It was October 23rd, a seemingly ordinary day. But in the kitchens and food labs of history, something quietly remarkable was happening.
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a bustling workshop in early 19th-century France. Candles flicker, wooden barrels line the walls, and a determined inventor kneels over a strange bowl, sealing jars of food in glass containers. That inventor: Nicolas Appert, the pioneer of food canning. Born in 1749–1752, Appert would eventually publish his findings after 14 years of trial, error and persistence and play a crucial role in how we preserve food today.
Meanwhile, across the ocean and closer to what we might call comfort dessert territory, another food story was unfolding. Because yes, on this same day we celebrate the delightful Boston Cream Pie, a cake masquerading as pie, coated with custard and chocolate ganache, and crowned as the official dessert of Massachusetts.
And if you dig a little deeper, it’s also National Canning Day and World Mozzarella Day on the 23rd of October.
So yes — this date? It’s got flavor. It’s got history. And it reminds us how every meal, every snack, every preserved jar holds a story of innovation, tradition, and delight.
Why These Moments Still Matter
Consider this: Appert’s invention didn’t just make lunch easier, it saved lives. Canning allowed armies and explorers to carry food safely. It changed supply chains, kitchens, and the way families thought about food storage.
And the Boston Cream Pie? Well, it’s a reminder that joy can be layered. That dessert goes beyond sweetness, it’s about the spectacle, the comfort, and the memory. So many kitchens still recreate it because it tells a great story.
What You Can Do Today
If today’s historic food stories have you inspired, why not bring a little of that legacy into your kitchen?
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Open a jar of something preserved — maybe you canned it, maybe you picked it up. Think about the hands that sealed it.
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Bake something layered and luxurious like the Boston Cream Pie. Take a moment to savour each layer.
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Ask yourself: how can I preserve and protect flavour in my own kitchen? Not just food, but memories?
At Flourish Spices and African Food, we’re all about stories through food, the spice blends your grandmother used, the recipes that travelled generations. If you’d like to dive deeper into flavour, heritage and home-cooked tradition, we’re here.
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