Category: Food

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Survival at Sea: A Month with Ketchup and Seasonings

Elvis Francois, a 47-year-old sailor from Dominica, managed to survive almost a month stranded at sea, with ketchup and seasonings as his only source of sustenance. In December 2022, while carrying out repairs on his vessel near St. Martin, unforeseen currents swept him out to the open sea. Losing his signal, he was cut off from the outside world, unable to call for assistance.

With no food aboard, Francois had to improvise to survive. He mixed ketchup with garlic powder and Maggi seasoning cubes, using water to create an improvised meal. He also ingeniously collected rainwater on a cloth for hydration.

Despite efforts to light a fire for a distress signal, he was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, he crafted a “HELP” sign on his boat’s hull and tried to catch the attention of passing planes by reflecting the sun’s rays off a mirror. After 24 days of this maritime ordeal, he was finally located by the Colombian Navy, approximately 120 nautical miles northwest of La Guajira.

Francois was rescued and transported to Cartagena, where he was given the necessary medical care after his epic survival feat.

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Hormel Foods’ Unique Terminology: Unwanted Emails over Spam

Employees at Hormel Foods, the company known for producing canned SPAM, are encouraged to call spam emails “unwanted emails.”

Back in the 1930s, who would’ve thought that the name of a canned meat product could stir up such a fuss in the realm of the internet? Hormel Foods, famous for creating SPAM, got a raw deal during the internet surge of the 90s. The term “spam” unfortunately took on a whole new meaning – spam emails.

But, get this: the naming of these annoying, unsolicited emails didn’t emerge from the internet era. It actually comes from a 1970 Monty Python sketch. Yes, you heard it right! This sketch, which features a couple struggling to order a SPAM-free breakfast from a SPAM-saturated menu, unwittingly gave birth to the term. The relentless repetition of the word in the sketch echoed the irritating repetition of unwanted messages online.

It’s totally understandable, then, that Hormel Foods isn’t thrilled about their product’s name being synonymous with the aggravating emails that flood our inboxes. Not exactly the best kind of publicity, right?

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Pizza Farms: A Delicious Blend of Agriculture and Education

Have you ever heard of pizza farms? These are unique establishments that either sell pizzas made from ingredients grown on-site, or they function as educational farms that cultivate pizza ingredients, often on a circular piece of land divided into pizza slice-like segments. Some of these farms primarily focus on selling pizzas. They have gained significant popularity in regions like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. These farms typically cultivate or rear many of their ingredients, akin to the demonstration pizza farms. Additionally, there are farms dedicated to other foods, such as a farm that specializes in “burgers and fries.”

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From Bitter to Better: The Evolution of Brussels Sprouts Since the 90s

Since the 1990s, Brussels sprouts have undergone intentional breeding to improve their taste by reducing their bitterness. Plant breeders selected the most promising varieties and crossbred them with newer ones that boasted other beneficial features, such as increased yields and robust disease resistance. This strategic breeding resulted in Brussels sprout varieties that have been well-received by farmers, chefs, and ultimately, the end consumers.

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Inventing the Iconic: Robert C. Baker and the Birth of Chicken Nuggets

Robert C. Baker, a professor of food science at Cornell University, devised the concept of the chicken nugget in the 1950s. He referred to this new food item as the “Chicken Crispie,” which was a small chunk of chicken enveloped in batter and subsequently deep-fried. Rather than seeking a patent for his creation, Baker took a more academic approach, opting to share his groundbreaking recipe with hundreds of corporations without any patent protection.

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7 Tantalizing Tidbits About the World’s Favorite Pie: Pizza

Get ready to dive into the delicious world of pizza as we serve up seven scrumptious facts about everyone’s favorite comfort food. From its humble beginnings to its global impact, these tidbits will leave you craving a slice and appreciating the rich history behind this irresistible culinary creation. So, grab a piece of pizza and join us on this mouth-watering journey!

1. Beware of surprise pizza deliveries in Louisiana! Sending a pizza to someone’s house without their permission is illegal and can result in fines up to $500 or even jail time. So, make sure the recipient is expecting that delicious surprise.

2. Pizza gained popularity in Italy only after it became a hit in America. Originating as a cheap street food in Naples, it wasn’t until Southern Italian Americans created more elaborate pizzas that it gained traction in Italy. Nowadays, Neapolitan pizza must meet specific ingredient requirements to be considered authentic.

3. The New York Times played a role in introducing pizza to the American public. In 1944, an article in the newspaper presented pizza as an exciting new food, paving the way for its widespread popularity.

4. Domino’s Japan once attempted a Reindeer Delivery Program in 2016, but the initiative was short-lived. After just one week, the program was halted due to the reindeer’s refusal to cooperate and issues with pizza transportation.

5. Pizza has a place in the history of e-commerce. In 1994, Pizza Hut’s PizzaNet was one of the first online services to offer pizza ordering, starting in Santa Cruz, California. Impressively, the website is still up and running today.

6. Did you know that the CIA has a penchant for pizza? On the night before Iraq invaded Kuwait, there was a spike in pizza orders made by the CIA, possibly indicating a long night of intelligence work.

7. Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s, acquired half-ownership of the now-global pizza chain in 1961 by trading his used Volkswagen Beetle. Today, Domino’s is one of the largest pizza companies in the world, a testament to Monaghan’s business acumen.

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Salisbury Steak: American Dish Inspired by European Tastes and Health Advocacy

Originating in the United States, Salisbury Steak was created to cater to the preferences of European immigrants and was named in honor of Dr. James Salisbury, an advocate of a meat-centric diet for improved health. Since 1897, the term “Salisbury Steak” has been associated with a main course featuring a ground beef patty.

James Salisbury, the creator of Salisbury steak, served as a physician during the American Civil War. He firmly believed that vegetables contributed to heart disease and mental health issues, and promoted the consumption of Salisbury steak thrice daily as a means of fortifying the body and facilitating weight loss.

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Government Cheese: A Controversial Chapter in US History

In the 1980s, the US government found itself with a massive surplus of cheese due to volatile milk production and federal support for the dairy industry. With over 500 million pounds of processed American cheese stored in warehouses across 35 states, the government struggled to find a use for it. When the public discovered the surplus, they criticized President Ronald Reagan for not distributing the cheese to struggling families.

In response, Reagan authorized the release of 30 million pounds of cheese through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program, targeting the elderly and low-income individuals. Dubbed “government cheese,” it became a symbol of hard times, with some grateful for the assistance, while others felt it stigmatized their socioeconomic status. The cheese distribution continued until the 1990s when dairy prices stabilized.

After the cheese distribution ended in the 1990s, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the government-owned corporation responsible for the surplus, faded from the headlines. However, it resurfaced during the Trump administration when it was announced that the CCC would provide significant subsidies to offset the impact of trade wars with China, Canada, and the European Union.

In retrospect, the “government cheese” program remains a controversial and memorable chapter in US history. Some people remember the cheese fondly for the assistance it provided during difficult times, while others still associate it with the humiliation of revealing their economic hardships. The cheese itself, with its unique flavor and texture, has become a cultural touchstone, evoking memories of a challenging period in American history.

For those who have experienced the taste of “government cheese,” it leaves a lasting impression. The cheese’s flavor is often characterized as a mix between Velveeta and American cheese, evoking feelings of either humiliation or appreciation for those who relied on it for sustenance. Its distinctive pale orange hue and iconic five-pound blocks quickly set it apart from common cheddar or Camembert.

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Ekiben: Savoring Japan’s Train-Travel Delicacies

A typical $10 (1000 Yen) Bento, bought from a bento store in Tokyo Terminal.
A typical $10 (1000 Yen) Bento, bought from a bento store in Tokyo Terminal.

Ekiben, the quintessential Japanese train travel companion, are specially crafted bento box meals that showcase the unique flavors of each region. As passengers journey through Japan, they can indulge in these locally inspired delicacies that differ from station to station. In the 1980s, the popularity of ekiben soared, with an estimated 12 million boxes enjoyed daily across the country.

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Guarding Authenticity: The ‘Champagne of Beers’ Controversy

In 2023, Belgian authorities confiscated and destroyed 2,352 cans of an American beer labeled as “The Champagne of Beers.” The beer violated European regulations protecting the designation of origin for Champagne, as it was not produced in the Champagne region of France or according to the regulated process. European laws have safeguarded the name and production of Champagne, the iconic sparkling wine, since the 1980s, as stated on France’s Champagne Committee website.

Such protection of regional products and their names is not limited to Champagne. Various European food and beverage items, like Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto di Parma, and Roquefort cheese, also enjoy protected status. These regulations ensure the preservation of traditional production methods and maintain the unique characteristics and quality associated with these regional products.