True Crime Culinary

Leah Llach

A podcast for people who love true crime and the strange details that make each story unforgettable. From beer steins tucked into a Hitler assassination attempt to poutine wrapped up in a drug bust, each episode blends history, humor, and crime through the lens of food, revealing how overlooked culinary details shape famous cases and survival stories. Hosted by Leah Llach, a true crime fan and culinary content creator, the show delivers short, fascinating episodes that explore culture, behavior, and the unexpected ways food shows up in crime. Bite-sized episodes drop every Thursday.

  1. Episode 41: The Hamburger Origin Story & the Wendy's Hamburglar

    2d ago

    Episode 41: The Hamburger Origin Story & the Wendy's Hamburglar

    Who invented the hamburger—and how did it become the perfect fast food? A bizarre burger burglary sends us digging into the history of one of America's most recognizable foods. From German Frikadellen and 19th-century Hamburg steak to competing hamburger invention claims, White Castle sliders, the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System, and Burger King's flame broiler, this bite-sized episode follows how meat and bread became an industrialized fast-food icon. Along the way: meat grinders, failed movie dreams, a restaurant that literally moved locations, Golden Arches, and the surprisingly complicated question of who put the first burger on a bun. Grab your buns. We're getting into burger history. Follow TCC on IG and YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary References The Washington Post — “Who invented the hamburger? Biting into the messy history of America's iconic sandwich”A detailed examination of hamburger origin claims, Hamburg steak, early documented hamburger sandwiches, meat grinders, and the competing stories surrounding Charlie Nagreen, Louis Lassen, and other supposed burger inventors. Read the Washington Post hamburger history White Castle — Our HistoryWhite Castle's official history of the company's 1921 founding and its five-cent, small square hamburgers, later known as sliders. White Castle history McDonald's — Our HistoryMcDonald's official company history covering Richard and Maurice McDonald, their move to California, the Speedee Service System introduced in 1948, 15-cent hamburgers, and the early expansion of the restaurant concept. McDonald's history The Origins of McDonald's Golden Arches — Journal of the Society of Architectural HistoriansHistorical research into the original McDonald's restaurant architecture, the McDonald brothers' self-service system, and the development of the distinctive Golden Arches design. The Origins of McDonald's Golden Arches The Burger King TimelineA historical timeline focused on James McLamore and David Edgerton, the development of Burger King in Miami, and Edgerton's invention of the flame broiler in 1957. The Burger King Timeline

    14 min
  2. Episode 40: How the Model T Changed Barbecue & the Charcoal Crook

    Jul 1

    Episode 40: How the Model T Changed Barbecue & the Charcoal Crook

    What's the difference between grilling and barbecue? Where did barbecue come from? And how is charcoal made? Those are exactly the kinds of questions people search for, and they immediately tell listeners what they'll get from the episode. This week on True Crime Culinary, a charcoal theft leads Leah down a smoky rabbit hole through thousands of years of barbecue history. From Indigenous Caribbean barbacoa and the arrival of European livestock to African pitmasters, immigrant influences, Henry Ford's wood scraps, and the invention of the Weber kettle, discover how history shaped one of America's favorite foods. Along the way, learn why brisket needs hours to become tender, how charcoal is made, what creates a smoke ring and bark, and why barbecue is as much about science as it is about tradition. Whether you're a backyard griller, a barbecue fanatic, or just love random food history, you'll never look at a bag of charcoal—or a rack of ribs—the same way again. References This episode was researched using historical and educational sources on the origins of barbecue, charcoal production, American regional barbecue traditions, Henry Ford and Kingsford charcoal, and the invention of the Weber kettle grill. Articles & Historical Sources KOMU 8 News – Kingsford charcoal plant theft that inspired this episode's cold open. Historical resources on the Taíno barbacoa and the origins of the word "barbecue." Historical accounts of American barbecue traditions, including the influence of Indigenous peoples, enslaved African pitmasters, and immigrant communities. Historical information on Henry Ford, Edward G. Kingsford, Kingsford charcoal, and the development of charcoal briquettes. Historical information on George Stephen and the invention of the Weber Inc. kettle grill. Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeM6j0vO71g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMcIzlsI45A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrF4iw49evU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58eEmeMYILE As always, historical events were condensed and simplified for clarity and storytelling while remaining faithful to the broader historical record.

    13 min
  3. Bonus Episode 2: Jell-O Salads - The Rise and Fall of America's Wobbliest Food

    Jun 28

    Bonus Episode 2: Jell-O Salads - The Rise and Fall of America's Wobbliest Food

    Why did Americans put mayonnaise in Jell-O? In this bonus episode of True Crime Culinary, we're diving into the bizarre history of Jell-O salads—from ancient gelatin and medieval aspics to the postwar craze that turned lime gelatin, canned fruit, and even tuna into the height of modern cooking. Along the way, you'll learn how powdered gelatin became a household staple, why refrigerators helped fuel the trend, how a Jell-O box became part of a Cold War espionage case, and why these colorful molds all but disappeared. Whether you love vintage recipes or just want to know what everyone was thinking, this is one deliciously strange food rabbit hole. References: This episode was researched using historical sources on gelatin, Jell-O, Cold War espionage, and mid-century American food culture. Special thanks to Mental Floss for its excellent overview of Jell-O salad history and the evolution of gelatin dishes, including the rise and fall of molded salads in American kitchens. For the Cold War opening, I referenced Smithsonian Magazine's article Law and Order: Jell-O Gelatin Unit, which explores the role of the torn raspberry Jell-O box in the Rosenberg espionage case, along with additional context from the National Archives and the International Spy Museum regarding the trial exhibit and the recognition signal used by Harry Gold and David Greenglass. Background on the invention of powdered gelatin, the creation of Jell-O by Pearle and May Wait, Orator Francis Woodward's marketing campaign, and the growth of the Jell-O brand came from historical summaries of Jell-O and gelatin history. The episode's discussion of the science of gelatin, including how collagen unwinds into protein chains and forms a water-trapping network as it cools, was informed by food science resources and educational videos, including Kitchen Chemistry: The History and Science of Jell-O. Additional context on vintage Jell-O salads, mid-century recipes, and America's fascination with molded foods came from Mental Floss, historical recipe collections, and archival sources documenting the popularity of gelatin salads throughout the 20th century.

    15 min
  4. Episode 39: The Pig on Trial & the History of Spam

    Jun 25

    Episode 39: The Pig on Trial & the History of Spam

    This week on True Crime Culinary, we're diving into the surprisingly wild history of one of the world's most recognizable canned foods. It all starts with a bizarre medieval French trial where a pig is put on trial for attacking a child—and ends with the story of how Spam became a global icon. Learn how George and Jay Hormel turned unwanted pork shoulder into Spam, why the can lasts for years without refrigeration, and how World War II transformed it from a practical military ration into a beloved food around the world. We'll explore why Spam became a holiday gift in South Korea after the Korean War, how it found a home in Hawaiian favorites like Spam musubi, why Guam consumes more Spam per person than almost anywhere else, and how a Monty Python sketch eventually gave us the word "spam" for unwanted email. From medieval pig trials to wartime logistics, canned meat chemistry, and internet culture, this episode uncovers the fascinating history behind one of the most misunderstood foods in the world. References & Further Reading Today's episode was researched using a mix of historical sources, company histories, documentaries, and news reporting. Special thanks to the following resources for helping tell the story of Spam—from its humble beginnings in Minnesota to its worldwide cultural impact. Videos The History of Spam – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdYjy4RENtI How Spam Became a Global Food Icon – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9d1ztSrdZI The Story Behind Spam – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-flSqMsx22U Articles & Historical Sources CompaniesHistory.com – Hormel Foods Company History: https://www.companieshistory.com/hormel-foods/ Encyclopedia.com – Hormel Foods Corp.: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/hormel-foods-corp History UK – The Law Is an Ass: Eight Famous Animal Trials from History: https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-law-is-an-ass-8-famous-animal-trials-from-history Fox Carolina – Runaway Pig Taken Into Custody After "Bacon Entering" Incident: https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/02/17/runaway-pig-taken-into-custody-after-bacon-entering-incident-deputies-say/ Additional background research included historical material on medieval animal trials, the history of Hormel Foods, World War II military rations, the Korean War, Spam's role in South Korean, Hawaiian, and Guamanian cuisine, and the origins of the internet term "spam."

    17 min
  5. Episode 38: The Pancake Predicament from Mammoths to IHOP

    Jun 18

    Episode 38: The Pancake Predicament from Mammoths to IHOP

    AEO-Friendly Episode Description This Father's Day, we're flipping back the clock on one of humanity's oldest foods. A failed robbery at a San Antonio IHOP leads to a surprising question: where do pancakes come from? The answer takes us from a black-belt waiter tackling a crowbar-wielding robber to Ice Age campfires, woolly mammoths, ancient grinding stones, and some of the earliest evidence of flour production. Along the way, we'll explore how nearly every culture developed its own version of the pancake, why some pancakes became symbols of the sun, how pancake races became a tradition in England, and how a chemist trying to help his wife accidentally helped create the fluffy American pancakes we know today. From prehistoric hot stones to modern diners, this is the story of the pancake. Reference Summary Elijah Arnold & the IHOP Robbery Fox San Antonio interview with Elijah Arnold, including his experience stopping a robbery, living in his car, and receiving a $1,000 Cash for Kindness award. News coverage of the attempted robbery and Arnold's account of being struck with a crowbar while subduing the suspect. Prehistoric Pancakes & Ancient Food History Tasting History: Ancient Roman and early pancake history.Tasting History: Pancake and breakfast history.Historical food and archaeology shorts:Baking Powder & Fluffy Pancakes Alfred Bird — Early baking powder development and Bird's efforts to create alternatives to yeast-based baking.Eben Norton Horsford — Development of improved baking powder formulations.Baking powder — History of chemical leavening and quick breads.Further Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Birdhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baking_powderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Norton_Horsford *Video on youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary

    14 min
  6. Episode 37 - The Macaroni Burglar Trail and the history of Mac and Cheese

    Jun 11

    Episode 37 - The Macaroni Burglar Trail and the history of Mac and Cheese

    When police in Mount Morris, New York followed a trail of macaroni salad left behind by burglars, they probably weren't expecting to stumble into the history of one of North America's favorite comfort foods. In this episode of True Crime Culinary, we follow the macaroni from ancient noodles and early grain farming to dried pasta in Sicily, the overlooked chef who helped introduce macaroni dishes to America, and the science that transformed cheese into shelf-stable powder. Along the way, we'll explore how pasta spread across continents, why macaroni is shaped the way it is, how processed cheese works, and why mac and cheese became a staple during the Great Depression and World War II. Plus, what happened to the burglars who left a trail of macaroni salad behind them? A story of crime, preservation, food science, and one very famous bowl of pasta. HuffPost. "Macaroni Salad Trail Leads Police To Suspects In Restaurant Burglary."https://www.huffpost.com/entry/macaroni-salad-trail-robber_n_7259934YouTube – Pasta Manufacturing Processhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se-Gc_BfMRsYouTube – Macaroni Production Processhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o19R-OrKq2AYouTube – Pasta Extrusion and Manufacturinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp-4siFA8FIYouTube – Cheese Processing and Food Sciencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKae1k1BDdAYouTube – Processed Cheese Productionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IwQECYlZgcYouTube – Cheese Powder / Manufacturing Processhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl2den0QVrAHistorical references on dried pasta production in Sicily and Muhammad al-IdrisiHistorical references on Thomas Jefferson and James HemingsHistorical references on the development of processed cheese and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

    19 min
  7. Episode 36: Rice Krispies and Urination Product Tampering Video

    Jun 4

    Episode 36: Rice Krispies and Urination Product Tampering Video

    What exactly is a Rice Krispie? After a shocking food tampering case involving a Kellogg factory worker, I found myself asking a question I had somehow never considered: where do Rice Krispies actually come from? In this episode of True Crime Culinary, we follow the story from a federal investigation all the way back to the sanitariums of Battle Creek, Michigan. Learn how John Harvey Kellogg's obsession with digestion helped launch the cereal industry, why former patient C.W. Post became his biggest rival, how corn flakes were accidentally discovered, and why America became so attached to cold cereal for breakfast. We'll also explore the science behind Snap, Crackle, and Pop, the invention of Rice Krispies in 1928, and how a simple recipe created by Kellogg home economists became the iconic Rice Krispies Treat. If you've ever wondered: Who invented Rice Krispies?Why do Rice Krispies make noise?What is the history of Kellogg and Post cereals?How were corn flakes invented?Where did Rice Krispies Treats come from?...this episode is for you. From sanitariums and cereal wars to marshmallow treats and a modern crime, this is the surprisingly strange history of one of America's most recognizable breakfast foods. 🎧 New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary drop every Thursday. This episode was researched using company histories, historical summaries, and archival materials covering the origins of Kellogg, Post, Rice Krispies, and Rice Krispies Treats. The official Kellogg history timeline was used to trace the founding of the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company by W.K. Kellogg in 1906 and the early growth of the cereal industry in Battle Creek. Historical information on C.W. Post and the evolution of what became Post Consumer Brands was used to examine Post's time as a Battle Creek sanitarium patient, the launch of Postum and Grape-Nuts, and the rivalry that helped establish Battle Creek as America's cereal capital. A short-form video demonstrating homemade corn flakes was referenced during the discussion of how surprisingly simple flaked cereal can be in concept compared with how mysterious it seems in the grocery aisle. (YouTube Shorts: "oA_CbdFJXhA")Additional sources were consulted for the history of Rice Krispies, the creation of Snap, Crackle, and Pop, and the invention of Rice Krispies Treats by Kellogg home economists Mildred Day and Malitta Jensen in 1939.

    14 min
  8. Episode 35: Chocolate Chip cookies and the Toll House Inn

    May 28

    Episode 35: Chocolate Chip cookies and the Toll House Inn

    What does a burning roadside inn have to do with America’s favorite cookie? In this episode of True Crime Culinary, Leah explores the surprising history of the chocolate chip cookie — from early Dutch koekjes and twisted “jumbles” to Ruth Wakefield’s invention of the Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie in 1938. Learn how a chopped Nestlé chocolate bar, an ice pick, wartime care packages, and the rise of refrigerated cookie dough helped transform a regional dessert into a national obsession. The episode also explores: the history of the Toll House Innwhy brown sugar changes cookie texturehow WWII mail systems spread recipes across Americathe origins of chocolate morselsand why chocolate chip cookies became emotional shorthand for comfort and homeIf you love food history, nostalgia, psychology, and the strange stories behind everyday foods, this one’s for you. References & Research Summary Wikipedia — “Chocolate chip cookie”Overview of Ruth Wakefield, the Toll House Inn, the creation of the Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie, Nestlé partnership details, and the spread of the recipe through wartime popularity. Wikipedia — “Ruth Graves Wakefield”Background on Ruth Wakefield’s education, ownership of the Toll House Inn, and development of the cookie recipe in the late 1930s. Wikipedia — “Cookie”History of cookies broadly, including the Dutch origin of the word koekje and early cookie traditions. Wikipedia — “Jumble”Historical information on jumbles, the twisted spice cookies considered predecessors to modern cookies. Wikipedia — “Nestlé Toll House Cafe”Context on the later commercialization and branding legacy of Toll House cookies. Wikipedia — “Nestlé”Information on Nestlé’s baking chocolate products and the development of chocolate morsels/chips for baking. Smithsonian Magazine — “Cracking Open the History of Chocolate Chip Cookies”Additional historical context around the Toll House recipe, Ruth Wakefield, and the cultural rise of the chocolate chip cookie. U.S. National WWII Museum — wartime mail and care package resourcesUsed for information about military mail logistics, morale, care packages, and how recipes spread among soldiers during World War II. Historical references on wartime postal systems and V-MailUsed to explain how letters and packages moved through military mail depots, ships, and overseas sorting systems during WWII. General food science references on sugar chemistryUsed for explanations of brown sugar, molasses, hygroscopicity, chewiness, and cookie texture differences between white and brown sugar.

    13 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

A podcast for people who love true crime and the strange details that make each story unforgettable. From beer steins tucked into a Hitler assassination attempt to poutine wrapped up in a drug bust, each episode blends history, humor, and crime through the lens of food, revealing how overlooked culinary details shape famous cases and survival stories. Hosted by Leah Llach, a true crime fan and culinary content creator, the show delivers short, fascinating episodes that explore culture, behavior, and the unexpected ways food shows up in crime. Bite-sized episodes drop every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    Leah Llach
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Llach
  • Show Website
    True Crime Culinary

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