Discover meals inspired by history's most fascinating figures (40 recipes)
Inspired by Ireland
Ireland's national dish — a modern Mark Moriarty-style Irish stew with browned lamb neck, root vegetables, and pearl barley, served alongside a classic yeast-free brown soda bread.
Inspired by Cameroon
Cameroon's national dish — bitter leaves and spinach cooked down in a rich ground peanut and beef broth sauce, loaded with stewing beef and finished with king prawns fried in red palm oil. Served with boiled plantain and dodo.
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway's real hamburger recipe from the JFK Presidential Library archives, made two ways — the Papa Burger as he typed it, and the Wild West Burger with additions scrawled in the margins by his wife Mary.
Inspired by Guatemala
One of Guatemala's oldest dishes — poached chicken in a rich sauce of toasted pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, charred tomatoes, dried ancho and guajillo chillies, and coriander. A pre-Columbian Maya recipe layered with Spanish colonial additions.
Inspired by El Salvador
El Salvador's iconic national dish — thick handmade masa corn tortillas stuffed with chicharrón or refried beans and cheese, served with tangy pickled curtido slaw and charred salsa roja.
Inspired by Egypt
Egypt's iconic street food — rice, black lentils, vermicelli and elbow macaroni piled together and drowned in spiced tomato sauce, with crispy fried onions, garlicky da'ah vinegar sauce and spicy shatta chilli sauce.
Inspired by Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln's chicken fricassee with cream gravy and flaky buttermilk biscuits — the one dish Mary Todd Lincoln could always get him to eat. Based on Eliza Leslie's Directions for Cookery (1837), the bestselling American cookbook of the nineteenth century.
Inspired by Romania
Romanian pickled cabbage rolls stuffed with pork, smoked bacon, and rice, slow-braised with ham hock and tomato — served with soft mămăligă and sour cream
Inspired by Sweden
Soft, pillowy Swedish meatballs — the classic panade method with beef and pork — served with a rich cream and soy gravy
Inspired by Mao Zedong
The Chairman's favorite dish - meltingly tender pork belly braised in Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and aromatics, finished with a glossy reduction
Inspired by Marlon Brando
Indulgent Italian-American hunter-style chicken braised with charred peppers, mushrooms, olives, and red wine in a rich tomato sauce
Inspired by Queen Victoria
A Victorian-era chicken curry from Mrs Beeton's cookbook - the dish that became a palace favorite thanks to Abdul Karim
Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.
Classic Southern soul food - crispy buttermilk fried chicken, creamy baked mac and cheese, and slow-cooked collard greens with smoked meat
Inspired by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's legendary full English breakfast - a hearty meal that fueled Britain's wartime Prime Minister
Inspired by Charles Dickens
Oyster-stuffed mutton was recorded as Charles Dickens's favourite dish in his wife Catherine's 1851 dinner-planning book. This recipe uses lamb shoulder as a modern substitute for mutton, stuffed with bread, oysters, marjoram, and beef dripping, then roasted until tender.
Inspired by Frank Sinatra
Patsy's Italian Restaurant-style veal Milanese with rocket salad, inspired by Frank Sinatra's favourite order.
Inspired by Fryderyk Chopin
Rolady slaskie stuffed with bacon, pickles, and onion, served with braised red cabbage and potato dumplings inspired by Fryderyk Chopin's favourite comfort dinner.
Inspired by Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali's beloved comfort plate of spatchcocked baked chicken, southern-style macaroni and cheese, garlicky spinach, and sweet peas.
Inspired by Sarah Josepha Hale
The full turkey, stuffing, sides, and pumpkin pie feast that Sarah Josepha Hale popularised for America's Thanksgiving table.
Inspired by Al Capone
Silky spaghetti tossed in toasted walnut sauce with garlic, chilli, parsley, and parmesan—a comforting Italian favourite said to be loved by Al Capone.
Inspired by Ozzy Osbourne
The exact Chipotle order of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne - slow-braised barbacoa beef with pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, cheese, sour cream, and tangy tomatillo salsa
Inspired by Pelé
Rich Afro-Brazilian chicken stew from Bahia - fusion cuisine combining West African, Portuguese, and indigenous influences
Inspired by Christopher Columbus
Simple ship's galley pot - broad beans with bacon, bay, and vinegar for warmth and calories at sea
Inspired by Christopher Columbus
The bowl Spanish sailors kept circling back to - chickpeas with salt cod, onion, garlic, and bay
Inspired by Christopher Columbus
Admiral's breakfast aboard the 1492 Atlantic crossing - tooth-shattering hardtack softened with wine, served with manchego cheese, olives, and cured ham
Inspired by John Lennon
The disputed final meal - a classic New York deli sandwich that may have been John Lennon's last
Inspired by John Lennon
John Lennon's favorite breakfast elevated - classic British beans jazzed up with bacon, onion, and mature cheddar
Inspired by John Lennon
Classic British fish & chips with mushy peas and curry sauce - the comfort food of John's Liverpool youth
Inspired by King Shaka
Traditional Zulu beef preparation - from simple ceremonial meat to rich modern stew, showing the evolution of royal cuisine
Inspired by King Shaka
Traditional Zulu samp and beans - from plain warrior fuel to the foundation of South Africa's national dish
Inspired by King Shaka
Traditional Zulu breakfast of crumbly maize porridge served with fermented milk - the foundation of warrior nutrition
Inspired by Freddie Mercury
Freddie's documented favorite curry - a traditional Parsi dish with aromatic spices, lentils, and vegetables
Inspired by Freddie Mercury
Simple yet perfect breakfast featuring homemade preserves, just as Freddie's personal assistant would make
Inspired by Freddie Mercury
A wholesome, healing soup from Freddie's assistant's cookbook - perfect for his light lunch preference
Inspired by Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe's challenging dinner - broiled liver served with exactly 3-5 raw carrot sticks
Inspired by Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe's surprisingly simple lunch - spaghetti with only blended tomatoes and olive oil
Inspired by Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe's actual breakfast routine - a warm milk and raw egg drink with multivitamins
Inspired by Albert Einstein
A comforting pasta dish that would have satisfied the brilliant physicist during his Princeton years
Inspired by Albert Einstein
A perfectly crafted grilled cheese sandwich that provided Einstein with a quick, satisfying meal between his scientific breakthroughs
Inspired by Albert Einstein
A simple yet elegant breakfast dish that fueled the genius mind of Albert Einstein