Monday, October 19, 2026Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“The American political system is like fast food - mushy, insipid, made out of disgusting parts of things and everybody wants some.”
P. J. O'Rourke (1947 - 2022)
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• National Seafood Bisque Day
(Seafood Bisque, Soup, Chowder & Stew Recipes) • International Gin & Tonic Day (also April 9)
(Gin Quotes) • UK: National Baking Week (always Oct 14-20) • UK: Seed Gathering Season (Sept 21-Oct 21, 2026)
[The Tree Council] Gather seeds, fruits and nuts which can be nurtured to grow the trees of the future.
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1688 William Cheselden was born. An English surgeon and teacher, he was one of the first to describe the role of saliva in digestion. 1886 Horace Williams, John L. Alberger and Louis R. Alberger, of Buffalo, NY, received a patent for a "process of making salt from brine and the apparatus used, it being especially adapted to the manufacture of fine salt and to the saving of fuel usually employed." (Salt Trivia and Facts --- Salt Quotes) 1897 George Mortimer Pullman died (born March 3, 1831). American engineer and industrialist. He designed and manufactured the Pullman sleeping car for railroads. 1915 Joseph McCoy died (born Dec 21, 1837). American cattleman, he promoted Abilene, Kansas as a terminus for Texas cattle drives (the Chisholm Trail), shipping the cattle from there by rail to big cities in the Midwest and East. 1917 William H. Fruen died (born July 15, 1845). Received the first U.S. patent for a liquid dispensing vending machine. (see Dec 16, 1884) 1917 In France, Salvation Army volunteer Helen Purviance made the first doughnuts for homesick U.S. soldiers. The doughnuts became a symbol of the spirit of the Salvation Army's work to ease the hardship of WW I soldiers on the frontline.
(Doughnut Trivia & Facts --- Doughnut Quotes) 1937 'Woman's Day' magazine began publishing. 1958 The Brussels World's Fair (Universal and International Exhibition) closed (opened April 17, 1958). The overall theme of the fair was "A World View, A New Humanism." It was the first major world's fair after World War II. 1960 The United States imposed an embargo on exports to Cuba. 1961 'A Cook for Mr. General' opened at the Playhouse Theatre in New York City. 1962 Boxer Evander Holyfield was born. On June 28, 1997, Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear in the 3rd round of a boxing match. Tyson was disqualified. (Unsportsmanlike snacking?) 1987 Black Monday. The stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 508 points to 1,738, down 22.6% in value. 2005 A Coalition of conservation and animal welfare organizations sued the U.S. Navy, alleging harm to whales and dolphins from the use mid-frequency sonar. 2006 The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 12,000 for the first time, closing at 12,011.73. 2018 The movie 'Halloween' opened in U.S. theaters. 2020 New York State began enforcing its plastic bag ban which prohibits the distribution of plastic carryout bags by anyone who collects New York State sales tax. (see also March 1, 2020).
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** October 1-November 1, 2026 Arizona State Fair
Phoenix, Arizona October 20-25, 2026 Baker County Fair
Macclenny, Florida October 21-24, 2026 Circleville Pumpkin Show
Circleville, Ohio October 22-25, 2026 Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest - Fredericksburg, Texas October 23-24, 2026 Annual Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races
Mountain View, Arkansas October 23-24, 2026 Shrimp & Grits Festival
Jekyll Island, Georgia October 24-25, 2026 The Chocolate Expo
Timonium, Maryland (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?
· 'Boiling Bags' were introduced - drop in boiling water to heat them for serving.
· In Canada, the Ontario Royal Commission endorses water fluoridation to cut tooth decay.
· U.S. President Kennedy announces pilot food stamp programs would be initiated.
· Omar Knedlik of Coffeyville, Kansas invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine.
· Green Giant entered the frozen food business with vegetables in pouches with butter sauce. 2) This black, bulbous fungus is considered by most U.S. farmers as a plant disease. The Aztecs considered it a delicacy, and it is still prized in Mexican cuisine. Name this fungus. 3) How many flower visits by honeybees to produce 1 pound of honey? 4) A German cheese, flavored with caraway or cumin seeds and packed between layers of hops to ripen. It has a zesty, pleasantly bitter flavor. It is made in the same area of northwest Germany famous for Westphalian ham. Name this cheese. 5) Marrubium vulgare, is a member or the mint family native to Eurasia. A bitter, aromatic herb it has been used as a cough remedy for thousands of years. Juice extracted from the leaves is used to flavor liqueurs, candy, cough drops and syrups. 6) What two candies were named after horses?
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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