As a general rule, the inventors of technological devices or procedures are well known to most people. We have all heard of Marconi, Bell, Edison, Tesla, Steve Jobs, Marie Curie.... We also assume that everything related to food, except on rare occasions, is the result of anonymous work and tradition, not being able to grant the invention to no one in particular. This last statement is only partially true since many recipes, culinary procedures and even food itself are the result of the genius of individuals who have not deserved the same consideration as the 'other' inventors. Let's look at some of these forgotten genious.
The Fork
Mayonnaise
Officially, mayonnaise was invented by the Duke of Richelieu's cook in 1756, although it was the island of Menorca, Spain, where the French were 'inspired' to make it. In fact, the original name would be "mahonesa" which comes from the Menorcan city of Mahón.
French fries
The French and Belgians dispute the invention of French fries. The truth is that in the eighteenth century they were introduced in the United States where they have been known since then as "french fries". That name has done a lot of damage to the claims of invention of the Belgians.
The sandwich
The modern sandwich - two slices of sliced bread enclosing a piece of food - was invented in 1762 by John Montagu, an English aristocrat very fond of cards. It was very difficult to get this individual off the table where he played his games, so he asked his cook to prepare a quick snack that he could enjoy without interrupting the game.
Carbonated drinks
Joseph Priestley was the first to add gas to a liquid in 1767. However, the first to use the method to apply it to drinks was a German businessman based in Geneva called Johann Jacob Schweppe (from whose name comes the famous Schweppes brand) who in 1792 was already marketing a carbonated refreshing drink.
The can
Although it may seem strange, the invention of the tin can had a "warlike" interest. One of the biggest headaches of ancient armies was having the logistics necessary to feed the troops without having to sack the ground they walked on. Being able to transport food in directly consumable rations and also that these were long-lasting greatly simplified the provisioning of the army. In 1810 Peter Durant invented the first can of preserves, very different from the current ones. To open it, it was necessary to use a hammer and a chisel. It wasn't until 1858 that Ezra Warner invented the first can opener. The modern can opener with a toothed wheel that cuts the perimeter of the can was not invented until around 1925.
Spanish potato omelette
Although countless legends circulate related to the birth of the most popular recipe of Spanish gastronomy, the truth is that it was created and perfected in Navarra, northern Spain, at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century by anonymous people. The Spanish brought the potato from America but, convinced that it was poisonous, they only cultivated it as a decorative plant. It was Frederick II of Prussia who forced German peasants to eat the potatoes they grew until that moment to feed their cattle. In this way he intended to end the endemic hunger of the population. Thanks to this order of the Prussian king, from the 18th century, potato cultivation became popular throughout Europe. There are no potato recipes in Europe before the 18th century, despite being present there since the 16th century.
Neither were the Spaniards the ones that used the tomato in cooking, despite having also brought the plant from America shortly after conquering Mexico. That honor belongs to the Neapolitans who used it for the first time in a recipe in the 17th century.
Potato chips
It is known in detail who created this culinary marvel so vilified by dieticians. The artist's name was George Crum, an African-American cook at the Moon Lake Lodge in Saratoga Springs, New York, back in 1853. Fed up with being told by a customer that he cut the potatoes too thick, he cut them with a knife until they were so fine that were almost transparent. He fried them and served to the customer, sure that he would notice the mockery. To his surprise they were hugely successful.
Russian salad
This is a right name for this recipe since its origin is Russia and it is still a very popular dish in that country. It was invented by Lucien Olivier, the chef of the well-known Hermitage restaurant in Moscow in 1860. For this reason in some countries, including Russia, it is known as olivier salad. The Hermitage restaurant closed in 1905 without revealing the secret of the recipe. In other words, nobody knows what the first recipe for the Russian salad was.
The coke
Despite the fame of this drink, few are able to remember its creator. It was in 1886 when Dr. John Pemberton invented it in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year Josephine Cochran invented the first practical dishwasher.
Peach Melba
Invented by Auguste Escoffier in 1892 in honor of Australian opera singer Nellie Melba. Escoffier is the father of modern French cuisine.
Tarte Tatin
This French tart, the result of cooking apples and then turning them over on a puff pastry base, was created by two French sisters who ran a hotel in 1898. The tart that gave rise to this recipe began to be cooked like a conventional apple tart, but some pieces of fruit were burned and the sisters tried to save it by placing a piece of puff pastry on the pan. This 'mistake' was so successful that it became the restaurant's most requested recipe.
Corn flakes
They were invented in 1894 by the Kellogg brothers. The Kellogg brothers ran a spa and forced their clients to follow a strict vegetarian diet, partly as a therapeutic method but mainly because such a diet was required by their Adventist religion. Testing new ways to supply cereals to their customers, they mistakenly created an oatmeal that once toasted was well accepted by their customers. Later they decided to market them adding sugar to make them more palatable, which is why both brothers were about to fight. The Adventist diet is also the origin of Graham cereals, which predate Kellogg's.
Cotton candy
This indispensable element in fairs and amusement parks was invented in 1897 by William Morrison and John Wharton, confectioners from Nashville, Tennessee.
Tea bags
Carton containers for milk
The first carton containers with waterproof plastic began to be marketed in 1932. The concept of the modern tetra brik was created by Erik Wallenberg patenting the tetra pak tetrahedron, within the Swedish company Tetra Pak.
Instant freeze-dried coffee
Invented in 1938 by the Nestlé company at the request of the Brazilian government in order to be able to market it easily and to manage surplus production.
Microwave oven
Patented in 1946 by Percy LaBaron Spencer
Frappé coffee
It was invented at a trade fair held in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1956. One of the commercials on the Nestlé stand used instant coffee in a manual blender intended to make chocolate milkshakes for children.
Freeze-dried mashed potatoes
Invented in 1962 by Edward Asselbergs