1

Julia Child

Image: Caroline Attwood

Probably the first name that comes to mind when thinking about famous American chefs is Julia Child, and for good reason. This chef, author, and television personality is recognized for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking , and her television programs, like 1963’s The French Chef.

Child began learning to cook after meeting her future husband, Paul, who grew up in a family passionate about food and was known for his sophisticated palate.

2

Emeril Lagasse

Image: Fabrizio Magoni

Another familiar name (one of many) on this list is Emeril Lagasse, a celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author, and regional James Beard Award winner (more on this name later), known for his mastery of Creole and Cajun cuisine.

He is known for catchphrases like "Kick it up a notch!" and "Bam!" and has appeared on a wide variety of cooking shows , including Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril .

3

Paula Deen

Image: Alyson McPhee

The hostess of Paula’s Party is a chef, cookbook author, and TV personality from Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons . She has been the star of several cooking shows, including Paula’s Home Cooking, Positively Paula, Paula’s Best Dishes , and the aforementioned Paula’s Party .

Another show where you might recognize her—though it doesn't bear her name—is MasterChef , where she appears as a guest alongside other well-known chefs, mentoring home cooks through a series of challenges.

4

James Beard

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

If Julia Child is not the first name that comes to your mind when you think of a celebrity chef, then this might be the one. James Beard pioneered television cooking with shows like 1946’s I Love to Eat, taught at The James Beard Cooking School, and lectured extensively. He was a big promoter of American cooking, emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients.

Beard taught and mentored generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts, and published more than twenty books.

5

Leah Chase

Image: Jorge Zapata

The Queen of Creole Cuisine, Leah Chase, was a New Orleans chef, author, and television host, also known for her civil rights advocacy and her extensive African-American art collection . Her restaurant, Dooky Chase, was known as a gathering place during the 1960s for many involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and in 2018, it was named one of the 40 most important restaurants of the past 40 years by Food & Wine .

Leah Chase was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America in 2010, received a lifetime achievement award from the Southern Foodways Alliance in 2000, and was awarded honorary degrees from several universities, among other honors.

6

Bobby Flay

Image: Wyron A

A staple on the Food Network, Bobby Flay has been a prominent figure in American television since 1995, winning several awards and even earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . He has hosted or been a part of several shows, including Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay, 3 Days to Open with Bobby Flay, Throwdown with Bobby Flay , and many more.

He has participated in many shows competing against other chefs, mentoring home chefs, and has hosted many cooking reality shows.

7

Sara Moulton

Image: Holly Stratton

Described as "one of the nation’s most enduring recipe writers and cooking teachers...and a dean of food television and magazines," Sara Moulton is a chef, cookbook author, and television personality. She served as the food editor for ABC’s Good Morning America from 1997 to 2012 and hosted Cooking Live , Cooking Live Primetime , and Sara’s Secrets on the Food Network.

Moulton has authored several cookbooks, including Sara Moulton Cooks at Home (2002), Sara’s Secrets for Weeknight Meals (2005), and Sara Moulton’s Everyday Family Dinners (2010). Since 2008, she has hosted Sara’s Weeknight Meals .

8

Guy Fieri

Image: Manu Ros

This easily recognizable and colorful personality is widely known for hosting many television series on The Food Network, licensing his name to restaurants in cities worldwide, and for his signature flashy shirts and spiky hair. His shows are said to bring an "element of rowdy, mass-market culture to American food television."

A series of TV specials and cooking shows showcase Fieri traveling the country visiting eateries, cooking, participating in and hosting game shows, and making appearances in other chefs’ shows.

9

Mary Ann Esposito

Image: Louis Hansel

Being the hostess of the longest-running television cooking program in America is no small feat, and Mary Ann Esposito—chef, cookbook writer, and central figure of _Ciao Italia_—has achieved just that.

This 30-minute show features Esposito's recipes and cooking tips, along with visits from guest chefs, as she explores the history of Italian cooking and food. The food is made from scratch in the studio, with each dish being prepared in numerous batches and at different recipe stages. This allows Esposito to execute an entire recipe in a matter of minutes, even if it would normally take hours to complete.

10

Anthony Bourdain

Image: Or Hakim

One of the most famous names in American television cooking history is, without a doubt, Anthony Bourdain. After honing his skills in various eateries and graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, including several years as executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan, he became best known for his travel documentaries, where he explored local cuisines from around the world, as well as for his books.

His first food and world-travel television show was A Cook's Tour , which was followed by Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations , The Layover , and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. His funny, philosophical, and daredevil attitude made him a beloved figure in the world of television food shows.

1

Beware of the banana peel!

Image: SHVETS production

It might sound like a scene straight out of The Three Stooges , but we assure you, this was once a legitimate concern. It’s no myth that residents of Waco, Texas are forbidden from eating bananas and tossing the peels into the street. Lawmakers feared horses could slip on the peels and injure themselves.

This is also true for Elmira, New York. A city ordinance from 1899 stated that no person could throw any banana peels—or any other fruit skins—onto the sidewalk. As it happens, back when bananas were introduced to the northern states, they were very cheap and people usually bought them in bulk. The surplus was huge and the waste was becoming a problem. In fact, in 1893 a woman sued the city after slipping on a banana peel, falling on the sidewalk, and breaking her leg.

2

Dueling candidates

Image: various illustrators, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It may sound old-fashioned, but this law is still in effect in West Virginia. To be eligible as governor, a candidate must not only be at least 30 years old and have resided in the state for at least five years preceding the election, but they must also never have participated in a duel.

According to §6-5-7 of the West Virginia Code, any citizen who sends or accepts a challenge or participates in a duel with deadly weapons "shall ever thereafter be incapable of holding any office of honor, trust or profit in this state." By the end of the American Civil War dueling had become almost obsolete, but for some reason, The Mountain State is one of the few states that still hasn’t repealed its dueling laws.

3

Extraterrestrial exposure

Image: Bradley Dunn

Despite popular opinion, Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations did not make it illegal for Americans to have contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles. Instead, the law was enacted just before the Apollo 11 mission to give the government authority to quarantine astronauts in case they became contaminated with an alien virus during their moonwalk.

This regulation, best known as the Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Law was adopted by NASA in 1969. It stipulated that astronauts be kept in isolation for 21 days after their liftoff from the Moon in case there was a remote possibility that they were harboring "unknown lunar organisms that might endanger life on Earth." The rule was revoked in 1977 and formally repealed in 1991.

4

Women vote

Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that although American women were not universally granted the right to vote until 1920, state laws in New Jersey allowed them to vote as early as 1776 ? In 1790, when the New Jersey State Constitution was reformed, it formalized what the previous constitution had only implied: that propertied women could vote.

A few years later, a law expanded the previous election reforms and allowed women without "clear estate" to vote too. So, after the adoption of this 1797 law, the number of women voters at the polls significantly increased. New Jersey women enthusiastically exercised their rights until 1807, when the state finally restricted voting to white men.

5

Keep it classy

Image: Clay Banks

If you want to live in North California, you have to follow some rules of good taste. In 1998, the city of Wilson outlawed the keeping of upholstered furniture on front porches, on the basis that the practice was unsightly and tacky.

A year later, the town of Morganton followed suit, outlawing couches, recliners, and similar indoor furniture from verandas and yards. Mel Cohen, the city mayor at the time, said that outdoor furniture was drawing many complaints, so the city embarked on a quest to "beautify" the neighborhoods. Violators of the ordinance could be fined up to $300 for their offense.

6

Three-second hugging

Image: Mary Taylor

By the beginning of the 21st century, the rules of public displays of affection seemed to be changing and left previous generations in a state of confusion. In 2009, after noticing an increasing number of students embracing in the hallways, school officials in Hillsdale, New Jersey, implemented a "three-second hugging" rule. Apparently, adults were concerned that the constant displays of affection could disrupt the flow of hallway traffic.

Teenagers argued that the gesture was entirely unromantic and merely a way of saying "hello." However, schools preferred to go back to the old handshake in order to maintain an atmosphere of academic seriousness and to prevent any instances of unwanted physical contact.

7

Blue sundaes

Image: Markus Spiske

Ever heard of "blue laws"? Blue laws are rules that once banned certain activities on Sundays, adopted originally for religious reasons. Blue laws often restricted business and recreational activities to encourage observance of the Christian day of worship.

For example, buying ice cream on Sundays was once illegal in Ohio because it was thought to be frivolous and luxurious. To circumvent this law, ice cream vendors began adding fruit toppings to disguise the frozen treat below and make it appear more "nutritious." This clever workaround ultimately led to the creation of the ice cream sundae.

8

Poking turkeys

Image: RDNE Stock project

Finding the perfect Thanksgiving turkey can be an artistry or a real challenge. How can you ensure that the well-rounded breast you pick up in the supermarket’s poultry section will turn into a delicious, juicy treat?

Everyone has their own strategy, but depending on which state you are in, your method might actually be illegal without you even knowing it. For example, did you know that in Los Angeles, California, it is prohibited to poke a turkey for sale in a meat market to check its tenderness? Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

9

Permanent marks

Image: Linda Xu

Carrying a marker in your pocket, purse, or backpack while walking the streets of California could land you in trouble. In the Golden State, it’s illegal to possess "broad-tipped indelible markers" —a.k.a. permanent markers—in a public space. Any person carrying a chisel, an awl, an aerosol paint container, or a harmless felt tip marker can be accused of committing vandalism.

The law is in place to curb graffiti and other forms of unauthorized street art. It is considered a misdemeanor and can be punished with up to 90 hours of community service, typically scheduled outside of school or work hours.

10

Go nuts!

Image: Vladislav Nikonov

Nuts can be a real problem for many people with food allergies. But even so, these laws prohibiting the consumption of nuts in public places may surprise you. For instance, in Boston, Massachusetts, it’s illegal to eat peanuts in church . Meanwhile, in Charleston, South Carolina, eating nuts on a public bus can result in a fine of up to $500 and as much as 60 days in jail.

If you thought it couldn't get any more specific than that, hold your horses! In Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, people are not allowed to eat peanuts while walking backward in front of the Barnstormers Theater during a performance. Probably the craziest law on this list, don’t you think?

1

The American Revolution against the British Empire

When fighting began in 1775, Britain was the world’s most powerful empire. The colonies had no professional army, little money, and limited supplies . George Washington’s Continental Army often struggled with food shortages, harsh winters, and major defeats during the early years of the war.

The turning point came after the American victory at Saratoga, New York, in 1777, which convinced France to support the colonies. British General Charles Cornwallis finally surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781. The Treaty of Paris officially recognized U.S. independence in 1783.

2

Abraham Lincoln won the Civil War after early Union defeats

At the start of the Civil War, the Union suffered humiliating losses, including the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. Many Americans doubted President Abraham Lincoln’s leadership, while Confederate General Robert E. Lee repeatedly defeated Union forces in Virginia.

Things changed in July 1863, when Union victories at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Vicksburg, Mississippi, shifted momentum . Lincoln’s support for General Ulysses S. Grant helped the North gain control. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865.

3

The Apollo 13 mission’s safe return

Apollo 13 was launched on April 11, 1970, and was supposed to become NASA’s third Moon landing. But two days later, an oxygen tank exploded in space. Astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert suddenly faced freezing temperatures, limited power, and dwindling oxygen .

NASA engineers in Houston worked nonstop to save the crew. The astronauts used the lunar module as a lifeboat and improvised repairs with onboard materials. Against enormous odds, Apollo 13 safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970.

4

Economic recovery from the Great Depression

The Great Depression devastated the U.S. after the stock market crash of 1929. By 1933, unemployment had reached nearly 25%, banks were collapsing, and millions of Americans lost homes, jobs, and savings during the worst economic crisis in modern U.S. history.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced New Deal programs aimed at relief and recovery after taking office in March 1933. Public works projects, banking reforms, and job programs slowly helped stabilize the economy . The country eventually emerged stronger during the years leading up to World War II.

5

The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" victory v.s the USSR

During the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the Soviet hockey team was considered nearly unbeatable . The USSR had dominated international hockey for years, while the young American team consisted mostly of amateur and college players.

On February 22, 1980, the U.S. shocked the world with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Soviets . Mike Eruzione scored the winning goal, and broadcaster Al Michaels famously asked, "Do you believe in miracles?" The Americans later defeated Finland to win Olympic gold.

6

The Chicago Cubs ending their 108-year World Series drought in 2016

The Chicago Cubs had not won the World Series since 1908, suffering one of the longest championship droughts in sports history. By 2016, generations of fans believed the team was cursed after decades of heartbreaking losses and missed opportunities.

The Cubs fell behind three games to one against Cleveland in the 2016 World Series, but fought back to force Game 7. On November 2, 2016, Chicago won 8-7 in 10 innings after a rain delay, finally ending its 108-year drought

7

The Space Race

The Soviet Union dominated the early Space Race by launching Sputnik in 1957 and sending Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961. At the time, many experts believed the U.S. was permanently behind in space technology.

President John F. Kennedy challenged NASA to land a man on the Moon before the decade ended. After years of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969, during Apollo 11.

8

New Orleans’ recovery after Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005 and caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans after the levees failed. About 80% of the city was flooded, and hundreds of thousands of residents were displaced in one of America’s worst natural disasters.

Recovery took years and required rebuilding homes, schools, roads, and flood protection systems . Despite enormous challenges, New Orleans gradually restored much of its tourism, culture, music scene, and population while continuing to strengthen its storm defenses.

9

The U.S. women’s soccer team in 1999 and 2019

The 1999 U.S. women’s soccer team helped transform women’s sports in America. Facing strong international competition, the Americans defeated China in the Women’s World Cup final before more than 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Twenty years later, the U.S. returned to the top again at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France . Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle scored in a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in Lyon, giving the U.S. its fourth world title.

10

The Boston Red Sox reversing a 0-3 deficit against the Yankees in 2004

In a 2004 American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox lost the first three games against their rivals, the New York Yankees. No baseball team had ever recovered from a 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series.

Boston stayed alive after Dave Roberts stole second base in the ninth inning of Game 4. The Red Sox then won four straight games to complete the comeback . They went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals and win their first World Series since 1918.