Do you like spicy food?

One thing we can all agree on. We have to eat. We like to eat. Whether it’s on the cheap, or healthy, or five star spicy, or an indulgently expensive tasting menu, we like our food. We all have our favorites.

But what do we really know about the food we consume? Why do we eat this and not that?

What do you know about the history of food?

Both National Geographic and the Smithsonian are doubling down that you care to discover the answers, through a range of classes, exhibits and a TV Show.

Here’s a taste:

Food: Our Global Kitchen (Exhibition)
National Geographic Museum
Through February 22, 2015
Open Daily, 10am – 6pm
Included with Museum admission ($11)
All ages

This exhibition illuminates how our world eats and the future of food. There are sections about growing, transporting, cooking, eating and tasting. There is also opportunities to taste seasonal treats in the working kitchen, cook a virtual meal, see rare artifacts and peek into the dining rooms of famous figures throughout history.

The Test Kitchen is open 11am – 4pm, with the upcoming themes:

January 19-February 1: Soups and Stews
February 2-15: Chocolate
February 16-22: Spice of Life

Eat: The Story of Food (TV Show)
National Geographic Channel

Nat Geo has also produced a six-part mini-series, showing us how food has driven nearly everything we’ve ever done as a species.

Two episodes air tonight, 1/14, at 9pm on the National Geographic Channel.

Food: American History After Hours (Series of courses)
Presented by the National Museum of American History
Warner Brothers Theater at National Museum of American History
12-part Monthly series
6 – 8:30pm
$40

Evenings of food, drinks and conversation that connect with the past to make sense of the present and shape the future of food.

January 23: Brewing Up History
Join for a beer talk and tasting featuring Bluejacket brewery’s Greg Engert and beer historian Mike Stein as they discuss the art and science of brewing. Enjoy food and beer samples, book signings, and rarely exhibited brewing history collections objects out-of-storage.

Tickets for January.

February 26: The Craft Distilling (Re)Revolution
Join author James Rodewald, author of American Spirit: An Exploration of the Craft Distilling Revolution, in discussion with DC’s own Derek Brown and Michael Lowe of Green Hat Gin as they explore the current and historic revolutions in American distilling. Enjoy food, cocktails, and book signings and see rarely exhibited cocktail history collections objects.

Tickets for February.

See full schedule of the American History After Hours series.

Are you hungry yet?