Monday, February 2, 2026Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.”
X. Marcel Boulestin, chef, food writer (1878-1943)
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• Groundhog Day (see 1887 below) If a groundhog emerges from his burrow today and sees his shadow due to clear weather, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. • Heavenly Hash Day
(Origin & History of Heavenly Hash) • Tater Tot Day (origin uncertain) • Candlemas, Crepe Day (France: La Chandeleur) • Pride in Foodservice Week (Feb 2-6, 2026)
[Assoc. of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals] • [African Heritage & Health Week] February 1-7
(commemorates the foods, flavors and healthy cooking techniques that were core to the wellbeing of African ancestors from Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and the American South.)
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1659 Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, planted a vineyard in 1655. On February 2, 1659 he made the first wine from grapes grown at the Cape. 1754 Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord was born. Known simply as Talleyrand, French statesman, diplomat and grand gourmet, called the 'first fork of France.' He served at the top levels of French governments for almost 50 years. During this time his chefs included Bouchee, Careme, and Avice. Many culinary preparations have been created or named for him. 1795 The French government offers a prize of 12,000 francs for a method of preserving food for transport to the French army. It was eventually won by Nicholas Appert who invented a successful method to can food. (Canning History) 1820 Jean Etienne Bore, died. Inventor of the sugar granulating process (1794 or 1795), founder of the sugar industry in Louisiana. (Sugar Trivia) 1826 Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin died. A French lawyer and politician, author of ‘La Physiologie du gout’ (‘The Physiology of Taste’) (1825). He was probably the greatest food critic that ever lived. 1852 The first public lavatory opened in London. 1869 A removable steel plow blade is patented by James Oliver of South Bend, Indiana. 1880 The first successful shipment of frozen mutton made it to London from Australia, aboard the SS Strathleven. 1887 The first Groundhog day is observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 1892 William Painter received a patent for the crown-cork bottle cap with a cork seal. It was used up until the 1970s, when the cork liner was replaced with a plastic liner. 1897 Alfred L. Cralle (1866-1920) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania received U.S.patent No. 576,395 for an "Ice-Cream Mold and Disher" (ice cream scoop). His basic design is still used today. 1897 Howard Deering Johnson was born (died June 20, 1972). Founder of Howard Johnson's chain of restaurants and motels. (Howard Johnson Trivia) 1913 Carl Gustaf Patrik de Laval died. A Swedish scientist and inventor. Among his inventions was the centrifugal cream separator and a vacuum milking machine. 1925 Sears, Roebuck & Co. expanded it's catalog business by opening its first retail store in the Merchandise building (its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois). 1961 U.S. President Kennedy announces pilot food stamp programs would be initiated. The pilot programs would retain the requirement that the food stamps be purchased, but eliminated the concept of special stamps for surplus foods. A Department spokesman indicated the emphasis would be on increasing the consumption of perishables.
(see also May 29, 1961) 1971 Richard Hellmann died (born 1876). New York deli owner and creator of Hellmann's Mayonnaise.
(Mayonnaise Trivia --- Mayonnaise Quotes) 1996 Ray McIntire died. A chemical engineer who worked for Dow Chemical Company, he invented Styrofoam. 2010 Kraft Foods announced that more than 71% of Cadbury shareholders had voted to approve Kraft's takeover bid of the British confectioner.
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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** January 20-Feb 12, 2026 NYC Restaurant Week
New York, New York January 22-February 1, 2026 140th Saint Paul Winter Carnival - St. Paul, Minnesota February 3, 2026 - Kosher Food and Wine Experience
East Rutherford, New York February 5-16, 2026 - Florida State Fair
Tampa, Florida February 6-8, 2026 Bonita Springs Seafood & Music Festival - Bonita Springs, Florida February 6-15, 2026 79th Annual Holtville Carrot Festival - Holtville, California (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 U.S. Bureau of Agriculture was established. It became the USDA (Department of Agriculture).
· Homestead Act opened millions of acres Western land to settlers.
· First large vineyards are planted in California in the Sonoma Valley.
· The first U.S. paper money (national currency notes) were issued.
· The first processed commercial dog food, 'Spratt's Patent Meat Fibrine Dog Cakes.' 2) Take the chopped organ meats (lungs, heart, etc) of a sheep, chop it up, add suet, oatmeal, onion and pepper. Stuff it into the sheep's stomach and boil it for several hours.
What is it and where did it come from? 3) Take some fish, grind it up, add some eggs, meal and seasonings and stuff it into the fish skin, and poach it.
What is it and where did it come from? 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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