Cooking Our Way to Resilience
Foster healthier and more resilient societies using insights from over 4,000 years of culinary history
Welcome to ‘The Final Cookbook’, an EPFL interdisciplinary research initiative. We are unlocking the potential of culinary history to address modern challenges in health and food systems. The analysis of digitized traditional recipes from around the world can enlighten us in many potential use cases such as:
- Health Insights: Explore how traditional diets align with historical health trends, potentially revealing connections to prevent modern non-communicable diseases.
- Environmental Adaptation: Discover how recipes reflect responses to climate events, showcasing how local ingredients and preparation methods promoted resilience in the face of droughts, floods, and other disruptions.
- Dietary Diversification: Expand the range of nutritious options available by highlighting the wisdom and diversity of traditional recipes.
- Evolution of Flavor: Track the changing preferences in tastes and ingredients throughout history, shedding light on how cultures shaped their palates based on availability and trends.
We believe these time-tested recipes, often emphasizing simplicity, sustainability, and the use of whole foods, hold valuable lessons for the future of food.
Join us on this journey to rediscover the past and create a healthier, more resilient tomorrow.
Discover
Unearth culinary history to solve today’s food challenges. Join us in harnessing the power of food heritage.
Explore
Delve into open datasets and help unveil the secrets of culinary history. Your insights matter!
Taste
Taste history, relive traditions, and celebrate food heritage!
About the EPFL DHLab
The EPFL Digital Humanities Laboratory is a research institute based at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. The DHLab conducts research at the intersection of culture, technology, and information, using computational methods to analyze and interpret large-scale cultural phenomena.