For all the economic dynamism of the United States in the post-WWII era, America’s food wasn’t so dynamic. It was an era where modernism made processed food prized. TV dinners made meal prep easy and Tang sent astronauts to the moon, parents would remind their children. And you can’t argue with an astronaut.

But, eventually, the spell was broken and Americans started to find enjoyment in food to the point of pastime. Foodies came into existence, and chefs became celebrities as people rediscovered how delicious real, handcrafted, creative food could be. One of the great pied pipers of this movement was Mario Batali.