There once was a rumor that two children had died because they ate Mentos and drank Coca-Cola at the same time. No evidence was ever found that this story was true. But, it is true that a violent reaction occurs when you put Mentos into a bottle of Coke. This reaction is even more violent […]
Do IPA Beers or Hoppy Beers Last Longer?
IPA beers, or India Pale Lagers, were developed to allow beers to survive the harsh, and very hot, conditions of shipping from Britain to India during the British occupation there. Basically, barrels of beer were loaded up with hops, which have a preservative quality. These resultant extremely bitter beers were probably not like the craft […]
What’s the Oldest Chinese Restaurant in the United States?
Chinese food was the first type of ethnic cuisine to become a food considered ‘restaurant food.’ The history of Chinese food is a rich and interesting subject, especially since it helps tell the story of the first major Asian immigration to the United States. The first documented Chinese restaurant, the Canton Restaurant, opened in 1909 […]
How Did the Club Sandwich Get Its Name?
I have disappointing news. We don’t really know, for sure, how the club sandwich got its name. You can be sure that the ‘club’ in club sandwich is not an acronym for ‘chicken lettuce under bacon,’ which seems silly on its face as there is no rule that the bacon must be on top of […]
Soil Depletion and Nutrition: Are Today’s Fruits and Vegetables Less Nutritious?
It is widely reported that the declining nutritional value of food is due to soil depletion. Is our modern food really significantly less nutritious? Is soil depletion the cause? Claim: Our fruits and vegetables are less nutritious today than they were 30 to 50 years ago. Or, you have to eat ten tomatoes today to […]
Did Gerber Market a Big Mac and Fries Baby Food?
Although I’m not sure when this rumor began making the rounds, my 2014, a claim began circulating that Gerber was introducing a Big Mac and Fries baby food dinner. These claims came complete with the image of a jar of such baby food. The claims were a hoax but the jar was not. At least […]