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Chef James

“The duty of a good Cuisinier is to transmit to the next generation everything he has learned and experienced.”
 
Fernand Point, 1941

FEATURED FOR MAY

• Updated: Over 9,000 Food Festivals

• Grilling & Barbecue Articles & Recipes

• Summer & Picnic Food, Tips & Recipes

• Sports & Tailgating Articles & Recipes

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FEATURED RECIPES & TIPS

· Original Frank's Redhot Wings

· Ultimate Party Wings

· More Chicken Wing Recipes

· More Appetizer Recipes·

· French Onion Dip

· Jack's Screaming Red Sauce

· Potato Salad Recipes

· Cole Slaw Recipes

· Chicken Salad Recipes

· Kickoff Kabobs

· Banana Bread Recipes

· Mushroom Appetizer Recipes

· Crunchy Snack Mixes

· Mustard and Mustard Sauces

· Salsa Recipes

· Baked and Stuffed Potato Recipes

· Mac & Cheese Recipes
 

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May Food Holidays:

For Details, History and more DAY, WEEK and MONTH Food Holiday designations, including LINKS to Holiday Origins and Additional Information:
SEE Detailed MAY Food Calendar

MAY is:

• American Cheese Month

• Celiac Disease Awareness Month

• Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

• Grain of the Month: Amaranth

• International Mediterranean Diet Month

• National Artisan Gelato Month

• National Barbecue Month

• National Egg Month

• National Hamburger Month

• National Salad Month

• National Salsa Month

• National Strawberry Month (also the start of peak California Strawberry season.)

• National Tavern Month (since 1953)

• National Vinegar Month

• World Trade Month (since 1935)

• UK: National Asparagus Month

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DID YOU KNOW?

Cider was the most common fruit beverage in the U.S. up to the mid 19th century. Without refrigeration, fresh juice was very perishable, so apple juice was virtually all 'hard cider', being allowed to ferment to a low alcohol content, usually around 5 percent alcohol. Next to water, this cider was the cheapest and most widely available beverage year-round.

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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Daily Trivia Questions are below

TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE

“Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.”   Jane Austen
 

FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:

• National Apple Pie Day (Apple Pie Recipes)
  (Apple Pie Trivia  ---  Apple Pie Quotes)

• National Fruit Cocktail Day (Fruit Salad Recipes)

• World Cocktail Day (see 1806 below)

• International Hummus Day
  (Hummus Trivia   --   Hummus Recipes)

• National Crouton Day

• [National Women’s Health Week] (May 13-14, 2026)

• American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17, 2026)
  [Brewers Association]   (Beer Trivia  - Beer Articles)
  (Beer Quotes)

• Go Public Gardens Days  (May 8-17, 2026)
  [American Public Gardens Assn

• [Food Allergy Awareness Week] (May 10-16, 2026)
  (Food Allergy Articles)

• [World Salt Awareness Week] (May 11-17, 2026)
  (Salt Trivia  ·  Salt Kitchen Tips  ·  Salt Quotes)
 

TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY

1607 A group of 104 colonists arrive from England and establish the first permanent English colony in America. They name the settlement Jamestown in honor of King James I. (Virginia Food Trivia & Stats)

1637 I am not totally confident with the month and day, but supposedly, Cardinal Richelieu 'created' the table knife when he had the points rounded on all knives to be used at his table.  Presumably so no one could stab him.

1806 The first definition of the term Cocktail appeared in print, in the Hudson, New York publication ‘The Balance and Columbian Repository,’ in reply to a readers question: "Cock tail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters."
(Cocktail Trivia  --  Cocktail Article)

1878 Joseph Henry died (born Dec 17, 1797). American Scientist. He was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, where he established a meteorological program which became the foundation of a national weather service.

1884 Cyrus Hall McCormick died.  He is generally credited with the development of the mechanical reaper.

1908 A 3 day Conference of Governors began, hosted by President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House, to consider the problems of conservation. It was also attended by the members of the Supreme Court and the Cabinet, scientists, and various national leaders. It led to the creation of The National Conservation Commission.

1950 Diner's Club issues the first credit cards.
(See details)

1954 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation authorizing construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which would connect the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.
(see also April 25, 1959)

1958 Velcro was trademarked.

1968 Darius Rucker, lead singer with ‘Hootie and the Blowfish’ was born.

1971 Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas died (born July 20, 1889). When Virginia O'Hanlon was 8 years old, she wrote the famous letter to the editor of the New York Sun asking if Santa Claus really exists.
(See article: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus)

1993 The ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers’ play on the Simpsons TV show.

2020 Coronavirus:  California State University, with 480,000 students at 23 campuses, cancels all classes for fall semester and will conduct all instruction online.
 

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A FEW FEATURED FOOD FESTIVALS
(See All 9,000 Food, Wine & Beer Festivals)

April 23-June 21, 2026  Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival - Williamsburg, Virginia

May 9-17, 2026  84th Annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival - Buckhannon, West Virginia

May 13-16, 2026  48th World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest - Memphis, Tennessee

May 14-17, 2026  Calavaras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee - Calaveras County Fairgrounds, Calif.

May 15-16, 2026  World Championship Bison CookOff
Santa Anna, Texas

May 16, 2026  The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast
Springfield, Massachusetts

May 16-17, 2026  South 9th Street Italian Market Festival - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(SEE ALL FOOD FESTIVALS and OTHER FOOD EVENTS)
 

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FOOD TRIVIA QUIZ    (new DAILY questions)

1) All of the following events took place in the same year.  What year is it?
· Pillsbury acquires Hδagen-Dazs ice cream.
· Jenny Craig Inc. weight loss program is founded by Sid and Jenny Craig.
· Denny's Restaurants acquires the U.S. El Pollo Loco restaurants.

2) What popular candy bar was named for a horse?

3) This vegetable oil comes from the seeds of a thistle-like plant. Since it does not yellow with age it is useful in making paints, cosmetics and soaps, but it is mainly used in food products. Its flowers are also used to produce a red dye.
Can you name this plant?

4) What do grapes, blueberries, tomatoes, bananas and green peppers have in common?

Click Here for Today’s Quiz Answers
 

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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
 

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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
 

TOP

DID YOU KNOW

In the 1930s a 'Mock Apple Pie' recipe was printed on Ritz Cracker boxes, using Ritz crackers instead of apples.

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A FOOD LIFE

"There are those who say that a life devoted to food -- cooking it, eating it, writing about it, even dreaming about it -- is a frivolous life, an indulgent life.  I would disagree.  If we do not care what we eat, we do not care for ourselves, and if we do not care for ourselves, how can we care for others?"
Fictional cookery writer Hilary Small, in episode 6, series 2 of 'Pie In the Sky'

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Click Here for
Food Emergency
Websites, Phone #s, E-mails, etc.

 

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Classic Fish and Seafood Recipes
 

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DID YOU KNOW?

Calvados is an apple brandy made by distilling apple cider and ageing in oak casks for 2 to 5 years or more. Calvados is made in Calvados, Normandy, France, and dates back at least to the 16th century. It is an excellent brandy to use in cooking, especially in chicken dishes and desserts.

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IN SEASON FOR SPRING

VEGETABLES
(Recipes  --  Tips)
Asparagus
Avocados
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Collard Greens
Kale
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Peas
Plantains
Radishes
Rhubarb
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips

FRUITS (Tips)
Apples
Apricots
Bananas
Blackberries
Kiwifruit
Lemons
Limes
Pineapples
Strawberries

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DID YOU KNOW?

The first printed reference to apple pie was in 1589 by Robert Greene in 'Arcadia': "Thy breath is like the steame of apple-pyes."

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Website last updated on Wednesday, May 13, 2026