True Crime Culinary

Leah Llach

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. 6d ago

    Episode 47: The History of Sprinkles and the Secret Connection to Marathon

    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 What’s the history of sprinkles—and what could they possibly have to do with marathon running? This week on True Crime Culinary, we’re tracing sprinkles back through Dutch hagelslag, anise-flavored candy, and the surprisingly complicated family of plants that includes anise, fennel, star anise, and licorice. Along the way, we’ll find out how sprinkles are made, why the Dutch put chocolate hagelslag on bread, and how fennel gave the town of Marathon its name—eventually inspiring the 26.2-mile race we know today. And because this is True Crime Culinary, there’s also the small matter of 186 ancient cuneiform tablets smuggled through customs in bags of aniseed. From sprinkles to smuggling to marathon running, this one takes a very weird route.

    Episode 47: The History of Sprinkles and the Secret Connection to Marathon

  2. Aug 13

    Episode 46: Ice Cream and The Woman Who Churned Her Way Into 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 How did humans make ice cream before freezers existed? This week on True Crime Culinary, we're following ice cream from ancient ice houses and massive blocks hauled down mountains to the invention that changed homemade ice cream forever. We explore Persian yakhchals, the international ice trade, why bigger blocks of ice melt more slowly, and how adding salt somehow makes ice colder. Then we meet Nancy Johnson, the woman who patented the hand-cranked ice cream freezer in 1843—and whose story takes an unexpected turn during the Civil War, when she traveled to South Carolina to teach formerly enslaved people during the Port Royal Experiment. Finally, we head back to Florida and the ice cream truck driver whose search for the men who shot him became a deadly obsession. From hauling ice off mountains to 18 pounds of ice cream per American per year, this is the surprisingly complicated—and occasionally criminal—history of keeping things frozen. References Surface Area to Volume Ratio / Ice Explanation — YouTube Ancient Ice-Making Machines Found in the Persian Desert: The Yakhchāl — YouTube Harvesting Glaciers With the Last Ice Merchant — YouTube Nancy M. Johnson's 1843 “Artificial Freezer” Patent — Google Patents The Inventive “Queens of Ices” — Smithsonian Lemelson Center Ice Cream Inventions: How the Chill Happened — Library of Congress The Story of Ice Cream — Royal Society of Chemistry The Ice Trade — PBS NOVA Frederic Tudor: The King of Ice — National Geographic First International Ice Trader: Frederic Tudor — Guinness World Records Encyclopaedia Iranica — “Yakhchal” — History and construction of Persian ice-storage structures and early references to storing and transporting ice. Baltazar Ushca / Chimborazo ice harvesting — Ushca continued the centuries-old tradition of harvesting glacial ice from Ecuador's Mount Chimborazo, wrapping the blocks in straw and transporting them down the mountain by donkey. National Park Service — “Education During the Port Royal Experiment” — Education of formerly enslaved adults and children in the South Carolina Sea Islands during the Civil War. National Park Service — “The Legacy of the Port Royal Experiment” — Port Royal's role as an early model for Reconstruction, Black land ownership, education and freedom after slavery. Penn Center — History of the Penn School on St. Helena Island and its later role in the Civil Rights Movement. Florida v. Michael Keetley: Verdict — Court TV 10 Tampa Bay — Michael Keetley Found Guilty in 2010 Murders — Coverage of Keetley's 2023 retrial and conviction for the murders of Juan and Sergio Guitron and attempted murders of four other men.

    Episode 46: Ice Cream and The Woman Who Churned Her Way Into History

  3. Aug 7

    Bonus Episode 3: Is the Forgotten Oreo Named Hydrox?

    A half-eaten Oreo helped solve a burglary. Seriously. In this bonus episode of True Crime Culinary, we unravel the bizarre true crime story of a burglar whose snack became the key piece of evidence. Investigators recovered DNA from a half-eaten Oreo left at the crime scene, helping identify the suspect. That strange case led to an even stranger discovery... Oreo wasn't the original chocolate sandwich cookie. Four years before Oreo debuted, a cookie called Hydrox was already on grocery shelves. So how did the original become the forgotten one? Join me as we dive into the early 1900s Biscuit Wars, the rise of industrial baking, the birth of Nabisco, and the fascinating rivalry between Hydrox and Oreo. Along the way, we'll explore why Oreo's filling is called "creme," how black cocoa creates its signature flavor, why the recipe changed to become kosher, and how Oreo eventually became one of the world's most recognizable brands. We'll also meet Jacob Loose, the entrepreneur behind Hydrox, explore the lasting legacy of Sunshine Biscuits, and discover why there's an Oreo vault near the North Pole. Turns out there's a lot more history hiding inside a cookie than you might expect. In this episode: The burglary solved by a half-eaten Oreo The true story behind Hydrox, the original sandwich cookie The Biscuit Wars and the rise of Nabisco Why Oreo wasn't actually first What's really inside an Oreo Black cocoa, "creme," and cookie chemistry How Oreo became kosher The rise of cookies-and-cream ice cream Jacob Loose and the legacy of Sunshine Biscuits Why Oreo became the world's most famous sandwich cookie 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 News 5 Cleveland. That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles: Akron Burglar Caught After DNA Found on Half-Eaten Cookie. Cleveland 19 News. Caught by Cookie: DNA Evidence Leads Akron Police to Suspect. Wikipedia – Hydrox: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrox Wikipedia – Sunshine Biscuits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Biscuits Wikipedia – Jacob Loose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Loose Wikipedia – Oreo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreo Serious Eats. The History of Oreo and Hydrox. Atlas Obscura. The Curious History of Hydrox Cookies. Cornell University (Joe Regenstein). How the Oreo Became Kosher. Mondelēz International. Twist, Lick, Dunk: Oreo Milestones and Brand Statistics. South Dakota State University Dairy Bar. History of Cookies and Cream Ice Cream. Oreo. Official Product Information and Ingredients.

    Bonus Episode 3: Is the Forgotten Oreo Named Hydrox?

  4. Aug 6

    Episode 45: M&M's Inspired by Civil War and The Roofman

    What do a fugitive hiding in the ceiling of a Toys "R" Us, the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and outer space all have in common? M&M's. In this episode of True Crime Culinary, we uncover the bizarre true story of Jeffrey "Roofman" Manchester, who secretly lived above a Toys "R" Us and survived in part on Peanut M&M's. From there, we trace the surprising history of one of the world's most recognizable candies. Learn how Forrest Mars reportedly found inspiration during the Spanish Civil War, why M&M's became part of U.S. military rations during World War II, how the candy's famous sugar shell actually works, why Mars is one of the world's most secretive companies, how consumers voted Blue M&M's into existence, and why astronauts still take M&M's into space. If you've ever wondered where M&M's came from—or why they melt in your mouth, not in your hand—this episode has the answers. 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: Mars, Incorporated – History of M&M's and Mars companyNASA – Space food and astronaut snacksU.S. Army historical ration informationHershey Archives – D-Ration historyThe Roofman case reporting and court recordsPeople magazine and Associated Press coverage of Jeffrey ManchesterThe Guardian – Background on the Roofman storySpanish Civil War historical overviewsRowntree confectionery historyHistory of chocolate panning and sugar-shell confectioneryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPHh2ygDg9whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMojC4-xilAMars corporate historyNASA food systemsHershey ArchivesHistories of the Spanish Civil WarHistories of chocolate manufacturing

    Episode 45: M&M's Inspired by Civil War and The Roofman

  5. Jul 30

    Episode 44: The Jolly Rancher Origin Story and the Mold That Flavors Our Food

    This week on True Crime Culinary, a drug bust involving cocaine disguised as individually wrapped candy sent me down a surprisingly sweet rabbit hole. How did hard candy become so intensely fruity? Where did Jolly Ranchers come from? And why does one of the world's most common food ingredients come from... mold? Join me as we explore the history of sugar, the invention of hard candy, the origins of Jolly Ranchers, the chemistry behind fruit flavor, and the remarkable story of citric acid—from Sicilian lemon groves to modern fermentation tanks. Along the way, we'll discover why citric acid is found in everything from sports drinks to candy... and even why it unexpectedly appears in discussions about heroin. Finally, we'll return to the New York drug investigation that began this episode to see how traffickers attempted to disguise cocaine as candy—and why something as ordinary as a colorful wrapper can become the perfect disguise. 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 ReferencesPrimary Sources U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "NYDETF Seizes $2 Million Worth of Cocaine Concealed as Candy." (2017)https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2017/05/04/nydetf-seizes-2-million-worth-cocaine-concealed-candyAthens-Clarke County Police Department / Athens Banner-Herald. Drug Unit Seizes Candy-Infused Fentanyl and Opioids.https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/crime/2021/08/04/police-drug-unit-seize-candy-infused-opioid-fentanyl-athens/5482992001/Hershey Company – Jolly Rancher Brand Historyhttps://www.hersheyland.com/products/jolly-rancherWikipedia – Jolly Rancherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_RancherWikipedia – Sugarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SugarWikipedia – History of Sugarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sugarWikipedia – Hard Candyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_candyWikipedia – Citric Acidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acidEncyclopedia Britannica – Citric Acidhttps://www.britannica.com/science/citric-acidNational Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Citric Acid Production by Aspergillus nigerhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4137190/Exchange Supplies – Citric & Vitamin C for Heroin Preparationhttps://www.exchangesupplies.org/

    Episode 44: The Jolly Rancher Origin Story and the Mold That Flavors Our Food

  6. Jul 23

    Episode 43: The Great Artichoke War and the Origin of the Edible Thistle

    What do artichokes, the Mafia, and New York City have in common? In the 1930s, organized crime wasn't just making money from gambling and bootlegging—it was allegedly controlling the city's artichoke market. Prices soared, vendors were intimidated, and one of the most unusual battles against organized crime began when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia temporarily banned the sale of baby artichokes to break the racket. In this episode of True Crime Culinary, we explore the incredible true story behind the Great Artichoke War, how organized crime operated like a business, why artichokes became valuable enough to monopolize, and how a spiky Mediterranean thistle found its way to California's coast and onto American dinner tables. Along the way, we'll uncover the Greek myth of Cynara, learn why artichokes are actually unopened flowers, and discover why one of California's most iconic crops once became the center of a Mafia scheme. New bite-sized episodes drop every Thursday. Follow True Crime Culinary on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow TCC on IG and YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary References Primary History Wikipedia – Globe ArtichokeWikipedia – Wild CardoonWikipedia – Fiorello La GuardiaWikipedia – Ciro TerranovaWikipedia – Prohibition in the United StatesWikipedia – Castroville, CaliforniaArtichoke History & Agriculture California Artichoke Advisory Board – History of California artichokesUniversity of California Agriculture & Natural Resources – Artichoke production resourcesMonterey County agricultural reportsMonterey Bay region agricultural historyThe Great Artichoke War & Organized Crime New York Times historical coverage of the 1935 Artichoke WarLibrary of Congress newspaper archivesSmithsonian Magazine articles on Fiorello La Guardia and organized crimeHistorical accounts of New York City's produce markets during the 1930sGreek Mythology Greek myth of Cynara and ZeusClassical references to Cynara and the origin of the artichoke's scientific nameAdditional Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6akN5WclKbc

    Episode 43: The Great Artichoke War and the Origin of the Edible Thistle

  7. Jul 16

    Episode 42: The Brussels Sprout Origin Story & the 13-Hour Dinner Table Hostage

    Did Brussels sprouts always taste this bad... or were we cooking them wrong? This week on True Crime Culinary, a shocking child abuse case involving Brussels sprouts leads to an unexpected journey through medieval Belgium, plant evolution, kitchen technology, and modern food science. Discover how Brussels sprouts evolved chemical defenses against insects, why they're part of the same plant family as broccoli and cabbage, how expensive fuel and changing cooking habits made boiling the norm, and why roasting, sheet pans, and Dutch plant breeding transformed one of the world's most hated vegetables into a restaurant favorite. Turns out, Brussels sprouts didn't just change our minds—they actually changed. New bite-sized episodes of True Crime Culinary drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow TCC on IG and YT: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeCulinary https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeculinary References Primary Sources Court reporting and news coverage of the child abuse case involving forced consumption of Brussels sprouts and the subsequent sentencing. YouTube – Why Brussels Sprouts Used to Taste Worsehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaxzEztQcyg YouTube – Why Frost Makes Brussels Sprouts Sweeterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjYlw_mWxFw YouTube – Sheet Pan Cooking / Brussels Sproutshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIZSHuhkGOo&t=30s YouTube – The Surprising History of Aluminumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTIwEQGyZJ0 Background Reading Wikipedia – Brussels sprout Wikipedia – Brassica oleracea Wikipedia – Glucosinolate Wikipedia – Hall–Héroult process Wikipedia – Sheet pan Wikipedia – Gastropub Wikipedia – Maillard reaction Wikipedia – Caramelization Royal Horticultural Society – Growing and harvesting Brussels sprouts Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – Brussels sprouts nutrition and cooking

    Episode 42: The Brussels Sprout Origin Story & the 13-Hour Dinner Table Hostage

  8. Jul 9

    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

    Episode 41: The Hamburger Origin Story & the Wendy's Hamburglar
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5
out of 5
9 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
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Llach
  • Show Website
    True Crime Culinary

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