At a time when chefs, restaurateurs, and recipe-makers are racing to bring back the trends of yesteryear or to put contemporary twists on old comestibles, it’s striking when their pop culture genealogy gets overlooked. Sift through the annals of screwball comedy, fantasy adventure, and science fiction, and you will discover a secret history of zany, pop cultural accounts that foreshadow the current culinary moment. Here is just a handful of our faves.
Foraging
Your Show of Shows (1950-54)
Years before Nordic food genius René Redzepi shocked the world with edible floral arrangements and meals made of seaweed and vegetables he discovered near his Copenhagen restaurant, Charles (Sid Caesar) discovered the joys of foraging at the table while eating at a “Health Food” restaurant with his doting wife, Doris (Imogene Coca). And to think, he didn’t even have to wait six months for a reservation.
Locavorism
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-71)
Though her Beverly Hills neighbors were left nonplussed, Granny Moses (Irene Ryan), the beloved matriarch of the Clampett clan, was way ahead of today’s 100-mile diet trend. Her boiled buzzard, gopher gravy and possum pot pie ingredients were sourced straight from the backyard. Now that is local.
Vegan Desserts
Gilligan’s Island (1964-67)
Long before vegan cupcake shops populated the American landscape with their agave-sweetened, faux-bacon crumble topping, Mary Ann Summers (Dawn Wells) turned the tropical bounty surrounding her into Gilligan’s (Bob Denver) favorite desert isle dessert. The irresistible appeal of Mary Ann’s vegan coconut cream pie became a running gag on the show, though it would’ve never occurred to the modest Winfield, Kan., farm girl to blog about her recipe.
Genetically Modified Foods
Sleeper (1973)
Long before genetically modified food created supersize produce and factory farming led to the growth of chickens with double D breasts, there was Miles Monroe (Woody Allen) in a future maybe not even 200 years from now.
Dude Chefs
Three’s Company (1977-84)
Before Jack Tripper (John Ritter), people would look at you twice if you were an American male chef. Nowadays, Michael Voltaggio, Curtis Stone, and Spike Mendelsohn make it easy to forget that Tripper was deconstructing culinary conversations around gender—not to mention, regaling his two female roommates with chauvinistic repartee more than 30 years ago.
Protein Shakes
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
In the 1970s, a movie character drinking a shake made of whipped liver, alfalfa sprouts, bean curd, and spinach just had to be from Los Angeles. So was the case with LA Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty), who consumes one of these potent potions before an overeager angel preemptively books him a one-way ticket to the pearly gates—even though the gridiron great hadn’t actually died. Thirty-five years later, protein shakes account for nearly 50 percent of the sports nutrition market, proving that the titular character of Heaven Can Wait was ahead of his time in more ways than one.
Eating Bugs
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Despite Willie Scott’s (Kate Capshaw) utter revulsion to the platters of bugs served to her during a feast at Bangkok Palace, Temple of Doom at least acknowledged the fact that outside the confines of North America eating bugs can be quite common. Thirty years after the fact, artisanal producers in North America and organizations targeting hunger in developing nations are increasingly advocating for the use of cricket or grasshopper flour as a high-protein, cost-effective ingredient. As of now, chilled monkey brains have yet to catch on.
Illustrations by Nathan Huang
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.