Delicious History

Delicious History: culinary research in restaurants, archives, and my own kitchen, in Tampa and beyond.

My fascination with food followed soon after I discovered history in my early 20s. Things haven’t been the same since. In a fashion, my personal, academic, and professional passions have mixed to such an extent that it makes sense to let them simmer together. I find that so much of my passion is connected to food (and writing) that it makes sense to record it in some way. If I had started this in 2000 when i first considered it, I’d have many a tasty story to tell.

I am Andrew Huse, a historian, librarian, and food writer interested in approaching culinary research and writing from multiple angles. I will share my historic research about food and cooking (mostly in Florida), but will also write first-person accounts of my own experiences in restaurants and my own kitchen. In short, I want this site to reflect my broad interests related to food, history, and writing.

Although I became interested in food and history in an academic setting, I think academia is terribly limited in sharing information directly with the general public. When you write an article for an academic journal, very few see it, and if you’re lucky, your writing will be buried in an electronic database. I think there is far too much to be gained by exchanging information directly online. I am interested in hearing people’s own thoughts and recommendations and reactions to my writing, to correct my mistakes or add their own thoughts.

Finally, I hope this site will act as an effective platform to promote my writing. I have just finished my second book project (more on that later), and I look forward to writing another, to be titled “Florida’s Delicious History.” I am especially interested in finding local Florida stories that tell a larger tale about changing food culture in the U.S. and the world.

I have thought about establishing this site for a long time and will make every effort to post at least one to three times a week. With any luck, we’ll have some fun and I’ll find more writing and publishing opportunities in the process.