WAY back courageous European explorers ventured to unknown lands. When they returned they brought back unusual foods and spices.
Not the first European to visit China Marco Polo was the first to maintain a detailed record .
Early explorers of the Americas brought Maize (corn) to Europe.
The early settlers of the U.S. were taught by the Native Americans how to harvest and prepare crustaceans and other sea creatures that were prolific in the coastal marshes and bays.
The early settlers encountered sea creatures, mammals, fowl, fruits and vegetables unknown in Europe. Eating strange foods was a matter of survival .
Want is a great motivator for culinary experimentation.
In recorded history there was a time when salt was more valuable than the most precious metals or gemstones.
In the 80's there was a popular series of books by Jean Auel - Earth's Children series. It is set in prehistoric times when Neanderthals and the more modern Cro-Magnon man shared the earth. The books were at times tedious- a lot of "messin around " in the furs
I do give Ms. Auel credit for doing a lot of research and consulting with archeologist for as much historical accuracy as possible.
In that time summers were short, winter was long and brutal
Summers were spent hunting, gathering, processing and storing plants and animals in order to survive the winter.
I found it interesting to read how different parts of animals were processed and used. Plants frequently had both nutritional value and medicinal uses.
The advent of air travel definitely shrank the world and increased awareness and availability of the strange and unusual
As
@medtran49 pointed out the internet has made the farthest reaches of the world as close as your local supermarket .
I do ramble. Sorry
I may be inspired to do research on the history of food.
