08/03/2023
SOME TRIVIA
July, National Hog Dog Month, is almost over. It does not seem that long ago we were cutting the grass, putting the summer furniture on decks and porches and flowers were planted at loved one’s graves and around the house as we were getting ready for May’s Memorial Day Weekend. It was time to get the grill ready to kick off the Summer with a picnic.
For many, the “all American” picnic menu will include hot dogs, baked beans, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, watermelon and perhaps apple pie and chocolate cake., along with a variety of other foods. These picnic foods could be called the United Nation’s menu since the food served originally came to America with the immigrants from Europe or from the Native Indians.
Hot dogs have been around since the 1487. The first Hot Dog stand appeared in Frankfurt, Germany in 1860 and they were served with sauerkraut and beer. It was called dachshund sausage. Today, we call them Hot Dogs, Frankfurters or Wieners. They were introduced to America by German immigrants who sold them from carts along the streets. The first permanent hot dog stand was at Coney Island in 1871 and still exists.
The hot dog bun, invented by the wife of a German hot dog vendor, was introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1906. Nathans of New York was the first to serve hot dogs on a bun.
At the same fair, the yellow mustard, the oldest know spice and now America’s favorite, was invented by a Bavarian man who put it on the hot dog in the bun. Chicago was noted to be the first to use several condiments on their hot dogs. Ketchup, (created in 1812in Philadelphia, Pa) along with yellow mustard and relish (ground pickles which is a native of India). Perhaps, onions and other ingredients were also on their hot dogs. Heinz ketchup didn’t appear until 1876 and is today’s favorite.
It is estimated that Americans consume 7 billion hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Major league baseball is the biggest hot dog seller with one season serving over 18o million dogs while the L.A. Dodgers are the biggest consumer.
Our own New Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe is good part of this estimate. They have added “cheese and chili” along with their famous French fries (invented in Paris in 1680) which makes this really a United Nation’s feast.
The common bean originated in Central and South America as well as the tomato about 9000 years ago. The tomato became a staple of the Italian cuisine. From Peru and Bolivia came the potato. Corn was a native of Mexico about 10,000 years ago, A special verity of corn, when heated, popped and it became our popcorn. It is now a favorite at ballgames and movies.
The Spanish Conquistadors and early the Portuguese sailors introduced these foods to their native countries which then spread through0ut the rest of Europe. They soon became principal foods in their diets. The Native Indian taught the Pilgrims to plant corn and beside them beans which used the corn stock as a pole.
The watermelon originated in South Africa but domesticated in Egypt. about 2000 B.C. Watermelon seeds were buried with King Tut. It soon spread to the Mediterranean countries and later to Europe. Mark Twain once said “To taste watermelon is to know what the angels eat.”
Apples were domesticated in Kazakhstan in Central Asia about 10,00 years ago. It’s capitol, Alma Alba, means full of apples. Johnny Appleseed is said to have planted apple seeds in America. It was one of the first fruit trees plants by the early setters.
The cacao bean was cultivated by the Aztecs and Mayans in South America. The Spanish explorers returned to Spain with the beans, which they cultivated. Cocoa was kept a secret from the rest of Europe for over 100 years. Its use is versatile in baking and in a beverage.
It is known that tea was first used for medicinal purpose in China in 2737 B.C. By boiling the water to make tea they purified the water of contamination. It became a popular beverage in Britain in 1650 and was introduced to the Colonist in America. Iced tea is a popular summer drink.
Coffee, one of America’s favorite beverages, originated in Ethiopia and spread to Egypt, Palestine and Turkey before being made known in Europe. It was introduced to the West Indies in 1700. Today, Brazil is the biggest producer of coffee.
You can see, by having the typical picnic menu, you have made a trip around the world and never left home.
Enjoy the rest of summer!
