National Culinary Arts Month – July 2025

History of National Culinary Arts Month

Before we delve into the history of culinary arts, let’s take a look at what it really is. Culinary arts is basically the art of preparing and presenting food. Trust us, a dish can look 10 times more appetizing if it is presented nicely. This is why the study and profession of culinary arts have managed to gain much respect across the globe. And yes, this is why certain chefs are paid exorbitant salaries.

While the practice of cooking food has existed since the Stone Age, the techniques of cooking evolved with the introduction of earthenware, the availability of different vegetables and herbs, and the domestication of livestock. This is the time when people started experimenting with recipes and different styles of cooking. During the 4th century B.C., the Greek Archestratus wrote the first cookbook poem. Around the world, different societies adopted different styles and theories of cooking. For instance, the Chinese highlighted the five basic taste sensations: sweet, sour, briny, spicy, and bitter.

By the 3rd century B.C., a typical Greek kitchen had numerous cooking utensils that were used to fry and boil different meats and vegetables. By the 18th century, cooking methods had evolved across the world and numerous cooks began sharing their recipes. The first recognized cookbook titled “The Fannie Farmer Cookbook” was published in 1896. Written by Fannie Farmer, the historic book is still available in print today. The obsession with different recipes went a little further in 1946 when NBC aired the first nationally televised cooking show with James Beard. Since radio was more popular during that time, numerous cooking shows were also aired on radio channels.