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MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2008 Weekly Food quiz is below (New on October 12)
TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE
“A cheese may disappoint. It may be dull, it may be naive, it may be oversophisticated. Yet it remains, cheese, milk's leap toward immortality.”
Clifton Fadiman (American writer and editor)
‘Any Number Can Play’ (1957)
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY
* National Yorkshire Pudding Day
* St. Colman's Day, patron of cattle and horses.
54 A.D. Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, Emperor of Rome A.D. 41-54, died by poisoning. Known as Claudius I, supposedly he was poisoned with mushrooms by his wife Agrippina, after her son Nero was named as his heir.
2006 Six Flags theme park in Gurnee, Illinois holds a live cockroach eating contest.
View: Culinary History Calendar for the year -- Oct Food Festivals -- Nov Food Festivals
DID YOU KNOW? Food Trivia
Durian is a fruit: a big, green thorny fruit native to Malaysia and Indonesia. In fact, it is considered "King of the Fruit" throughout South East Asia. It has a creamy texture,and the taste of its flesh sends its eaters into ecstasies (and it has the reputation of being an aphrodisiac) But is has one drawback. It has an extremely offensive odor described as garlic like, similar to stinky feet, and like Limburger cheese. Some countries even ban the presence of durian in hotels and on public transportation due to its offensive smell.
CULINARY QUIZ
1) This native of Queensland is one of Australia's few contributions to the world's food plants, this tree and its food product were named for an Australian chemist who was born in Scotland. It is said that he never tasted the food named after him.
2A) What country produces 2/3 of the world's garlic?
a) Mexico
b) China
c) United States
d) Italy
e) Brazil
2B) Bonus question: What state produces 84% of U.S. domestic garlic?
3) This organic acid is the main acid present in apples and other fruits. It is also found in grapes, especially those grown in colder areas. It is used as a food additive and flavoring agent in candies and beverages.
4) In old cookbooks, a name sometimes given to the cantaloupe. This tropical tree and its fruit is native to India, and is actually in the cashew family.
5) This water soluble vitamin is related to a tobacco alkaloid, and is used to treat pellagra. Good sources are meat, poultry, fish, peanuts, and whole grain cereals.
6) This Lebanese specialty is composed of bulgur, parsley, mint, tomatoes, onions, olive oil and lemon juice.
7) This nut is still harvested mostly from the wild, although there are a few commercial plantations in its native area (attempts to cultivate it elsewhere have been mostly unsuccessful). The trees (Bertholletia excelsa) grow to a typical 150 feet high, and the 'fruit' that contains the nuts weigh 5 pounds each! Gathering them when they fall to the ground can be dangerous, so harvesters carry shields to protect themselves. There are 8 to 30 nuts inside the hard coconut-like 'fruit', and an axe must be used to open it. The nuts have a high oil content of about 65% by weight.
8A) When and where were the first practical vending machines used in the U.S., and what did they vend?
8B) When did the first soft-drink vending machines appear?
9) When you see the term 'Veronique' on a menu, what one item can you be sure the dish will contain?
10A) What family of plants do all of the following belong to: parsnips, anise, cumin, poison hemlock, fennel, and sea holly?
10B) What family do these belong to: coriander, dill, caraway, goutweed, celery?
Click here for the answers to the Culinary Quiz
Explore the NEW Food Trivia Quizzes Section
OCTOBER Variable Date Events (See Festivals & Shows for specific dates)
• American Beer Week
• Apple Butter Festivals & Events
• Apple Harvests & Festivals
• Black Walnut Festivals
• Brussels Sprouts Festival
• Buffalo Roundup
• California Avocado Festival
• Canada: Thanksgiving Day
• Chowderfests
• Frozen Food Festival
• Germany: Erntedankfest (Potato Harvest Festival)
• Gourmet Club Week
• National Chestnut Week
• National Dessert Day
• National Pasta Week
• National Pickled Pepper Week
• National School Lunch Week
• No Salt Week
• Oyster Festivals
• Pumpkin Shows, Contests, Fairs, Festivals, etc.
• Seafood Festivals
• Sorghum Day Festival
• Squirrel Awareness Week
• Turkey Festivals & Contests
• UK: Bramley Apple Week
• UK: National School Meals Week
• UK: National Seafood Week
• UK: Nottingham Goose Fair begins
• UK: Vegan Week
• Whooly Worm Festival
• World Egg Day
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.
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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