Thursday, February 12, 2026Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“Almost every person has something secret he likes to eat.” M. F. K. Fisher
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• National Plum Pudding Day (Plum Pudding Recipe)
(Pudding Quotes) • St. Julian the Hospitaler, patron of travelers and innkeepers. • Kraut and Frankfurter Week ? (Feb 8-14, 2026) • Jell-O Week (Feb 9-15, 2026 2nd full week in Feb) in 2001 Jell-O was declared Official State Snack of Utah and Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt declared an annual "Jell-O Week." (Jello Trivia)
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1637 Jan Swammerdam was born (died Feb 17, 1680). Dutch biologist and microscopist. His investigations into insect anatomy showed that insects did not generate spontaneously as had been previously believed, but were the product of eggs laid by females of the same species. Eggs, larva, pupa and adult are different forms of the same species. He also revealed that 'king bees' have ovaries and were actually 'queen bees.' (Bee Trivia & Facts) 1791 Peter Cooper was born. American inventor and founder of the 'Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.' He also obtained the first American patent for the manufacture of gelatin. In 1895, a cough syrup manufacturer, Pearl B. Wait purchased the patent and developed a packaged gelatin dessert. Wait's wife, May David Wait named it Jell-O.
(Jello Trivia) 1809 Charles Darwin was born. English naturalist who developed the 'theory of evolution,' inspired in large part by his visit to the isolated Galapagos Islands. His works include 'Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man.' 1872 Silas Noble and James P. Cooley of Massachusetts patented a toothpick making machine. 1881 Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova was born (according to the new Gregorian calendar; January 31 on the Julian calendar). A famous dessert of Australian or New Zealand origin was named for her.
(See October 4, 1582 for more information on the calendar adjustment) 1884 Lewis E. Waterman from Brooklyn, New York, received patent for a 'Fountain-Pen' 1931 'Dracula' starring Bela Lugosi premiers in New York City. (Blood Trivia) 1935 (Georges-) Auguste Escoffier died (born Oct 28, 1846). The "emperor of chefs." 1961 'Shop Around' by 'The Miracles' becomes Motown Records first million selling single. 1971 Andrew Carmellini was born. American chef and restaurateur. [Website: andrewcarmellini.com/] 1973 The first metric distance road signs in the U.S., were erected between Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. 1976 The popular food coloring, Red Dye No. 2, was banned by the FDA because studies had shown it might cause cancer. Red M&Ms disappeared for 11 years because of the ban. 1985 Carmela Vitale received U.S. patent No. 4,498,586 for a plastic package saver "suitable for supporting large carton covers such as those used for pizza pies" 2000 Charles M. Schulz died. American cartoonist, best known for the 'Peanuts' comic strip. 2003 Kemmons Wilson died (born Jan 5, 1913). Founder of Holiday Inn hotel chain, the first standardized hotel chain. The 1942 Bing Crosby film 'Holiday Inn' was the inspiration for the hotels name. 2010 The movie 'Valentine's Day' opened in U.S. theaters.
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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** January 20-Feb 12, 2026 NYC Restaurant Week
New York, New York February 5-16, 2026 - Florida State Fair
Tampa, Florida February 6-15, 2026 79th Annual Holtville Carrot Festival - Holtville, California February 12-March 1, 2026 Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival - Indio, California February 13-15, 2026 56th Annual Everglades Seafood Festival - Everglades City, Florida February 14-15, 2026 20th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival - Key West, Florida (SEE ALL FOOD FESTIVALS and OTHER FOOD EVENTS)
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** FOOD TRIVIA QUIZ (new DAILY questions)1) All of the following events took place in the same year. What year is it?
· California becomes 1st state to ban restaurants from automatically handing out plastic straws.
· A new record was set for the heaviest Avocado, 5 pounds, 9.6 ounces
· Aggressive turkeys are "creating unsafe conditions" for postal carriers in Rocky River, Ohio.
· Florence, Italy bans people from pausing in the historic center to eat food on sidewalks, roadways and on the doorsteps of shops and houses. 2) Which of the following dishes were born in Italy?
a) Caesar Salad.
b) Fettucine Primavera.
c) Chicken Tetrazzini. 3) Hello-Billo, Korn Kure, Malt-Ho, Tryabita, Tryachewa, Oatsina and Orange Meat were all brand names of what type of food in the early 1900s?
a) breakfast cereals.
b) health drinks.
c) vegetarian meat substitutes.
d) varieties of corn. Click Here for Today’s Quiz Answers
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Read an article about Chef James and the FoodReference.com website published in the Winona Daily News, Minneapolis StarTribune, and numerous other newspapers: Click here for the Article
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Dedication
This website is dedicated to:
· Gladys Ehler, my mother, who taught me patience and how to make Sauerbraten (it is still my favorite)
· Edward Ehler, my father, who taught me a love of books and history.
· Barbara Saba, my sister, who taught me how to dance.
· Cpl. Thomas E. Saba, my nephew. Died in action on Feb. 7, 2007 in Iraq. He was 30 yrs. young. Chef James
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