History of Food

Orchestra Leader Fred Waring and the Waring Blender

Although the company is named after Fred Waring, a popular entertainer of the 1930's, 40's and 50's, Waring did not actually invent the blender. He did, however, perfect the original version and introduce this version to retailers and consumers-which ultimately became a big success. Waring history has it that in 1936 Fred Waring had just finished a radio broadcast in New York's Vanderbilt Theater when Fred Osius, dressed in outlandish striped pants, a cutaway coat and a bright lemon-yellow tie, approached the entertainer with his latest invention. Osius was looking for someone to finance a new mixer that would "revolutionize people's eating habits."

Waring was intrigued with the concept of a mixer such as the one Osius described, and he agreed to back the new product, even when the prototype failed to work the first time. Six months and $25,000 later, the prototype still didn't work. However, Waring remained enthusiastic and with his support, the engineering and production problems were solved in time to introduce the new "Miracle Mixer" (as it was then called) at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago in 1937.

Thanks to Waring's own promotion of the blender on the radio and through a singing group aptly named "The Waring Blendors," the blender became a permanent fixture in restaurants and bars. It wasn't long before consumers decided that they needed blenders in their kitchens as well; ultimately, department and specialty store sales increased and the blender became a household appliance for home chefs.

New Features Spur Sales in the 50's and 60's
World War II temporarily halted blender production, but in 1946 sales took off again as consumer demand grew. Product innovations continued, with the introduction of color-coordinated blenders and attachments that crushed ice and ground coffee. Solid state controls were among the most significant product changes. In the 1950's, new uses for the blender were constantly emerging, including applications in research laboratories. In fact, Dr. Jonas Salk used a Waring blender with an Aseptic Dispersal Container attachment to develop his lifesaving polio vaccine.

Fred Waring died in 1984, but his vision for a top quality blender lives on as Waring continues to manufacture an innovative line of top performance blenders for the home and for commercial use.

Food History from ‘A’ to ‘E’

A la mode - What is A la mode?

A Matter of Taste - The foods that people choose to eat or not to eat is an interesting subject of study. If humans developed in a vacuum, free of all external influences, we would probably consume what naturally appealed to us. Read more.

Animal Crackers - History of the animal crackers.
Apalachicola - Apalachicola is oyster, shrimp and seafood heaven
Apples - The Big Apple History
Apple Brown Betty - History of Apple brown betty

Bain Marie - What is Bain Marie?
Baked Alaska - History of the cake "baked Alaska"
Balsamic Vinegar, Traditional - Ever heard of this type of vinegar?
Banana Bread History - History of banana bread
Bavarian Cream - what is bavarian cream?
Beans - History & Nutrition
Bring home the bacon
Bubble & Squeak

Caesar Salad, Caesar Dressing - History of your favorite salad.
Canning - A History of Canning
Cans, Extreme Shelf Life
Celery, A History
Chateaubriand
Cherries History
Chicken a la King
Chuckwagon History
Chutney

Corned Beef History

Delectable Chocolate and Cocoa
History of Corn
Creme Bavaroise
Crepes Suzette: Suzette, Woman of Mystery
Deep Dish Pizza
Eclairs - What is Eclair?
Eggs Benedict
Eighty Six
English Muffins History

Food History from ‘F’ to ‘Z’

Forks, A Short History
Garum
Granola - History
Gumbo
Key Lime Pie
Ladies of the Evening
Land O'Lakes History
M & M Candies
Maple Syrup History & Making
Muffins History
Mulligatawny Soup
Napkins, A Short History
New Orleans Classics

Sun Dried Lifestyle - New
Onions, A History of Onions
Oysters Rockefeller
Peanut Butter History
The Poison Squad
Modern Potato Origin
Quiche
History of Rice
Salisbury Steak History
Salt History - A Precious Commodity
Sandwiches - The Origin of sandwiches
Steak Diane - Legacy of the Huntress
Stew, A History

Strawberries, A History (Sci4kids)
Stuffing - food history
Tomatoes - Taxonomy
Turkey History & Facts
Vegetables & Fruits Of The New World
Walnuts - Up Against the Wall
Waring Blender's Unusual History
Whipped Cream - History of whipped cream