What they were growing, serving, eating in other 20…11 years.

11,000BC Grain is begun to be grown in the Near East. Land is cleared for food production using fire.

2000BC Cattle begin to be raised in the near East. Africa begins to cultivate watermelon, Arabia grows figs, tea and bananas are grown in India, and apples in the Indus Valley.

1150BC In Egypt, leavened bread for the aristocrats as well as wine and beer. The villagers have flat bread.

311BC Rome enjoys pure drinking water after aqueduct completed the previous year.

200BC Japanese produce salt for food preservation from dried seaweed, and early miso from soy beans. Rice production begins there too, and possibly sake. 

110BC The Romans begin to cultivate oysters near the present-day Naples.

110AD Ginger and cassia (cinnamon) are two major spices being traded by China on the Silk Road into Eastern Europe.

711 Moors invade the Iberian Peninsula and introduce irrigation and other agricultural practices. They bring saffron, rice and sugar.

1011 Hardier and better cropping strains of rice are imported into China from Vietnam.

1110 Les Halles, the famous French food markets open with a few fish stalls outside the palace walls in Paris.

1511 With the capture of Malacca (now in Malaysia) the Portuguese have control of the spice trade in the Far East. The first description of New World corn is given to the Spanish court by an Italian scholar.

1711 British dining habits begin to change with tea instead of beer served at breakfast.

1811 The Russian practice (a la Russe) of serving meals in courses begins to be fashionable. Sugar beet production begins in France.

A hundred years ago:

1911 Stainless steel is patented in the US. Crisco, the first solid hydrogenated vegetable shortening is made. First corn oil made. Michelin Guide for Britain and Ireland published.

Seventy-five years ago:

1936 The first Giant Food Store supermarket opens in Washington D.C. Soya bean oil is manufactured. The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer is published. The Mars Bar (originally Mars Almond Bar) introduced by Mars Candy Co. Dom Pérignon Champagne introduced by Moët.

Fifty years ago:

1961 Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle is published.

Twenty-five years ago:

1986 First genetically altered plants released in the US. Microwavable popcorn developed. McDonald’s and Burger King release ingredient information for the first time

(facts from The Food Chronology, James Trager, Aurum, Press, 1996)