Many thanks to Rudy’s – Cooks Paradise in Twin Falls for sending the food trivia. Lots of fun!

This Week in the History of Food and Drink

March 8: National Farmer’s Day

March 9, 1839: The Great Pastry War ended this day. A conflict began on November 30, 1838, between Mexico and France caused by a French pastry cook who claimed that some Mexican Army soldiers had damaged his restaurant. The Mexican government refused to pay for damages. Several other countries had asked the Mexican government for similar claims in the past due to civil unrest in Mexico, without any resolution. France decided to do something about it, and sent a fleet to Veracruz and fired on the fortress outside the harbor. They occupied the city on April 16, 1838, and through the mediation of Great Britain were promised payment of 600,000 pesos for the damages. They withdrew on March 9, 1839.

March 10, 1867: Lillian D. Wald was born. She was a scientist and nurse, and among her activities, she helped initiate the enactment of pure food laws in the U.S

March 11, 1853: Self rising flour was invented by Henry Jones.

March 12, 1894: Coca Cola was first bottled by Joseph A. Biedenham of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Before that it was only mixed to order at the soda fountain. On the same date in 1929: Asa Griggs Candler died. In 1887, Asa Candler, a wholesale druggist, purchased the formula for Coca-Cola from John S. Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, for $2,300. He sold the company in 1919 for $25 million.

March 13, 1764: Charles Grey, 2nd Earl and British Prime Minister was born. He reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavored with bergamot oil, taken from bergamot, a citrus fruit typical of Southeast Asia, now grown commercially in Italy. The tea has since been called ‘Earl Grey Tea’.

March 14: ‘Tequilla’ by The Champs is # 1 on the music charts.