TODAY’S FOOD QUOTE“Chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.” Clementine Paddleford
FOOD HOLIDAYS - TODAY IS:
• National Granola Bar Day (Granola and its Origins)
• New England Clam Chowder Day (Chowder Trivia)
(New England Clam Chowder Recipe)
• National Squirrel Appreciation Day (Founded in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator in Asheville, North Carolina because food sources are scarce in mid-winter)
• St. Agnes of Rome, patron of gardeners and Girl Scouts.
• Fresh Squeezed Juice Week (begins 3rd Sun - Jan 18-24, 2026)
• Healthy Weight Week (Jan 18-24, 2026· - 3rd week)
(Healthy Diets & Dieting Articles --- Diet Quotes)
TODAY IN FOOD HISTORY
1338 Charles V of France was born. It was Charles V who commissioned Taillevent to write what would become the first professional cookery book written in France, 'Le Viandier'. Forks were mentioned in an inventory during his reign. Some believe that he died as a result of eating amanita mushrooms.
1868 Felix Hoffman was born (died Feb 8, 1946). German chemist who synthesized aspirin in 1897. (see also Feb 27, 1900)
1908 New York City makes it illegal for women to smoke in public.
1912 Konrad (Emil) Bloch was born. Nobel prize winner for his work on cholesterol and fatty acids. He discovered that high levels of cholesterol may lead ultimately to increased risk of heart attacks.
(Fats & Fatty Acids Facts & Articles)
1922 Actor Telly Savalas was born today (died Jan 22, 1994). In the TV series 'Kojak' he played tough NY City detective Lt. Kojak who had a fondness for Tootsie Roll Pops (lollipops).
1924 The musical 'Lollipop' opened at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York City.
1937 Marcel Boulestin became the first television cook when he presented the first of the Cook’s Night Out programs on the BBC (1937-1939). (There is some dispute about exact dates - various sources differ on the year. Accurate records appear not to be available). (TV Chefs Trivia)
1949 Gennaro Contaldo was born. Chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. [gennarocontaldo.com]
1976 The supersonic Concorde commercial aircraft built with funding from the French and British governments, began regular service today.
1976 'Spice Girls' singer Emma Bunton was born today.
1985 James Beard, culinary expert and cookbook author, died in New York, age 81 (born May 5, 1903).
James Beard Foundation website: [jamesbeard.org/]
1996 Cleanup of a 1.8 million gallon oil spill began after a barge ran aground near Block Island National Wildlife Refuge on January 19, 1996.
2020 With hard freeze warnings in Florida, the National Weather Service warned "don't be surprised if you see Iguanas falling from trees tonight." (At temperatures below 45 degrees F. the go into a dormant state, and after 8 hours a significant number begin to die.)
2020 A Washington state man who had visited Wuhan, China confirmed as U.S. 1st Coronavirus case
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A FEW FEATURED FOOD FESTIVALS
(See All 9,000 Food, Wine & Beer Festivals)January 1-31, 2026 - Napa Valley Restaurant Month
Napa Valley, California
January 20-Feb 12, 2026 NYC Restaurant Week
New York, New York
January 22-February 1, 2026 140th Saint Paul Winter Carnival - St. Paul, Minnesota
January 23-February 1, 2026 Baltimore Restaurant Week - Baltimore, Maryland
January 24-25, 2026 - The Chocolate Expo
Wilmington, Massachusetts
January 24-25, 2026 Port St. Lucie Seafood Festival
Port St. Lucie, Florida
January 24-25, 2026 20th Annual Portland Seafood & Wine Festival - Portland, Oregon
(SEE ALL FOOD FESTIVALS and OTHER FOOD EVENTS)
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FOOD TRIVIA QUIZ (new DAILY questions)
1) All of the following events took place in the same year. What year is it?
· Minnesota became the 32nd state. Land of 10,000 Lakes; The Gopher State.
· Ezra J. Warner of Waterbury, Connecticut received a patent for a can opener.
· John L. Mason of New York was issued a patent for a Glass Jar (known as the Mason Jar).
· Hyman Lipman of Philadelphia received a patent for the first pencil with an eraser attached.
2) This close relative of the codfish is found in the North Atlantic, with the average weighing about 5 pounds. The most famous dish made with it originated in a Scottish village in the 18th century. Name the fish and the dish.
3) In 1877 this 'man' and the product name were first used as a trademark by Henry Crowell at his mill in Ravenna, Ohio. Crowell and 7 other mill owners formed the American Cereal Company of Chicago in 1891. In 1901 the name of the company was changed to the trademark name first used by Crowell. Who is this 'trademark' man, and what is the name of his product?
Click Here for Today’s Quiz Answers
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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
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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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