Sunday, November 30, 2025Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“The dangerous person in the kitchen is the one who goes rigidly by weights, measurements, thermometers and scales. I would say once more that all these scientific implements are not of much use, the only exception being for making pastry and jams, where exact weights are important.”
X. Marcel Boulestin, chef, food writer (1878-1943)
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• National Mousse Day (Mousse Recipes) • National Mason Jar Day (see 1858 below) • The Great Pastry War Begins (see 1838 below) • St. Andrew's Day, patron of fishermen. UK: [National Tree Week] (Nov 22-30, 2025)
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1835 Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) was born. American author, pen name Mark Twain, who wrote ‘Tom Sawyer’, ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’, etc. There are many quotes and descriptions about food and dining in his works. An example is: "A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually waste away, and eventually die." (From 'A Tramp Abroad'). 1838 A brief conflict began between Mexico and France caused by a French pastry cook who claimed that some Mexican Army soldiers had damaged his restaurant. The Mexican government refused to pay for damages. Several other countries had pressed the Mexican government for similar claims in the past due to civil unrest in Mexico. France decided to do something about it, and on April 16, 1838 sent a fleet to blockade Mexico's east coast. Finally in November The French bombarded and occupied Vera Cruz. Through the mediation of Great Britain, France was promised payment of 600,000 pesos for the damages. They withdrew on March 9, 1839. 1858 John L. Mason of New York was issued U.S. patent No. 22,186 for a Glass Jar (known as the Mason Jar) "Improvement in Screw-Neck Bottles" 1875 African American inventor Alexander P. Ashbourne was issued U.S. patent No. 170,460 for a biscuit cutter, “Improvement in Biscuit-Cutters”.
(Biscuit History --- Biscuit Recipes) 1875 Asmus J. Ehrrichson was issued the first U.S. patent (No. 170,536) for an oat-crushing (oat-meal) machine. 1936 London's famed Crystal Palace, built for the 1851 International Exhibition, was destroyed by a fire, despite efforts of 500 fireman and 90 engines. 1944 Rob Grill of the music group 'Grassroots' was born. 1954 In Sylacauga, Alabama, Ann Hodges was struck on the arm and hip by a meteorite the size of a grapefruit, when it smashed through the roof of her house as she was resting on her sofa. It was the only reported case of a human being being hit by a meteorite. The meteorite is in the Alabama Museum of Natural History, and is known as the Hodges Meteorite. 1965 Dale Cummings finished his record setting 14,118 consecutive sit-ups (began 11pm Nov 29, 1965).
(see new record Dec 23, 1972) 1983 Alfred Heineken, the president of Heineken (the beer) was released after being kidnapped on November 9. He was freed after a ransom was paid (over $20 million). The kidnappers were eventually caught. 1999 At least 40,000 demonstrators in Seattle, Washington forced the World Trade Organization to cancel the opening session of its 3-day 135-nation trade summit.
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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Nov 18, 2025-Jan 4, 2026 National Gingerbread House Competition & Display - Asheville, N. Carolina November 29-30, 2025 A Family Thanksgiving 2025
Woodstock, Vermont November 29 & Dec 6, 2025 Winter Wonderland
Franklin, North Carolina December 1-31, 2025 55th Annual Christmas in Newport - Newport, Rhode Island December 5-7, 2025 German Christmas Market
Augusta, New Jersey December 6-7, 2025 - 33rd Annual Indio International Tamale Festival - Indio, California (SEE ALL FOOD FESTIVALS and OTHER FOOD EVENTS)
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** FOOD TRIVIA QUIZ (new DAILY questions)(Click Here for 40 Question Thanksgiving Quiz) 1) All of the following events took place in the same year. What year is it?
· The National Coffee Association was founded, one of the oldest trade associations in the U.S.
· Procter & Gamble introduced 'Crisco', a hydrogenated shortening made from vegetable oil.
· First motor truck delivery of livestock reaches Indianapolis. Prior to that, all livestock were transported via railroad.
· Battle Creek, Michigan plants produce cornflakes under more than 100 brand names.
· Mazola salad and cooking oil is introduced, the first corn oil available for home use. 2) This genus of tuberous rooted herbs of the daisy family, is native to Mexico and Central America, and grows at elevations of 5,000 feet and above. (It is the national flower of Mexico.) They were brought to Spain in 1789 and soon spread to Britain, France and the rest of Europe. The botanist, Andreas Dahl, considered it a vegetable, and the French, like the Aztecs, cultivated the plant for its edible tuber. The tuber has a taste similar to the Jerusalem artichoke, and are cooked in the same manner. The emphasis soon switched to its use as a garden flower, when some of the larger, double flowered varieties arrived in Europe. There are about 2,000 varieties grown for their flowers, which include single and double flowers in white, yellow, red, orange, purple and bicolor.
Name this plant. 3) This cheese was developed as a cheaper substitute for Roquefort in the early 1900s. After the second World War it was very successfully marketed throughout Europe and especially in Britain. It is now considered on of the world's best blue cheeses.
a) Cambazola. b) Danablu. c) Gorgonzola.
d) Maytag Blue. e) Saga Blue. 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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