Episode 4 | Kitchen Cultures

Send us Fan MailThis isn’t your average foodie episode. No hot takes on air fryers. No long-winded stories about a sourdough starter named Cassandra. Just a deep dive into the oldest kitchens on the continent...lined with stone, clay, and memory. From 48-hour agave roasts to hand-ground cornmeal tortillas cooked next to a creek, this episode blends archaeology, experimental cooking, and storytelling into one long, delicious simmer. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to eat history, or burn your fingers trying, this one’s for you.  Further Reading & Listener Resources:Adair, M. J. (1988). Prehistoric Diet in the Central Plains. University of Kansas.Black, Stephen L. (n.d.). "Earth Ovens." Texas Beyond History. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/earthovensDoolittle, W. E. (2000). Cultivated Landscapes of Native North America. Oxford University Press.Peacock, S. L., & Turner, N. J. (2000). “Just Like a Garden.” In Biodiversity and Native America, pp. 133–179. University of Oklahoma Press.Wells, M. (2023). Earth Ovens and Desert Lifeways. A readable, engaging deep dive into the archaeological and cultural significance of earth oven cooking traditions in the U.S. Southwest. Texas Beyond History – Earth Ovens: https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/earthovensMoerman, D. E. (1998). Native American Ethnobotany. An indispensable resource for understanding the breadth of Indigenous plant use across the continent.Zedeño, M. N. (2000). “On What People Make of Places.” In The Archaeology of Landscapes, pp. 97–111. Blackwell Publishers.