John-Bryan Hopkins's Blog, page 66

September 7th is National Beer Lover’s Day!

 

Here are today’s five thing to know about Beer:

Germany serves beer ice cream in popsicle form. Its alcoholic content is less than that found in “classic” beer.
In 1962, Iron City beer was the brand used to test-market the concept of tab opening aluminum cans. By 1970, over 90% of all beer cans were self-opening.
Prohibition, beginning on January 16, 1920, lasted 13 years, 10 months, 19 days, 17 hours, and 32-1/2 minutes, and was rescinded on December 5, 1933, at 3:32 p.m.
Centuries ago in England, pub visitors used a novel innovation that enabled them to get their beer served quickly. They used mugs with a whistle baked into the rim, the whistle being used to summon the barmaid. It has been suggested this practice gave birth to the phrase “wet your whistle.”
A beer lover or enthusiast is called a cerevisaphile.

Today’s Food History

1840 Luther Crowell was born. He invented a machine to make square bottomed grocery bags.
1847 Henry David Thoreau left Walden Pond.
1912 David Packard was born. Founder with William Hewlett of the Hewlett Packard Company. Before they became famous for computers and printers etc., some of their early inventions were an automatic urinal flusher and a weight loss shock machine!
1971 The final episode of ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ TV show is aired.

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: beer, beer lover's, germany

September 6th is National Coffee Ice-Cream Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about Coffee Ice Cream:

Coffee is only grown near the equator, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, within a 1,000 mile limit.
1,200 different chemical components are in coffee.  More than half of these components make up the distinguished flavor of coffee.
There is between 80 and 140 milligrams of caffeine in a seven once cup of coffee.
400 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide, making it the most popular beverage.
91% of coffee consumed is taken at breakfast.  And sometimes is breakfast.

Today’s Food History

1620 The Pilgrims set sail from England aboard the Mayflower.
1800 Catherine Esther Beecher was born. American educator and author of ‘Miss Beecher’s Domestic Receipt Book’, etc.
1892 John Froelich made the first gasoline powered tractor.
1899 Carnation began producing evaporated milk.

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: facts, five food finds, food, foodimentary, fun, life, national coffee ice-cream day, today's food history, todays food history

September 5th is National Cheese Pizza Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about Cheese Pizza:

About 93% of Americans eat at least one pizza every month.
About 350 slices of pizza are consumed every second in the United States.
The most pizzas are delivered (and eaten) on New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve, and Super Bowl Sunday.
The three dots in the Domino’s Pizza logo represent the first three Domino’s Pizza stores.
Pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping in the United States.

Today’s Food History

1643 Louis XIV, King of France (the ‘Sun King’) was born. A gourmet, gourmand and many say a glutton. During his reign food began to be served in courses, rather than placed on the table all at once, and forks came into widespread use.
1698 Tsar Peter I of Russia imposes a tax on beards.
1946 Dean Ford of the music group ‘Marmalade’ was born.
1949 Clem Clempson of the music group ‘Humble Pie’ was born.
2001 Justin Wilson, Cajun chef and humorist died. He wrote five cookbooks, hosted several cooking shows on TV, including ‘Louisiana Cookin’ and ‘Cookin’ Cajun.’

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: facts, five food finds, food, foodimentary, fun, life, national cheese pizza day, today's food history, todays food history

September 4th is National Macadamia Nut Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about Macadamia:

Macadamia nuts are native to Australia. They are named for John Macadam, a Scottish born physician and chemist who promoted the nuts cultivation in Australia.
The Macadamia Nut is one of Australia’s few contributions to the world’s food plants, and this rich, buttery nut is considered by many to be the most delicious of all nuts.
The Macadamia was introduced into Hawaii around 1881 and used as an ornamental. The first commercial orchards of macadamias in Hawaii were not planted until 1921.
Most of the world’s macadamia nuts are grown on the island of Hawaii.
Today Macadamias are cultivated in many areas, including Indonesia, Central America, South Africa, the West Indies, Mediterranean countries and California.

Today’s Food History

1768 Francois Auguste Rene Vicomte de Chateaubriand was born. Chateaubriand was a French writer and politician. His chef, Montmireil, created the famous recipe consisting of a center cut from the beef tenderloin, grilled and served with béarnaise sauce and chateau potatoes. He named the dish Chateaubriand.
1781 The settlement known as “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula” (City of the Queen of the Angels) was founded. Now known as simply Los Angeles, California.
1885 The Exchange Buffet opened, the first self service restaurant.
1920 Craig Claiborne, food writer and critic, was born.
1957 Last game of the greatest baseball team in history. On September 4, the last game is played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn as the Dodgers prepare to move to LA. On February 23 of 1960, they tear the stadium down. Days that will live in infamy. I guess you can tell I was born in Brooklyn.
1967 The final episode of ‘Gilligans Island’ TV show airs.

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: claiborne food writer, commercial orchards, craig claiborne, facts, five food finds, food, foodimentary, fun, john macadam, life, macadamia nut, macadamia nuts, national macadamia nut day, today's food history, todays food history

September 3rd is National Baby Back Ribs Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about baby back ribs:

No one is really sure where the term barbecue originated. The conventional wisdom is that the Spanish, upon landing in the Caribbean, used the word barbacoa to refer to the natives’ method of slow-cooking meat over a wooden platform.
Barbecue varies by region, with the four main styles named after their place of origin: Memphis, Tenn.; North Carolina; Kansas City; and Texas.
In order to be called “baby back ribs” the rack needs to be smaller than a pound and a half.
Pigs have 14 rib bones! They are divided into four popular cuts: spare ribs, St. Louis, rib tips and baby backs.
No one knows who invented the barbecue.

Today’s Food History

1752 This day does not exist, nor did the next 10 days. See September 2 for the explanation.
1875 Ferdinand Porsche was born. He was an Austrian engineer who designed the VW Beetle in 1935.
1881 Lorenzo Delmonico, famed restaurateur died. Born 1813 in Marengo, Switzerland. In 1851 he joined his uncles in their catering and pastry shop in New York. He transformed the business into one of the most famous restaurants in the country.
1912 The first cannery opened in England. It was to supply food to the Royal Navy.
1964 ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’ by the Animals is #1 on the charts.
1966 The last episode of the TV show ‘The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet’ airs.
1967 Sweden switches from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right.
1970 Alan Wilson of the music group ‘Canned Heat’ died.
1970 Record Hailstone falls in Coffeyville, Minnesota. It weighed 1 2/3 pounds and measured 17 1/2 inches in circumference.

 

 

 

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: baby back ribs, barbecue, bbq, meat, southern

September 2nd is National “Grits for Breakfast” Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about Grits:

Grits (also sometimes called sofkee or sofkey from the Muskogee word) are a food of Native American origin common in the Southern United States and mainly eaten at breakfast.
They consist of coarsely ground corn, or sometimes alkali-treated corn (hominy).
Grits are similar to other thick maize-based porridges from around the world, such as polenta, or the thinner farina.
Grits are usually prepared by adding one part grits to two-to-three parts boiling water, sometimes seasoned with salt or sugar.
They are usually cooked for 5–10 minutes for “quick” grits or 20 or more minutes for whole kernel grits, or until the water is absorbed and the grits become a porridge-like consistency.

Today’s Food History

1666 The Great Fire of London began in the shop of the King’s baker. After burning for four days, more than 13,000 buildings had been destroyed.
1752 Tomorrow was September 14. The Gregorian Calendar went into effect in Great Britain and its colonies, to correct an accumulated 11 day discrepancy. Most of the rest of the world had switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar in 1582.
1935 The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 hit the Florida Keys. Over 400 were killed and the Railroad to Key West was destroyed. It was the most powerful hurricane to ever hit the U.S., with winds estimated at 200 mph.
1969 The first ATM is installed at the Chemical Bank in  Rockville Centre, New York.
1973 J.R.R. Tolkien died. Author of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. Food and hospitality play important roles in both.
1985 The wreckage of the British luxury liner ‘Titanic’ was located 73 years after it sank. This inspired a new interest in the menu and last meals that were served on the ship.

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: facts, five food finds, food, foodimentary, fun, life, national "grits for breakfast" day, today's food history, todays food history

September 1st is National Gyro Day!

 

Here are today’s five thing to know about Gyros:

A gyro  is a dish of meat roasted on a vertical spit. It is usually served as a sandwich, also called a gyros, with tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce, wrapped in pita bread.
To make gyros, pieces of meat are placed on a tall vertical spit, which turns in front of a source of heat, usually an electric broiler.
 If the meat is not fatty enough, strips of fat are added so that the roasting meat remains always moist and crisp.
The rate of roasting can be adjusted by varying the strength of the heat and the distance between the heat and the meat, allowing the cook to adjust to varying rates of consumption.
The outside of the meat is sliced vertically in thin, crisp shavings when done. It is generally served in an oiled, lightly grilled piece of pita, rolled up with various salads and sauces.

Today’s Food History

1819 J.J. Wood patented a plow with interchangeable parts.
1826 Alfred Ely Beach was born. American inventor and publisher of Scientific American magazine.
1906 Karl August Folkers was born. He was the first to isolate vitamin B12.
1914 Martha, the last surviving Passenger Pigeon died on September 1, 1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo, the species having been commercially hunted to extinction.
1940 Lillian D. Wald died. She was a scientist and nurse, and among her activities, she helped initiate the enactment of pure food laws in the U.S.
1951 The Premier, the first supermarket in Britain, opened it’s doors.

Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays Tagged: greek, gyro, meat

Here’s September Complete ‘Food Holiday’ List:

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National Chicken Month

National Honey Month

National Mushroom Month

National Papaya Month

National Potato Month

National Rice Month


Daily Holidays

September 1

National Gyro Day

September 2

National “Grits for Breakfast” Day
International Bacon Day
 
September 3

National Welsh Rarebit Day
National Baby Back Ribs Day
 
September 4

National Macadamia Nut Day

September 5

National Cheese Pizza Day

September 6

National Coffee Ice Cream Day

September 7

National Beer Lover’s Day

September 8

National Date-Nut Bread Day

September 9

National “I Love Food” Day

September 10

National Hot Dog Day

September 11

National Hot Cross Bun Day

September 12

National Chocolate Milkshake Day

September 13

National Peanut Day

September 14

National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day

September 15
National Double Cheeseburger Day

National Creme de Menthe Day

National Linguini Day

September 16

National Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Day

September 17

National Apple Dumpling Day
National Monte Cristo Day

September 18

National Play-Dough Day

National Cheeseburger Day

September 19

National Butterscotch Pudding Day

September 20

National Punch Day / Rum Punch Day

September 21

National Pecan Cookie Day

September 22

National Ice Cream Cone Day

September 23

National White Chocolate Day

September 24

National Cherries Jubilee Day

September 25
National Lobster Day

National Food Service Workers Day

September 26

National Key Lime Pie Day

September 27

National Chocolate Milk Day

September 28

National Strawberry Cream Pie Day
National Drink a Beer Day

September 29
National Coffee Day

National Mocha Day

September 30

National Mulled Cider Day

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Continue to October Food Holidays
Filed under: Food Holidays, September Food Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged: September food holidays

August 31st is National Trail Mix Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about Trail Mix:

Trail mix is a combination of dried fruit, grains, nuts, and sometimes chocolate, developed as a snack food to be taken along on outdoor hikes.
Trail mix is considered an ideal snack food for hikes, because it is tasty, lightweight, easy to store, and nutritious, providing a quick boost from the carbohydrates in the dried fruit and/or granola, and sustained energy from the mono- and polyunsaturated fats in nuts.
Many claim that trail mix was first invented in 1968 by two California surfers who blended peanuts and raisins together for an energy snack.
However, trail mix is also mentioned in Jack Kerouac’s 1958 novel The Dharma Bums as the two main characters describe their planned meals in their preparation for a hiking trip.
The recipe for trail mix is most likely European in origin, where it has been known as a snack under various names  in various countries since the 17th century.

Today’s Food History

1742 A plague of grasshoppers destroyed crops in Pennsylvania.
1900 Sir John Bennet Lawes died. An English agronomist, he founded the artificial fertilizer industry. Together with Sir Joseph Gilbert, they conducted agricultural experiments at Rothamsted Experimental Station, the oldest agricultural research station in the world. They are considered the founding fathers of agricultural sciences.
1900 Coca-Cola goes on sale for the first time in Britain.
1921 The first successful demonstration of aerial crop dusting was performed in Ohio by Lt. John A. Macready. He was flying a Curtiss JN-6H (Jenny).
1960 The National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame established.
1995 The summer was so hot in Missouri, that at the end of August, methane gas emitted within large bales of freshly-cut hay began to spontaneously combust.

Filed under: August Food Holidays, Food Holidays Tagged: facts, five food finds, food, foodimentary, fun, life, national trail mix day, today's food history, todays food history

August 30th is National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

Here are today’s five thing to know about Marshmallow:

This confection is the modern version of a medicinal confection made from Althaea officinalis, the marshmallow plant.
Not all marshmallows are vegan, most marshmallows contain eggs or animal based gelatin.
The marshmallow is a confection that, in its modern form, typically consists of sugar, corn syrup, water, gelatin that has been softened in hot water, dextrose, vanilla flavorings, and sometimes coloring, whipped to a spongy consistency.
The marshmallow probably first came into being as a medicinal substance, since the mucilaginous extracts comes from the root of the marshmallow plant, Althaea officinalis, which were used as a remedy for sore throats.
Concoctions of other parts of the marshmallow plant had medical uses as well.

Today’s Food History

1812 Agoston Haraszthy de Mokcsa was born. Mokcsa imported 1,400 varieties of grapevines to California in 1862 and planted the first large vineyard in California in the Sonoma Valley. After the devastating blight destroyed much of Europe’s vineyards, some of these same vines, now on resistant root stock, helped rescue the French and German wine industries.
1939 The first Wheaties commercial (live) aired when host Red Barbar promoted it during a Brooklyn Dodgers game (Variety, August 30, 1939). Later the Dodgers did a promotion dressed in street clothes saying ‘Yum, Yum Stuff!’ (‘Variety’, April 24, 1940)
1979 President Jimmy Carter was attacked by a rabbit while on a canoe trip in Georgia. He beat it away with a paddle. (Man eating, aquatic rabbits?)
2007 Michael Jackson, a leading beer critic, died at age 65.He was the author of ‘The World Guide to Beer’ (1977), and wrote for articles for various newspapers and food magazines, etc.

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Filed under: August Food Holidays, Food Holidays Tagged: facts, five food finds, food, foodimentary, fun, life, national toasted marshmallow day, today's food history, todays food history