The history of eating in America is the history of America. It is the story of labor, of agriculture, of technology, of innovation. It is also the story of race and class and social status, of immigration and adaptation. As the country shifts with the passage of time, you can see it on our menus. On a more personal level, food is a time travel machine to our memories—and, for many, the way into our soul—whether it’s the regional specialties that remind you of where you came from, the pot roast that’s exactly like the one your mother used to make, or tastes and smells that connect you with ancestors you’ve never met, eating the most ordinary things can transport you. This is the story of food in America. You’ll never eat anything the same way again.