When it comes to sweet spreads, nobody quite compares to Nutella. The creamy, chocolatey spread infused with hazelnuts has been winning over mankind’s hearts since it was first slathered on top of the bread. You may think it’s something that showed up on the scene quite recently, but it’s actually more than half a century old.
An Italian baker, Pietro Ferrero, was busy creating a chocolate alternative in the 1940s due to shortages during World War II. Little did Petro know that his mixture of hazelnuts, sugar, and a smidgen of cocoa would inspire a popular staple that has built its own cult following.
Worcestershire Sauce
You might have trouble pronouncing it, but it's most likely something you may have used as a condiment or as an ingredient while following a recipe. According to one story, it was first invented by iconic Worcestershire sauce brand, Lea & Perrins. After a nobleman returned to England from a journey to India, he hired John Lea and William Perrins to recreate a sauce he'd tasted while traveling.
Their first attempt proved quite bitter and unpleasant, but the pair kept their concoction anyway. After tasting it again, they realized that maturing it had worked wonders and that now they had formulated something quite unique. It was first bottled in Worcester at the Lea & Perrins pharmacy, imparting it its name.
Chocolate Brownies
No matter how refined your tastebuds are or how expert-level your baking skills, one of the most indulgent baked goods originating from the United States remains chocolate brownies. There's just something about a chewy brownie that makes you feel like you're eight years old again.
The recipe for these feel-good treats was invented by Fanny Farmer, who simply adapted her chocolate cookies to be fit in a rectangular pan. Another saga surrounding chocolate brownies' origins talks about a chef accidentally adding too much chocolate into the batter. Either way, we're happy for this accidental attempt at cookies that turned into something much more comforting.
Potato Chips
While potato chips weren't exactly invented by accident, them becoming the enduring popular snack they are today definitely was. In New York, a hotel chef invented potato chips after a customer sent back his fried potatoes and complained about them being too thick and soggy. The chef, George Crum, offended by the comment, made ultra-thin slices out of potatoes and over-cooked them.
These chips were served out of spite, but the very particular customer was so delighted with the crispy potato slices that they were eager to spread the word about this delicious snack and the chef who made it. Without Crum's impatience and eagerness to fight back, your favorite savory snack may never have been invented at all.
Chimichangas
Chimichangas are fried burritos. Literally, and those deep-fried concoctions that deck many Mexican-American restaurants were also invented by a stroke of luck. The first chimichanga was created in Arizona at El Charro Café in 1922 by the original chef and owner, Monica Flin.
After she accidentally dropped a burrito into a deep fryer while it was frying tacos. She was about to swear in Spanish, but her nieces were around, so instead, she said the Spanish version of "thingamajig," giving her creation a name that's stuck.