True Crime Culinary

Leah Llach
  • 5.0 (7)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 33: Gu gel and the Chicago Marathon Heatwave

    1D AGO

    Episode 33: Gu gel and the Chicago Marathon Heatwave

    The history of endurance sports is basically the history of humans trying to avoid bonking by aggressively eating increasingly weird snacks. This week on True Crime Culinary, Leah Llach looks at the 2007 Chicago Marathon heat disaster, the sticky rise of PowerBar and GU, California’s endurance culture boom, and why athletes went from believing food during races was weakness… to carrying caffeinated sugar goo in tiny foil packets. Also: mountain bikes, ultramarathon aid stations, and why humans eventually realized they actually like chewing. This episode references reporting and historical information related to the 2007 Chicago Marathon heat disaster, endurance fueling, women’s marathon history, and the rise of California endurance culture. Sources include historical information on PowerBar and founder Brian Maxwell, early mountain biking pioneers Gary Fisher and Joe Breeze, the 2007 Chicago Marathon, and marathon pioneers Kathrine Switzer, Stamata Revithi, and Marie-Louise Ledru. Additional information on endurance physiology, glycogen depletion, and carbohydrate fueling during exercise was referenced from peer-reviewed sports nutrition research. PowerBar HistoryBrian Maxwell BiographyJoe Breeze BiographyGary Fisher Biography2007 Chicago Marathon OverviewStamata Revithi BiographyMarie-Louise Ledru BiographyKathrine Switzer BiographyNutrition and Athletic Performance Research Review

    22 min
  2. Episode 32 - Fortune Cookies and the Order That Solved the Murder

    MAY 14

    Episode 32 - Fortune Cookies and the Order That Solved the Murder

    Fortune cookies aren’t actually Chinese — and their history connects immigration, war, restaurant culture, and one devastating murder investigation in Queens. In this episode of True Crime Culinary, Leah traces the surprising origins of fortune cookies from Japanese tea gardens to Chinese takeout counters across America. Along the way, she explores how World War II and the internment of Japanese Americans reshaped restaurant culture in the United States, how fortune cookies became mass produced, and how a Chinese food delivery order helped investigators solve the 2000 murder of restaurant owner and delivery driver Jin-Sheng Liu. From handwritten fortunes to forensic timelines, this is a story about food, history, labor, and the strange paper trails we leave behind. References YouTube — Fortune Cookie History VideoSmithsonian Magazine — “Cracking Open the History of Fortune Cookies”Wikipedia — Internment of Japanese AmericansThe New York Times — “Owner of Restaurant in Queens Is Killed During a Delivery”The New York Times — “Teenagers Accused of Killing for a Free Meal”ABC News — “Prosecutor: Five Teens Order Takeout, Kill Deliveryman”

    15 min
  3. Episode 31 - Snickers and the Foiled Race Horse Doppelgänger

    MAY 7

    Episode 31 - Snickers and the Foiled Race Horse Doppelgänger

    A horse wins a race by a hair… and then the paint starts dripping down its legs. This week on True Crime Culinary, Leah dives into one of the strangest scandals in horse racing history: the 1984 Fine Cotton scandal, where gamblers swapped a racehorse, used spray paint to disguise it, and nearly pulled off the perfect betting con. But somehow, this story also leads directly to the history of Snickers — the candy bar named after a real horse. From the rise of Mars Incorporated during the Great Depression to Olympic sponsorships, endurance athletes, and one extremely questionable spray-paint decision, this episode looks at how money, perception, and horses collided in one absolutely batshit true story. 🎧 New episodes every Thursday. Grab a snack — preferably one not named after a racehorse involved in fraud. References / Sources “Snickers.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snickers “Fine Cotton scandal.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_CottonMars Incorporated — “Our History.” https://www.mars.com/about/history “Facts About SNICKERS® | Candy Bar History and Contact.” https://www.snickers.com/our-story “Story and history of Snickers, Mars and other classic chocolate bars.” https://harshchocolates.com/blogs/news/the-story-of-how-the-all-classic-chocolate-bars-mars-snickers-and-more YouTube — “Fine Cotton Scandal” documentary/video source. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyOx32awSXQYouTube — horse racing/Fine Cotton coverage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYq1qwvB3coYouTube — additional Fine Cotton scandal coverage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1WNDyilNY

    11 min
  4. Episode 30: Ketchup History and the Ketchup Assault

    APR 29

    Episode 30: Ketchup History and the Ketchup Assault

    Where does ketchup come from—and why does it taste so good?In this episode of True Crime Culinary, we explore the origin of ketchup (from Chinese kê-tsiap to tomato-based Heinz) and break down a real fast food incident sparked by a ketchup dispute. Learn how ketchup evolved—and why it’s more powerful than it seems. Heinz Company HistoryOverview of Henry J. Heinz founding the company in 1869, early failure in 1875, and relaunch in 1876 with tomato ketchup, along with the brand’s focus on purity, transparency, and large-scale production. Ketchup (Wikipedia)Traces ketchup back to the Chinese fermented fish sauce kê-tsiap, its evolution into mushroom and walnut versions in Europe, and the eventual shift to tomato-based ketchup in the 1800s. Flandrin, Jean-Louis, and Massimo Montanari. What We Eat: A Global History of Food.Explains how foods evolve through trade and cultural exchange—ketchup as a combination of Asian origins (name), Latin American ingredients (tomatoes), and Western industrialization (modern form).Hunt’s (Wikipedia)Background on the Hunt’s brand as a major U.S. tomato processor producing sauces, ketchup, and canned tomatoes—highlighting how ketchup became part of a broader tomato industry beyond Heinz. News report detailing a real fast-food altercation involving a dispute over ketchup packets that escalated into physical violence, forming the basis for the episode’s cold open narrative.

    12 min
  5. Episode 29: Betty Crocker and the History of Brownies

    APR 23

    Episode 29: Betty Crocker and the History of Brownies

    Where did brownies actually come from—and how did they go from a color-themed party trend to one of the most trusted desserts in America? In this episode of True Crime Culinary, Leah Llach explores the surprisingly layered history of the Chocolate brownie—from 1880s “brown” dinner parties and molasses-based proto-recipes to the rise of boxed mixes and the invention of Betty Crocker (who, famously, wasn’t even real). Along the way, we look at how brownies became a global, adaptable dessert—from British traybakes to matcha brownies in Japan—and why their structure makes them one of the most common foods for modification, including cannabis edibles. Finally, we examine a modern case where THC-laced brownies were accidentally served at a dinner party, sending multiple guests to the hospital—raising a bigger question: Why do we trust certain foods without thinking twice? If you’ve ever wondered: Who invented brownies?Why are brownies so popular worldwide?Why are brownies commonly used for edibles?And how food can become a vehicle for unintended harm…This episode is for you. New bite-sized episodes drop every Thursday. Grab a snack—it’s time to dig in. THC-Laced Brownie Dinner Party CaseChocolate Brownie – History & Origins (Wikipedia)The Boston Cooking-School Cook BookBetty Crocker History (General Mills Archives)Palmer House Hotel Brownie History

    13 min
  6. Episode 28 - The History of Tailgating and the Game That Made It Worth Showing Up Early For

    APR 16

    Episode 28 - The History of Tailgating and the Game That Made It Worth Showing Up Early For

    Football used to be chaos. Then a group of underestimated players from Carlisle changed everything. In this episode: the real story behind the forward pass, the rise of Jim Thorpe, and how a system built to erase identity ended up reshaping America’s game—right down to the snacks. Pro Football Hall of Fame — Jim Thorpehttps://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-thorpe→ Thorpe’s career, stats, and legacy as one of the most dominant multi-sport athletes ever National Park Service — Carlisle Indian Industrial Schoolhttps://www.nps.gov/articles/the-carlisle-indian-industrial-school-assimilation-with-education-after-the-indian-wars-teaching-with-historic-places.htm→ Historical overview of the boarding school system and its assimilation policies Wikipedia — American Football (history overview)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football→ Evolution of rules, early gameplay structure, and modernization timelineSouth Dakota State Library Guide — Commodity Foodshttps://libguides.sdstate.edu/...→ Government-issued foods (flour, lard, canned goods) and their nutritional limitations in Native communitiesNPR — “Gridiron Guts: The Story of Football’s Carlisle Indians”https://www.npr.org/2007/05/19/10217979/gridiron-guts-the-story-of-footballs-carlisle-indians→ Narrative storytelling of Carlisle’s football legacy and cultural impactYouTube — Carlisle Football Storyhttps://youtu.be/tM1lgnBN_AU→ Visual storytelling and historical context for the team and gameplay

    15 min
  7. Episode 27: The KitKat Heist and Why Chocolate Had to Be Broken

    APR 9

    Episode 27: The KitKat Heist and Why Chocolate Had to Be Broken

    Before KitKat, chocolate had a problem—it was messy, melty, and weirdly inconvenient to eat. So in 1935, one factory set out to fix it. The solution? A chocolate bar you could snap—built for quick breaks, clean bites, and factory-floor practicality. But behind that simple design is a stranger story: A name borrowed from a 1700s pie club. A worker suggestion that reshaped how we eat chocolate. A global brand split between two competing companies. And a modern-day heist—where over 12 tons of KitKats vanished mid-transit. Because sometimes, the smartest food designs…are the ones worth stealing. Grab a snack. Let’s break it down. KitKat overview & history (origin, design, naming) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Kat Official KitKat brand history (design purpose: “on-the-go” chocolate) https://www.kitkat.com/kitkat-history Nestlé – 90 years of KitKat (brand evolution & global expansion) https://www.nestle.com/media/news/90-years-chocolate-kitkat-breaks Nestlé KitKat campaign / stolen chocolate reference (heist context) https://nestlecorporate.qualifioapp.com/quiz/1776864_2455/CDCG-KITKAT-STOLEN-FORM.html2026 KitKat heist reporting (12-ton theft details) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Kat#Kit_Kat_cargo_heist

    11 min
  8. Episode 26: The secret of Seaweed, Ionized Salt, and Goiters

    APR 2

    Episode 26: The secret of Seaweed, Ionized Salt, and Goiters

    A mysterious swelling. A missing nutrient. And a cure hiding in plain sight. This episode traces how ancient remedies, coastal diets, and one simple ingredient—seaweed—helped solve a silent public health crisis. Long before scientists understood iodine, people were already treating the problem… they just didn’t know why. Follow for more bite-sized stories where food quietly changes everything. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine_deficiencyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodised_salthttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509517/https://www.thyroid.org/iodine-deficiency/https://www-sciencedirect-com.paloaltou.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S1521690X23000192

    14 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
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Llach
  • Show Website
    True Crime Culinary

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