Friday, January 9, 2026Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“A true gourmet - a judge - has the wisdom to know when to stop eating.”
Mark Kurlansky, 'Choice Cuts' (2002)
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• National Apricot Day (Apricot Trivia & Facts) • National Cassoulet Day (A French stew of beans and meat originating in the Languedoc region of France).
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1493 Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, spots three "mermaids" -- actually they were manatees. 1788 Connecticut ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the fifth state.
(Connecticut Food Trivia & Facts) 1838 Julius Hatch, of Great Bend, Pennsylvania was granted patent for a "Machine for sowing plaster, lime, ashes, seed, grain and other separable substances". 1838 The first Flea Circus in the U.S. opened at 187 Broadway in New York City. 1858 Elizabeth Gertrude Knight Britton was born. An American botanist, her efforts were a major factor in the establishment of the New York Botanical Gardens 1863 The world's first underground railway, London's Metropolitan Railway, officially opened. It was opened to the public the following day. 1864 Paul Kroegel was born (died 1948). The first U.S. Game Warden at Pelican Island on the Indian River on Florida's East Coast. Pelican Island was the first national wildlife refuge in the U.S. (March 14, 1903). 1872 African American inventor Thomas Elkins of Albany, New York received [U.S. patent No. 122518]. It was for a "Chamber Commode, " a combination "bureau, mirror, book-rack, washstand, table, easy chair, and earth-closet or chamber-stool." 1887 'The Great Die Up.' Record cold and snow decimates cattle herds in the Western U.S. More than a million cattle died of starvation and temperatures as low as 63°F below zero. It marked the end of open range ranching, as ranchers began to fence off land to grow hay and grain to feed their cattle. 1956 The first ‘Dear Abby’ column was published. 1969 “I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye is #1 on the charts. 1980 "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes is #1 on the charts. 1995 Peter Cook, British actor and comedian died.
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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Novvember 14, 2025 - January 17, 2026
Gingerbread House Competition & Display
Lahaska, Pennsylvania January 1-31, 2026 - Napa Valley Restaurant Month
Napa Valley, California January 8-18, 2026 Restaurant Week South Carolina
Statewide, South Carolina January 9-10, 2026 - Annual Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival - Doswell, Virginia January 9-11, 2026 52nd Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
Santa Cruz, California January 10-11, 2026 - Seattle Travel & Adventure Show - Seattle, Washington (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?
· The St. Regis Hotel opened in New York City. The first hotel to have central air conditioning and heating in every room.
· George J. French introduces French's mustard, the same year the hot dog is introduced
· The tea bag is invented by Thomas Sullivan of New York City.
· Puffed Rice cereal is introduced.
· Post Toasties were introduced by General Foods (originally called ‘Elijah's Manna.’) 2) Where would you go to fish for English sole? 3) What single celled fungus is used in cooking? 4) Bone and stuff a pig's leg with minced pork, herbs, truffles, and bacon. Cure it and smoke it; then soak it in water for 10 hours, simmer it in water and vinegar for several hours, and serve with lentils. Name this dish and the country of origin. 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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