Saturday, January 17, 2026Daily Trivia Questions are below TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“Eating is touch carried to the bitter end.”
Samuel Butler (19th century British author)
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:• National Hot Buttered Rum Day
(Rum - Expressions of Sunshine) • National Bootlegger's Day (also Al Capone's birthday) • St. Anthony the Abbot, patron saint of pigs & butchers. • National Pizza Week (Jan 11-17, 2026 - begins 2nd Sun) (Pizza Trivia and History --- Pizza Recipes)
(Pizza Quotes)
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY1501 Leonhard Fuchs was born. He was a German botanist who compiled the first modern glossary of botanical terms. The plant and the color fuchsia were named for him. 1560 Gaspard Bauhin was born. A Swiss botanist who developed a binomial system of plant classification. He published 'Pinax Theatri Botanici', which was a compilation that included over 6,000 species that had appeared in works from Theophrastus, Dioscorides and many later herbals. 1705 John Ray (Wray) died. A leading 17th century English naturalist and botanist. He contributed to the advancement of taxonomy, and established the species as the basic unit of taxonomy. 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born. American diplomat, publisher, inventor, etc. Among his inventions were the Franklin stove and biofocal eyeglasses. He also published 'Poor Richard's Almanac.' 1879 The Hotel Men’s Mutual Benefit Association of United States and Canada was founded by Henry J. Bohn and Col. F. Willis Rice. 1890 Peter Henderson died. A Scottish-American scientist, known as the 'Father of America Horticulture,' he published 'Gardening for Profit’ and 'Gardening for Pleasure'. 1893 Hawaii's monarchy was overthrown when businessmen and sugar planters forced Queen Liliuokalani to abdicate. (Hawaii Trivia & Facts) 1922 Betty Marion White was born. She was the actress who played the 'Happy Homemaker' Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore TV show. 1929 Popeye the spinach loving sailor first appeared in the comic strip 'Thimble Theatre.' (Spinach Trivia)
(Spinach Quotes) 1943 Tin Can Drive Day for scrap metal. 1997 Clyde W. Tombaugh died. An American astronomer who discovered the planet Pluto in 1930. Born on a farm near Streator, Illinois, he made his first telescope from old farm equipment parts. 2001 Norway lifted a ban on exports of whale meat. 2001 Facing an electricity crisis, California Governor Davis declared a state of emergency. Hundreds of thousands of California residents experienced rolling power blackouts. The energy crisis was caused by market manipulations, drought and new power plant delays.
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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Novvember 14, 2025 - January 17, 2026
Gingerbread House Competition & Display
Lahaska, Pennsylvania January 1-31, 2026 - Napa Valley Restaurant Month
Napa Valley, California January 8-18, 2026 Restaurant Week South Carolina
Statewide, South Carolina January 15-18, 2026 35th Annual Frog Leg Festival
Fellsmere, Florida January 16-19, 2026 Annual Napa Truffle Festival
Napa, California (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?
· Mary Mallon (Typhoid Mary) was arrested and quarantined in New York City, until her death.
· The familiar round Quaker Oats package is introduced.
· There were an estimated 6.5 million farms in the U.S. Total population was 100 million.
· A gallon of milk cost 36 cents.
· Absinthe is outlawed in France and several other countries. 2) Name this vegetable.
It has been around for more than 2000 years, and the name comes from the Latin word 'brachium', which means 'branch,' or 'arm.' Americans have grown it in their gardens for only about 200 years! The first commercially grown crop was grown and harvested in New York, then planted in the 1920's in California. A few crates were sent back East and by 1925 the market was off the ground. This vegetable is highly recognized for its anti-cancer nutrients. 3) Name this vegetable/herb/spice.
This plant originated in Asia and gradually migrated to the west, first to the Mediterranean basin, and then eventually to Europe and to the Americas at the beginning of the 16th century. From the very beginning, it was recognized for its fragrance, flavour and medicinal properties. It is a vegetable, but some people regard it as an herb, others treat it as a spice and yet others purchase it in the form of capsules as medicine. Scientists recognize it as a powerful food promoting good heath mainly for its sulphur compounds, but sophisticated individuals shun it. Chinese chefs make extensive use of it, and much of it is imported from China, although substantial quantities grow in the Americas. 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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