Alexander Lee

The staple dish of the Middle East is as contested as the region, with different peoples claiming falafel’s origins as their own.

Rich enough to appeal to lords and dukes, the success of panettone is down to its festive, egalitarian simplicity.

The long, often troubled relationship between Britain and India has led to some extraordinary cross-cultural innovations in cuisine.

The story of the ‘mythical centre’ of French cuisine reflects the triumphs and tribulations of its people. 

A staple of Russia and the Slavic world, borscht has inspired films and novels – and has even reached outer space.

The world’s most popular fast food has ancient roots, but it was a royal seal of approval in 1889 that set pizza on the path to global domination.

Recipes to accompany our monthly history of food.

A children’s opera brought a brief respite from the terrors of the Holocaust.

Ethel Smyth took on the forces of inequality, in both politics and culture, producing highly acclaimed works of music that are now all but forgotten.