Consider that our ancestors and their cousins must have sampled the cooked
foods that remained after a fire. Whatever flora[the 4 F's] and some unlucky
fauna that were present before a fire were certainly there afterwards and
some of them were certainly not too burnt to be eaten. New edibles may have
become more alluring by virtue of enhanced aroma and easier accessibility.
Some of those present may have made the most of these experiences by
observing the phenomena and behaving so as to increase their food supply. I
wonder who came back to the warm buffet first after the danger subsided. . .