it only seemed right to reshare this episode! So grab your favorite bowl of pasta, possibly spaghetti, and enjoy! In this episode of Sprung On Food, we explore the heartwarming and delicious history of spaghetti and meatballs with special guest, writer and actor Dana Quercioli. Discover Dana's personal connection to this classic dish, family recipes, and tips for th...

In honor of Taco Day today, it only seemed fitting to reshare this episode! So grab your favorite taco and enjoy! In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung dives deep into the world of tacos with stand-up comedian and writer Lauren Davis. Discover Lauren’s personal taco journey from St. Louis to LA, and explore the rich history and cultural impact of this beloved dish. From ancient Mesoam...

On this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks the history of pancakes with returning guest Erika Kwee (Pancake Princess). The episode traces pancake-like foods back to early agriculture and Ötzi the Iceman, then follows written records from ancient Greece (tēganitēs) and Roman recipes, through medieval Shrove Tuesday “Pancake Day” traditions and England’s pancake races. It explains how...

In honor of Banana Split Day today, it seemed like the perfect time to share this encore episode! So grab a banana, make a split, and enjoy the history that started it all!  In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung dives deep into the world of bananas with Danielle Becker, the founder and CEO of Lefty's Right Mind. Danielle shares her personal obsession with bananas, purchasing 30 a...

Join host Kae Sprung and comedian Nico Carney on Sprung On Food as they dive into the rich history and cultural significance of lasagna. Discover the evolution of this beloved dish from ancient Greece to modern-day kitchens, and enjoy Nico's personal family memories tied to this comfort food classic. From intricate regional Italian recipes to the convenience of Stouffer's frozen meals, thi...

Summer is here, and in honor of Ice Cream Day this week, it seemed like the perfect time to share this encore episode! So grab a bowl or cone of cookies and cream ice cream (or any flavor you like), and enjoy the history that started it all! In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung explores the world of cookies and cream ice cream with guest actor and writer Mitch Silpa. The episode delv...

In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung sits down with actor and writer Ariane Price to explore watermelon’s origins, its evolution through agriculture and breeding, the rise of seedless varieties, and how it became both a cultural symbol and a pop-culture icon. It’s a fruit with a deep global history, surprising cultural impact, and a complicated journey from ancient Africa to modern s...

Host Kae Sprung welcomes Solid Wiggles co-owners Jena Derman and Jack Schramm to discuss jelly desserts and their history, from medieval European gelatin extraction, blancmange, and ornate Victorian molded jellies to plant-based Asian traditions like agar (kanten), yōkan, warabi mochi, Korean starch jellies, grass jelly, gulaman, and almond jelly. Jena and Jack explain how their pastry-and-cocktai...

On this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks the history of pancakes with returning guest Erika Kwee (Pancake Princess). The episode traces pancake-like foods back to early agriculture and Ötzi the Iceman, then follows written records from ancient Greece (tēganitēs) and Roman recipes, through medieval Shrove Tuesday “Pancake Day” traditions and England’s pancake races. It explains how...

On this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks with holistic wellness coach and raw, plant-based Chef Beee about why fruit parfait is her favorite food, its “sexy” silky texture, versatility, and her go-to cashew-based citrus cream layered with not-too-sweet berries and fresh herbs. Kae traces parfait’s evolution from a 19th-century French frozen custard (documented by Jules Gouffé in 18...

Frozen yogurt is trending. We might be psychic! Almost 1 year ago we recorded this episode, The History Of Frozen Yogurt, and we called it. So, if you've recently jumped on the FroYo bandwagon, you can listen to this encore episode while you wait in those long lines to get your treat! In this episode of Sprung On Food, we dive into the history of frozen yogurt with guest Sarah Ross, a cancer n...

Host Kae Sprung welcomes Chef Crystal Wahpepah to discuss the history of squash, and why squash is her favorite food, highlighting winter varieties like Hubbard and its versatility in sweet and savory dishes, including chocolate squash pudding, roasted squash, and squash soup thickened with blended pumpkin seeds as a dairy alternative. They explore eating squash raw through drying and dehydrating...

In this episode of Sprung On Food actor, writer, and musician Maddie Ballard joins to discuss the history of molten lava cake, with her own childhood memories at a San Jose Chili’s to her mom’s homemade ramekin version (though Maddie says Chili’s wins on taste thanks to caramel on top and surprisingly large portions). Kae explains what molten lava cake is and its alternate names, then traces its m...

On this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung is joined by comedian and creator Waleed Mansour to get into the history of the Dairy Queen Blizzard. They trace Dairy Queen’s origins in 1938–1940 soft-serve experimentation by J.F. and Alex McCullough, rapid franchise expansion, and franchisee-driven innovations like the Dilly Bar, Brazier hot foods, the Buster Bar, and the Peanut Buster Parfait...

On this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks latkes with comedian and nanny Lindsay Lucido, who shares why latkes are her favorite, her preference for applesauce over sour cream, and her go-to thick, crispy-yet-moist latkes from the Mansion diner on NYC’s Upper East Side. Kae traces latkes beyond the modern potato pancake, explaining the word’s Yiddish and Slavic roots and how early Ha...

In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung welcomes  actor, writer, creative, executive, and co-founder of Friend or Flame, Josiah Blount to discuss the history of blueberries. The episode traces blueberry history from Indigenous North American traditions, where “star berries” were food, medicine, and cultural symbols for thousands of years, to the early 1900s domestication work of Elizabe...

Host Kae Sprung welcomes writer and comedian Chik Agwuna to discuss the history of plantains. The episode explores what plantains are biologically, their naming and etymology, and their origins in Southeast Asia with domestication around 10,000 years ago through selective cultivation. It traces plantains’ spread via Indian Ocean trade to Africa, then through European colonial routes and the transa...

On Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks with actor and writer Drew Droege about the history of the Reuben sandwich. They break down what makes a great Reuben, corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss, buttery rye, and dressing, then investigate the sandwich’s disputed origin stories: Omaha’s Blackstone Hotel poker-night tale tied to Reuben Kulakofsky and a 1956 national sandwich contest win, ve...

On this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks with actor and writer David Crabb about pavlova as his favorite dessert, tied to memories of meringue-topped banana pudding, pandemic comfort, and a friend’s homemade versions (classic fruit and custard, plus salted caramel chocolate). Kae traces pavlova’s origins to ballerina Anna Pavlova’s 1920s tours, links it to the Austrian Spanische Wi...

In this episode of Sprung On Food, Kae Sprung dives deep into the delicious world of carrot cake with standup comedian and writer Erin Jackson. Discover the rich history of this popular dessert, tips on making the perfect moist carrot cake (hint: canned peaches and pineapple!), and the role this cake played in major historical events. From medieval roots to wartime propaganda and modern pop cultur...

Join Kae Sprung on this episode of Sprung On Food as she dives deep into the world of Masala Dosa with comedian, actor, writer, and content creator Jordan Myrick. Jordan shares their lifelong love for this iconic South Indian dish, detailing their early encounters at vegetarian restaurants and their family’s culinary adventures. Discover the rich history behind Masala Dosa, from its origins in anc...

In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung welcomes actor-comedian and writer D.J. Mausner to discuss why the eggplant Parmesan sandwich is their favorite, tied to childhood trips to Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. Kae traces eggplant’s history from domestication in South and Southeast Asia and its mention in Ayurvedic texts, to China’s Qimin Yaoshu, into the Middle East, and then to Europe...

Join Kae Sprung in Sprung On Food along with Jamila Norman, owner of Patchwork City Farms and host of Emmy-nominated Homegrown on Magnolia Network, as they delve deep into the rich history and variations of Chickpea Curry. Discover how this flavorful dish represents a tapestry of cultures from Jamaican and Trinidadian roots to its global adaptations. Learn about its historical journey from ancient...

In this episode of Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung sits down with actor and writer Ariane Price to explore watermelon’s origins, its evolution through agriculture and breeding, the rise of seedless varieties, and how it became both a cultural symbol and a pop-culture icon. It’s a fruit with a deep global history, surprising cultural impact, and a complicated journey from ancient Africa to modern s...