The 2,000-Year History of Mac and Cheese

The 2,000-Year History of Mac and Cheese

From Books & Looks by Books & Looks

March 26, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

This episode explores the 2,000-year history of macaroni and cheese, revealing its evolution and cultural significance.

Explore the epic history of macaroni and cheese! Learn how this comfort food evolved from an ancient Roman dish into a clever religious fasting loophole. Episode Resources: “The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese” by Karima Moyer-Nocchi Recipe and Excerpt for the Ancient Ancestor of Macaroni and Cheese Karima Moyer-Nocchi’s Official Website (The Eternal Table) “Chewing the Fat” by Karima Moyer-Nocchi Think macaroni and cheese is just a simple American comfort food born out of a blue box? Think again. In this episode of Books & Looks, host Blaine DeSantis sits down with culinary historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi to uncover the incredible 2,000-year journey behind her new book, “The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese”. Listeners will discover how this humble pasta dish evolved from an ancient Roman recipe into a highly contested global icon, giving you a completely new appreciation for your favorite nostalgic meal. Karima reveals how macaroni and cheese served as a clever culinary loophole during strict medieval religious fasting before tracing its sophisticated makeover in the elite courts of France. The conversation dives deep into the fascinating world of food history…

People in this episode

Host: Blaine DeSantis

Guest: Karima Moyer-Nocchi

Topics covered

  • food history
  • macaroni and cheese
  • culinary evolution
  • religious fasting
  • cooking techniques

Keywords

  • macaroni and cheese
  • food history
  • culinary historian
  • ancient recipes
  • religious fasting
  • French cuisine
  • American pasta industry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Eternal Table

Books & works: The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese, Chewing the Fat

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