True Crime Culinary

Leah Llach
  • 4.8 (12)
  • 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. 2d ago

    58: The History of Alfajores and the Alfajor CEO Hostage Robbery

    Where do alfajores come from? Although famous in Argentina, alfajores trace their origins to medieval Arab culinary traditions and Spain, where they were originally made with honey, nuts, and spices. Over centuries, they traveled to Latin America and evolved into the beloved dulce de leche-filled cookies we know today. In this episode of True Crime Culinary, discover the surprising history of alfajores, how different countries made them their own, and the shocking 2019 robbery of Mario Díaz, president of Argentina's iconic Capitán del Espacio alfajor company. From medieval sweets to a targeted factory robbery, this little cookie has quite a story. 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 Find episodes sorted by topic at https://www.truecrimeculinarypodcast.com/ References Argentina's Tourism Secretariat — Alfajores Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage — Alfajores in Medina Sidonia National University of La Plata — Cultural Geography of the Argentine Alfajor Google Arts & Culture — The Alfajor in All Its Forms TN — Sixty Years of Capitán del Espacio TN — The Violent Robbery of Mario Díaz Infobae — Díaz on the Robbery and His Employees Canal 26 — Mario Díaz Interview

    58: The History of Alfajores and the Alfajor CEO Hostage Robbery

  2. Nov 5

    57: The History of Oysters and the Chesapeake Oyster Wars

    What's the history of oysters? How did oysters go from prehistoric survival food to Roman luxury, cheap street food, and eventually something people were willing to shoot each other over? This week on True Crime Culinary, Leah dives into the surprisingly wild history of oysters, from evidence of shellfish consumption 164,000 years ago to ancient Roman oyster farming, Victorian London's oyster obsession, and New York City's once-booming oyster industry. Along the way, we'll meet an oyster entrepreneur, Thomas Downing, who helped people escape slavery and explore the Chesapeake Oyster Wars, when rival fishermen, oyster pirates, and an actual Oyster Navy battled over the right to harvest shellfish. Plus, we'll look at how overharvesting and pollution nearly destroyed oyster populations, and how restoration projects around the world are bringing oysters back to help rebuild marine ecosystems. 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 Find episodes sorted by topic at https://www.truecrimeculinarypodcast.com/ References The Chesapeake Oyster Wars — YouTube — Chesapeake's name, oyster pirates, dredgers versus tongers, and the Oyster Navy. Oyster history — Spotify episode — Additional podcast research. The Wild with Chris Morgan — For Shuck's Sake! Saving Wild Oysters — An excellent episode from The Wild, produced by KUOW, exploring Olympia oysters, their ecological importance, and efforts to restore native oyster populations in the Pacific Northwest. Smithsonian National Museum of American History — Tongers, Dredgers, and the Oyster Police — Historical background on the Oyster Wars and Chesapeake oyster harvesting. U.S. Census — The Oyster Industry (1880) — Historical documentation of the American oyster industry. Chesapeake Bay Foundation — Oyster Reefs — Oyster filtration, reef habitats, and restoration. Billion Oyster Project — Restoring oyster reefs in New York Harbor. United Nations Environment Programme — Australia's Oyster Reef Restoration — How recycled shells are helping rebuild lost oyster reefs.

    57: The History of Oysters and the Chesapeake Oyster Wars

  3. Oct 31

    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

  4. Oct 29

    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 Tribe https://youtu.be/eVNFtlH2j_s?si=U4zlT-KSOc9SFdNc Extinct Apples and the Golden Age of American Pomology https://youtu.be/Isq1-htLiEk?si=MDdU9Q7BPf53C-gq

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

  5. Oct 22

    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

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

  6. Oct 8

    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

    54: Coconut History and the Fruit That Made Bombs

  7. Oct 1

    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

    53: Animal Crackers and the Clown Riot of 1855

  8. 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
See All (63)

4.8
out of 5
12 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
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Llach
  • Show Website
    True Crime Culinary

You Might Also Like