John Moretti is a London-based writer of Greek and Italian-American heritage.
A student at St. Paul’s school, he writes stories from across cultures in areas including history, food, and sport. Read his work in Smithsonian, the Harvard Review of Latin America, Black & White Magazine, and other publications.
Selected Writing
From unearthing the hidden histories behind everyday items and events to examining human geographies through food, John Moretti’s writing aims to connect people from all walks of life and foster a greater sense of empathy and cross-cultural understanding.
Another Controversial World Cup to Remember (ReVista)
In ReVista: The Harvard Review of Latin America, a look back at Argentina’s 1978 World Cup examines the relationship between politics and soccer.
The Sticky History of Baklava (Smithsonian Magazine)
The sweet dessert is an important part of the culinary identity of so many places that people sometimes dispute claims to its origins.
The Duelling Bagel Shops of Brick Lane
In the multicultural London neighborhood of Whitechapel, two iconic 24/7 bagel shops sit side by side. This story uncovers their origin stories, and the truth behind their so-called “rivalry” that has made them famous.
The Importance of Names
Why do we name things? In Black & White Magazine, investigating the history of naming across thousands of years of civilization, and why humans have long been so particular about it.
Symbolic and Superstitious: A Hidden History of Pomegranates
After years of watching a Greek grandfather smash pomegranates on his doorstep on New Year’s Eve, an investigation into the backstory of this important fruit across religions, mythologies, and cultures in the Mediterranean.
John Moretti’s chronicles of human geography have brought him to master chefs, bagel entrepreneurs, and historians of food and sport.
His interest in history and culture stems from a family marked by numerous traditions, languages, and places — from Athens and Sicily to London and New York.