The Food That Built America Season 3: Release Date, Episodes, And More - What We Know So Far

Food products help shape the cultural landscape of the United States. Realizing this, the History Channel has devoted some time to not pursuing the latest theory of how aliens apparently interacted with human history and instead examined the concrete stories behind brands that fill us. Or, at least, a less-extraterrestrial-heavy take on the business people behind these now-legendary brands. 

That's how we got "The Food That Built America," a series of episodes devoted to the biggest brands on grocery store shelves and in the restaurant business. People could now hear about the exploits of the brothers behind Domino's or watch reenactments of Colonel Sanders standing in thought over how to properly spice a fried chicken. Apparently, audiences ate it up – pun intended. So, now a third season of the show is set to premiere. When is Season 3 slated to air? What topics will receive attention? And whose faces should viewers expect to greet them on the small screen? These questions will be addressed.

Season 3 of "The Food That Built America" shares its big night with a new food show that's connected by a very specific ingredient: Adam Richman. The former "Man v. Food" star has appeared on more than a dozen episodes of "The Food That Built America," and it seems he has built on his relationship with the History Channel. As reported by A&E, Season 3 of the documentary series "will serve as the lead in to" Richman's newest exploration of food's past, "Adam Eats the 80s." Both premiere on Sunday, February 27.

The new season will premiere at 9 p.m. ET, and each hour-long episode will air weekly on Sundays. According to Delish, the season will consist of 19 episodes. If you happen to not be up to date on the latest in "The Food That Built America," Hulu is currently streaming both of the earlier seasons. For those who aren't satisfied with just the television show, the podcast "The Food That Built America" will also return for a new season. It will begin airing podcast episodes on April 6. Until then, you can listen to their previous episodes on the website.

A trailer on the History Channel's website shows that among other things, Adam Richman will return to the series. Between that and the 30-minuted episodes of his new show, "Adam Eats the 80s," it appears he is set to bundle an hour and a half of Sunday entertainment (via A&E).

The enthusiasm Richman brings to the role was evident when he hyped the second season in an exclusive interview with Mashed: "I've always appreciated the story that food tells. Like Reese burning his batches of roasted peanuts, and the peanut butter had this sort of bark roasted flavor. And he's like, 'No, this is good. This is what I want.'" 

In addition to Richman, Delish reports that its "editorial director Jo Saltz makes an appearance in a bunch of episodes." And, of course, given the show's use of reenactments and experts, it seems like a safe bet that the cast will be filled out based on the figures explored in each episode. Besides that, we will have to see whether Campbell Scott resumes his role as narrator for the show.

By the third season of the show and the fourth section of this article, the basic premise of "The Food That Built America" should be pretty straightforward. Each episode will follow one entrepreneurial type whose derring-do changed the food industry by creating a still relevant brand or idea.

Between the A&E announcement and the History Channel trailer, we have a good sense of which famous food figures will be featured. We will see the creation of Subway, Carvel, Redenbacher popcorn, Chef Boyardee, Famous Amos cookies, Mrs. Fields Bakeries, Pabst beers, and Benihana. Each episode will be a documentary focusing on the achievement of a dream with experts discussing key points like the invention of soft serve and plenty of character reenactments to give drama to what otherwise might be a drier series of business facts. Perhaps the real point will be to inspire awe in the fact that these day-to-day food brands exist.