For all the good that staple crops bring to civilization, they’re pretty bland. The pursuit of flavorsome and aromatic spices has shaped the map of the world as long as humans have craved flavor, opening up trade routes, creating opportunities for cultural exchange as well as heating up competition between empires.
Humanity’s first foodie shift happened when we abandoned the thrill of the nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle and decided we wanted to settle down, grow some vegetables, have a garden, and act like reasonable adults. This change - the agricultural revolution - was the start of civilization as we know it.
This might not be the right answer, but I did my best. ^^