Tuesday, December 30, 2025Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Bill Vaughn FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• National Bicarbonate of Soda Day • National Bacon Day (International Bacon Day is Sat before Labor Day) (Bacon trivia -- Bacon Quotes) • [Kwanzaa] begins (Dec 26 to Jan 1) A celebration of African American family, community and culture. TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1781 John Turberville Needham died (born Sept 10, 1713). He was an English naturalist, and one of those who believed in the spontaneous generation of life. He boiled some mutton broth, sealed it in glass containers and when he found living organisms present after a few days, he believed they came from nonliving matter. He was wrong - boiling does not destroy all bacterial and fungal spores. 1817 The first coffee is planted in Hawaii. (Hawaii Trivia --- Coffee Trivia --- Coffee Quotes) 1851 Asa Griggs Candler was born. In 1887, Asa Candler (1851-1929) a wholesale druggist, purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from John S. Pemberton an Atlanta pharmacist for $ 2,300. He sold the company in 1919 for $25 million. (Coca-Cola Trivia --- Coca-Cola Quotes) 1853 The U.S. acquired almost 30,000 square miles of territory (now southern New Mexico & southern Arizona) from Mexico for 10 million dollars with the signing of the Gadsen Purchase (Treaty of La Mesilla) 1937 Alain Chapel was born (died July 10, 1990). French Master Chef and restaurateur. His restaurant, Alain Chapel, was awarded its 3rd Michelin star in 1973 and maintained it throughout his life. Chapel is considered one of the originators of 'Nouvelle Cuisine.' 1972 At 86 feet, the highest instrumentally recorded wave was logged by the British 'Weather Reporter' ship in the North Atlantic near Iceland. 1980 The Selective Service system sent a warning to Mr. Mickey Mouse (the cartoon mouse) at Disneyland in California, informing him that he was in violation of registration compliance. Disneyland sent in his registration proving he was 52 years old. 1982 A second full moon occurred during the month ( a 'blue moon'). What makes this one even more unusual was that it was also a total lunar eclipse in the U.S. (A 'blue moon' occurs once every 2.7 years). 2003 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the dietary supplement ephedra after more than 150 deaths and thousands of adverse reaction had been reported. 2003 The FDA banned the use of 'downer' cattle from the human food supply, due to ‘Mad Cow’ fears. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Novvember 14, 2025 - January 17, 2026 Gingerbread House Competition & Display Lahaska, Pennsylvania Nov 18, 2025-Jan 4, 2026 National Gingerbread House Competition & Display - Asheville, N. Carolina December 1-31, 2025 55th Annual Christmas in Newport - Newport, Rhode Island December 30-31, 2025 PeepsFest & Peeps Chick Drop - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania • NEW YEARS EVE EVENTS (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? · Maxwell House introduced the first freeze-dried instant coffee. · Jean Nidetch founded Weight Watchers. · Fruit Loops breakfast cereal is introduced. · Julia Child's TV show 'The French Chef' begins. · Coca Cola introduced TaB, its new diet cola. 2) Originating with nomadic tribes of central Asia, this is a fermented beverage made with mare's milk. The beverage has a low alcohol content of about 2%, but a stronger drink, of the same name, can be distilled from it. Today it is frequently made from cow's milk. Name this beverage. 3) This is an orange/yellow, football-shaped fruit native to Eastern Asia, and closely related to citrus fruits. (They were originally considered Citrus, but in 1915 were given their own genus, Fortunella). They are unusual in that the edible skin is sweet and the flesh is quite tart, and the combination leaves a pleasant citrus taste in the mouth. They are eaten whole, candied, pickled, and used to make relishes, preserves and marmalades. Name this fruit. 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 TOP |