True Crime Culinary

Leah Llach
  • 5.0 (11)
  • History
  • Weekly

True Crime Culinary explores the strange intersection of food, history, and crime. Hosted by Leah Llach, each bite-sized episode dives into bizarre cases, survival stories, and the inventions, people, and accidents that created the foods we eat every day. Come for the crime. Leave knowing the stories behind what we eat. New episodes every Thursday.

  1. 1d ago

    Bonus Episode 6: Halloween Special: Spooky Apple Stories, Witchcraft & Murder

    Why are apples associated with witches, poison, and death? From poisoned apples in fairy tales to supernatural apple trees and real witchcraft trials, apples have a surprisingly dark history. In this Halloween bonus episode of True Crime Culinary, we investigate the terrifying 1657 case of Jane Brooks, a woman accused of witchcraft after twelve-year-old Richard Jones became mysteriously ill following an encounter involving an apple. Her accusation led to a trial and execution in seventeenth-century England. Then we travel to Japan for the bizarre folklore of Ringo no kai, a supernatural apple-tree spirit with a deeply disturbing appetite. We also explore a Kwakwaka'wakw story in which a comb transforms into a protective thicket of native crabapple trees. Finally, we uncover the gruesome legend of the Bloody Ploughman apple, a real Scottish variety supposedly born from apples stolen by a ploughman who was shot and killed. Are poisoned apples just fairy tales? What happened during England's witch trials? And how did a Scottish apple get such a bloody name? Join us for a Halloween journey through apple folklore, supernatural legends, witchcraft accusations, and the unsettling history behind an everyday fruit. Topics: Witchcraft history, Jane Brooks witch trial, poisoned apple folklore, Japanese yōkai, Ringo no kai, Kwakwaka'wakw crabapple folklore, Bloody Ploughman apple, Scottish murder legends, Halloween history. New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary drop every Thursday. Follow TCC on IG and YT: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary Joseph Glanvill — Saducismus Triumphatus — Historical account of Jane Brooks and Richard Jones. A primary source that advocates belief in witchcraft, not independent proof of its allegations. Slow Food UK — Bloody Ploughman Apple — Scottish cultivar and its origin legend. National Fruit Collection — Bloody Ploughman — Botanical and historical cultivar details. https://yokai.com/ringonokai/?srsltid=AYCX9vKbNbkHDi-xABY5GVb1lZ4HaAiFiWVKAQidGYutiORZbwIjCets https://applesandpeople.org.uk/stories/crabapple/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

    Bonus Episode 6: Halloween Special: Spooky Apple Stories, Witchcraft & Murder

  2. 3d ago

    Episode 56: Apple Bobbing History & the Unsolved Hall–Mills Crabapple Murder

    Why are apples associated with witches, poison, and death? From poisoned apples in fairy tales to supernatural apple trees and real witchcraft trials, apples have a surprisingly dark history. In this Halloween bonus episode of True Crime Culinary, we investigate the terrifying 1657 case of Jane Brooks, a woman accused of witchcraft after twelve-year-old Richard Jones became mysteriously ill following an encounter involving an apple. Her accusation led to a trial and execution in seventeenth-century England. Then we travel to Japan for the bizarre folklore of Ringo no kai, a supernatural apple-tree spirit with a deeply disturbing appetite. We also explore a Kwakwaka'wakw story in which a comb transforms into a protective thicket of native crabapple trees. Finally, we uncover the gruesome legend of the Bloody Ploughman apple, a real Scottish variety supposedly born from apples stolen by a ploughman who was shot and killed. Are poisoned apples just fairy tales? What happened during England's witch trials? And how did a Scottish apple get such a bloody name? Join us for a Halloween journey through apple folklore, supernatural legends, witchcraft accusations, and the unsettling history behind an everyday fruit. Topics: Witchcraft history, Jane Brooks witch trial, poisoned apple folklore, Japanese yōkai, Ringo no kai, Kwakwaka'wakw crabapple folklore, Bloody Ploughman apple, Scottish murder legends, Halloween history. New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary drop every Thursday. Follow TCC on IG and YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary References HISTORY — How Did Apples Become a Halloween Tradition? — Apple bobbing, courtship, and Halloween. National Endowment for the Humanities — Halloween History — Historical newspaper evidence for apple-peeling and mirror divination. University of Missouri Extension — Apple Bobbing and Courtship — Variations on marriage-prediction games. Crab Apple Harvesting from Sault Tribehttps://youtu.be/eVNFtlH2j_s?si=U4zlT-KSOc9SFdNc Extinct Apples and the Golden Age of American Pomology https://youtu.be/Isq1-htLiEk?si=MDdU9Q7BPf53C-gq

    Episode 56: Apple Bobbing History & the Unsolved Hall–Mills Crabapple Murder

  3. Oct 22

    Episode 55: The History of Corn Dogs and the Stolen Virgin Mary

    How did a corn dog help solve the theft of a 300-pound Virgin Mary statue? And who invented the corn dog in the first place? In this episode of True Crime Culinary, host Leah Llach explores the surprisingly disputed history of corn dogs, from George Boyington's Pronto Pup in Oregon and the Fletcher brothers' Texas Corny Dogs to Ed Waldmire's Cozy Dog in Illinois. Discover why corn dogs became a state fair staple, how agricultural fairs began as educational events, and why inexpensive cornmeal made the perfect fried coating. We'll also explore the rise and fall of Hot Dog on a Stick, the popularity of Korean corn dogs, and how this American snack spread around the world. And, of course, we'll return to Wisconsin, where a discarded corn dog helped police track down the people responsible for stealing a church statue. New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary every Thursday, with monthly bonus episodes exploring the unexpected stories behind the foods we eat. References CBS58 — Caught by Corn Dog: Food Clue Catches Theft Suspects Oregon Encyclopedia — Pronto Pups and George Boyington Pronto Pup — Company History Hot Dog on a Stick — Our Story Los Angeles Times — Hot Dog on a Stick Bankruptcy YouTube — Additional Episode Reference

    Episode 55: The History of Corn Dogs and the Stolen Virgin Mary

  4. Oct 8

    Episode 54: Coconut History and the Fruit That Made Bombs

    What do The Lion King, Amelia Earhart, World War I explosives, and a hospital IV have in common? Coconuts. This week on True Crime Culinary, we're cracking open the surprising history of coconuts, starting with a hospital in the Solomon Islands that ran out of IV fluids and turned to coconut water. From how coconuts travel across oceans to why coconut milk became a staple in cuisines around the world, we explore the fruit's remarkable survival skills. Along the way, we meet enormous coconut crabs linked to a theory about Amelia Earhart's disappearance, a German Guinness World Record holder who smashes coconuts with his bare hands, and the coconut oil industry that helped supply wartime explosives while transforming Pacific Island communities. Plus, why does Zazu sing about coconuts in The Lion King? And what's actually the difference between coconut water and coconut milk? American Journal of Emergency Medicine — Coconut Water as an Intravenous Fluid Coconut Origins, Domestication and Dispersal — Scientific Research Coconut Biology and Anatomy Australian National University — The Copra Trade Guinness World Records — Most Coconuts Smashed with One Hand National Geographic — Coconut Crabs and Amelia Earhart YouTube — Additional Coconut Reference References

    Episode 54: Coconut History and the Fruit That Made Bombs

  5. Oct 1

    Episode 53: Animal Crackers and the Clown Riot of 1855

    What do animal crackers have to do with P.T. Barnum, circus elephants, and a group of clowns who started a riot in Toronto? In this bonus episode of True Crime Culinary, we’re exploring how the modern circus grew from horseback performances into enormous traveling spectacles, why circuses and exotic animals became intertwined, and how that history ended up on a little box of animal crackers. Plus, we head to Toronto in 1855, where a fight between circus clowns and firefighters escalated into one of the strangest riots in the city’s history. References:• V&A — The Story of Circus• Smithsonian Magazine — Animal Crackers Freed From Their Cages• Spacing Toronto — The Toronto Circus Riot of 1855• Wikipedia — Toronto Circus Riot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vi0iTKtcvg

    Episode 53: Animal Crackers and the Clown Riot of 1855

  6. Sep 29

    Bonus Episode 5: Goldfish Crackers and the Man Who Survived 27 Years by Robbing Vacationers

    What is the history of Goldfish crackers, and how did a Swiss love story turn into one of America's most recognizable snacks? In this bonus episode of True Crime Culinary, Leah traces Goldfish back to Switzerland, where Oscar J. Kambly created the original Goldfischli in 1958 as a birthday gift for his Pisces wife. From there, we follow Margaret Rudkin—the remarkable founder of Pepperidge Farm—as she brings the little fish crackers to America. Along the way: Julia Child serves Goldfish with martinis, the crackers travel aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, Pepperidge Farm goes to court over competing fish-shaped crackers, and Goldfish briefly become "Chilean Sea Bass" to appeal to grown-ups. Then we return to the Maine woods and Christopher Knight, the "North Pond Hermit," whose hidden campsite contained a 30-ounce container of cheddar Goldfish after nearly three decades of isolation. From Swiss birthday present to space snack to evidence of a life hidden in the woods, Goldfish have had a surprisingly strange journey. References:Kambly — History of GoldfischliPepperidge Farm/Campbell Soup Company — Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm historyMichael Finkel — The Stranger in the WoodsU.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit — Nabisco, Inc. v. PF Brands, Inc.Canadian Breast Cancer Network — Goldfish and managing treatment-related nauseaUCLA Health — Nutrition and familiar foods during cancer treatmentGoldfish — Chilean Sea Bass campaignMichael Finkel / reporting on Christopher Knight and the North Pond Hermit

    Bonus Episode 5: Goldfish Crackers and the Man Who Survived 27 Years by Robbing Vacationers

  7. Sep 24

    Episode 52: Paprika’s History and the Hungarian Red Lead Scandal

    Where does paprika come from, and how did a pepper native to the Americas become one of Hungary’s most famous spices? This week, True Crime Culinary follows the surprising history of paprika from Indigenous American chile peppers to Spanish pimentón, Hungarian paprika, and its eventual return to American kitchens in deviled eggs, potato salad, and BBQ. Plus, we explore the 1994 Hungarian paprika scandal, when lead-contaminated spice sickened more than 100 people. It’s a story of the spice trade, a culinary boomerang, and why paprika became much more than a little red powder. New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary drop every Thursday. Follow TCC on IG and YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary References: Los Angeles Times / Reuters — “Paprika to Go on Sale Again in Hungary” (1994): lead-contaminated paprika, minium, sales ban, new quality controls, and reported illnesses. Magyar Néprajzi Lexikon (Hungarian Ethnographic Encyclopedia) — paprika’s arrival in Europe and Hungary, Balkan/Ottoman connections, and adoption into Hungarian cooking. Nunn & Qian, The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas — origins and global spread of Capsicum peppers after European contact. Oxford Companion to Food — paprika’s New World origins, development of European paprika varieties, and history of the word “paprika.” Foods — research on Spanish paprika production explaining why humid autumn conditions in La Vera led to smoke-drying, in contrast with sun-drying in Murcia. European Union, Pimentón de la Vera PDO specification — traditional smoke-drying, regional climate, production methods, and history of Pimentón de la Vera. The Herb Society of America — Hungarian paprika production, varieties, Szeged and Kalocsa, and traditional Hungarian uses. YouTube — Paprika reference/production video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WtIEZH-sqE YouTube — Paprika reference/production video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuibvlcUKD0

    Episode 52: Paprika’s History and the Hungarian Red Lead Scandal

  8. Sep 16

    Episode 51: Nutmeg History Special — How a Wrong Turn Sent a Ship to Australia

    What does nutmeg have to do with torture, propaganda, punch, and a Dutch ship accidentally sailing to Australia? This week, True Crime Culinary teamed up with Info On The Go for a two-part trip into the strange, fascinating, and surprisingly bloody history of nutmeg. First, Info On The Go explores how a tiny spice from a handful of islands became valuable enough to send European powers sailing across the world to control it. Listen anywhere you get podcasts, but just in case: https://infoonthego.buzzsprout.com/ Then, on True Crime Culinary, Leah picks up the story in 1623 with the Amboyna Massacre—a disputed conspiracy involving the Dutch East India Company (VOC), English merchants, Japanese mercenaries, torture, confessions, and executions. But the story doesn't end there. We follow the spice trade into a 17th-century pamphlet war, the origins of punch, the growing world of European maritime trade, and the maps that helped sailors cross the globe—and sometimes led them somewhere they never intended to go. Listen to both episodes for the full story of how an everyday spice became tangled up with global trade, violence, drinking culture, and the mapping of the world. Part 1: Info On The Go — The History of NutmegPart 2: True Crime Culinary — The Amboyna Massacre New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary drop every Thursday. Follow TCC on IG and YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary References YouTube — Nutmeg / spice trade videoYouTube — Dutch spice trade / history videoWikipedia — NutmegYouTube — Nutmeg / VOC history videoNational Museum of Australia — Dirk Hartog Lands off Western Australia — Hartog’s 1616 VOC voyage, the navigation error that brought the Eendracht to Western Australia, and its subsequent charting of the coastline.

    Episode 51: Nutmeg History Special — How a Wrong Turn Sent a Ship to Australia
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

True Crime Culinary explores the strange intersection of food, history, and crime. Hosted by Leah Llach, each bite-sized episode dives into bizarre cases, survival stories, and the inventions, people, and accidents that created the foods we eat every day. Come for the crime. Leave knowing the stories behind what we eat. New episodes every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    Leah Llach
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Llach
  • Show Website
    True Crime Culinary

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