DECEMBER 12 - Today in Food History• National Ambrosia Day (Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe) • National Poinsettia Day
[Congressional Resolution, 2002] • Gingerbread House Day (Gingerbread Recipes) • Vietnam: National Pho Day [Day of Pho]. A Vietnamese soup made with broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat.
On this day in:1787 Pennsylvania became the 2nd state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It is the only one of the original 13 states that does not border the Atlantic Ocean.
(Pennsylvania Food Trivia) 1900 Maria Telkes was born. A Hungarian born American biophysicist & chemist, she was a pioneer in using solar energy in heating applications. Among other things, she developed a solar heated sea water distillation system and a solar powdered stove. 1921 Father Edward J. Flanagan opened his first Boys’ Home in Omaha, Nebraska. Later moved to a farm outside Omaha which became known as Boys Town. 1922 Peter Paul Candy Mfg. Co., Inc. registered 'Mounds' trademark (candy bar). 1922 John Wanamaker died (born July 11, 1838). American innovative businessman, founder of Wanamaker's department store. Wanamaker's was first store in U.S. with electric arc lamps, first with a telephone, first to offer money back guarantee. He also financed Anna Jarvis's successful campaign to recognize Mother's Day as an official holiday. 1925 The first motel opens, the Milestone Mo-Tel Inn, in San Luis Obispo, California, built by architect Arthur Hienemen. A hotel designed specifically for drivers, the name is a shortened term for 'motor hotel.' 1929 Charles Goodnight died. He is said to have devised the first 'chuck wagon' from an Army wagon in the 1850s or 1860s, with various shelves and compartments for food, equipment, utensils, medical supplies, etc. (Chuck Wagon Trivia) 1945 Alan Ward of the music group 'The Honeycombs' was born. 1948 Richard and Maurice McDonald open a quick service drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. Hamburgers are 15 cents and French fries 10 cents.
(McDonald’s Restaurant Trivia & Facts) 1967 Gorton Corporation registered 'Gorton's of Gloucester' trademark (for frozen seafood). 1967 The movie 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' premiered, starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn. 1983 Allen Products Company is renamed ALPO Petfoods Inc. 1984 Ontario, Canada bans mixed pricing and cut rate drinks, effectively ending Happy Hours in bars. 1989 Leona Helmsley of Helmsley Hotels, was fined $7 million and sentenced to 4 years in jail for mail fraud and tax evasion. Frequently known as 'The Queen of Mean' and 'The Queen of Greed.'
Quote: "Only little people pay taxes." 1998 Florida Governor Lawton Chiles died (born April 3, 1930). Chiles was also one of the original investors in the Red Lobster restaurant chain. 2001 A Nestle subsidiary acquires Ralston Purina, The new company will be called 'Nestle Purina PetCare Company'.
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