Charcuterie is the craft of curing, smoking and preserving meat, a tradition that dates back to at least 15th‑century France. The word comes from ‘chair cuite’, meaning cooked flesh, and referred to shops that sold sausages, pâtés and rillettes. French guilds regulated production, and regional specialities evolved—think saucisson sec in the Auvergne, jambon de Bayonne […]
The Popsicle owes its existence to an 11‑year‑old boy’s forgetfulness. In 1905, San Francisco resident Frank Epperson mixed powdered soda pop with water and left his cup, stirring stick and all, on the porch overnight. Temperatures dipped below freezing, and he awoke to find a sweet ice block on a stick. Epperson dubbed his accidental […]
Bananas are so ubiquitous in grocery stores that it’s easy to forget their exotic origins. The fruit likely originated in Southeast Asia, where wild bananas were first domesticated more than two thousand years ago. These early bananas were filled with hard seeds; farmers selectively bred plants for their creamy, seedless flesh. Arab traders carried bananas […]
Pots de crème—literally ‘pots of cream’—are small French custards baked in individual cups. Their history stretches back to the 17th century when custards were prized at Versailles for their smooth texture and rich flavour. While early versions were encased in pastry shells, the dessert evolved into a standalone pudding cooked slowly in a water bath. […]
National Crackers Over The Keyboard Day is one of those quirky celebrations invented to make us chuckle. The day was dreamt up by Thomas and Ruth Roy, a husband‑and‑wife acting duo who have created dozens of ‘special’ days through their company Wellcat Holidays. This one encourages workers and students to break one of office etiquette’s […]
There’s something about banana pudding that feels like a hug from the inside. Maybe it’s the layers: the soft slices of ripe banana, the rich vanilla custard, the nilla wafers that soften to a cake‑like texture and the cloud of whipped cream or meringue on top. Maybe it’s the way the flavors meld after a […]
Turnovers may have originated as a clever workaround to baking bans. In 15th‑century England some towns outlawed cakes to curb flour consumption, so bakers folded pastry around fruit filling and claimed it wasn’t a cake at all. These ‘pocket pies’ became popular throughout Europe. A turnover is essentially a hand pie: flaky puff pastry or […]
Wine has been part of human culture for at least eight thousand years. Archaeologists have discovered traces of fermented grape juice in Neolithic pottery from Georgia, and Greek and Roman writers extolled wine’s virtues. Today red wine is made from countless grape varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah—each reflecting its terroir. National Red Wine Day, […]
Every year around this time, I find myself craving national cherry popover day. It signals a call to gather over plates and conversation. In kitchens and cafes across the country, people take note of the date and remember how national cherry popover day connects them to seasons past and present. Long before anyone thought to […]
You know it's early September in Chicago when the scent of roasting meat and warm pita wafts down Halsted Street, luring people toward a tiny shop with a spinning column of marinated goodness. National Gyro Day falls on September 1st every year, but the celebration is less about a single date and more about the […]
As soon as my calendar flips to September, national tofu day comes to mind. It nudges us to slow down and savor something simple and satisfying. In kitchens and cafes across the country, people take note of the date and remember how national tofu day connects them to seasons past and present. Ages before a […]
A Taste of Late Summer It’s hard to say what triggers it first—cooler air or the thought of National Blueberry Popsicle Day. The holiday arrives on September 2, just as summer begins to fade but warm afternoons still linger. It’s a sweet reminder to slow down, savor the season’s final berries, and enjoy the simple […]