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History of Food Trivia

History of Food Trivia Quizzes

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Fun Trivia
73 quizzes and 717 trivia questions.
1.
My Gustatory Day
  My Gustatory Day editor best quiz   best quiz  
Photo Match
 12 Qns
Origins of Various Foods
I spent the day buying fresh ingredients from my grocery store. This was only possible because humans have moved them from one place in the world to another. Match the foods with their correct native homes. (Click the images for a closer look!)
Easier, 12 Qns, trident, Oct 03 24
Easier
trident editor
Oct 03 24
282 plays
2.
  Every Dish Tells a Story   best quiz  
Label Quiz
 10 Qns
Have you ever wondered about the origins of some European dishes named for more or less famous people? Hopefully this quiz will satisfy your curiosity - once you have located each dish on the map.
Average, 10 Qns, LadyNym, Mar 22 24
Average
LadyNym gold member
Mar 22 24
457 plays
3.
A Pink and Fluffy History
  A Pink and Fluffy History   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Cotton Candy/Candy Floss
Take your sweet time to test your knowledge about the history of this fairground favourite. Step right this way and give the quiz a spin.
Easier, 10 Qns, Snowman, Nov 26 24
Easier
Snowman gold member
Nov 26 24
328 plays
4.
  A Brief History of Thyme    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Thyme has been an important herb in many cultures for over 4000 years. How much do you know about its history?
Average, 10 Qns, wellenbrecher, Apr 07 24
Average
wellenbrecher gold member
Apr 07 24
252 plays
5.
  Guess the 1980s Dish   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I'll give you the details of some radical 1980s cuisine, and you tell me what the dish is! So put on your lace fingerless gloves, flip up your collar, open up a wine cooler and join me for some fun!
Average, 10 Qns, Mbovary, Sep 12 22
Average
Mbovary
Sep 12 22
11091 plays
6.
The Joy of Chocolate
  The Joy of Chocolate   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
What could be more delightful than a selection of chocolate delicacies hanging from your Christmas tree? But before you've eaten them all, why not try this quiz about the history of this delicious confection.
Average, 10 Qns, stedman, Jan 12 19
Average
stedman editor
Jan 12 19
1487 plays
7.
  Guess the 1970s Dish   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I'll give you the ingredients and you tell me what groovy 1970s dish I am making! So open up that pull top on your RC Cola, put on that mood ring, and join me in the fun!
Average, 10 Qns, mbovary, Aug 18 23
Average
mbovary
Aug 18 23
11301 plays
8.
Ten Ages of Christmas Food
  Ten Ages of Christmas Food   popular trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Let us take a gastronomic trip back through the ages to find out more about Britain's obsession with festive food and yuletide treats.
Average, 10 Qns, Plodd, Jan 02 17
Average
Plodd
1281 plays
9.
A Taste of Tercentenary
  A Taste of Tercentenary   great trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
To celebrate my 300th quiz, I invited ten well-known people to a special tercentenary dinner party to experience the food and drink that has shaped British cuisine over the last 300 years.
Average, 10 Qns, Plodd, May 08 16
Average
Plodd
763 plays
10.
  Amusing or Interesting Food Facts   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ten amusing or intriguing facts on different foods gleaned from encyclopediae or the internet from time to time - just for a bit of fun.
Average, 10 Qns, Creedy, Jul 31 17
Average
Creedy gold member
1826 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Bacon. Yum! What kept 19th century bacon from spoiling?

From Quiz "Food Preservation without Ice or Cans"




11.
  Where Does Your Food Come From?   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is all about foods which share their name with that of a place, although the food itself may not necessarily have originated from there. Bon appétit!
Average, 10 Qns, Jennifer5, Aug 30 10
Average
Jennifer5 gold member
3500 plays
12.
When in Rome Eat as the Romans Did
  When in Rome, Eat as the Romans Did   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
When people think of the food of Ancient Rome, they imagine decadent banquets and unusual foodstuffs. However, this quiz will show that what Romans ate was often not that different from what we eat nowadays.
Average, 10 Qns, LadyNym, Apr 07 23
Average
LadyNym gold member
Apr 07 23
507 plays
13.
  A History of Fat People editor best quiz   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Diets have long been part of day to day life, as humankind has long been obsessed with shedding those unwanted pounds. This quiz promises to give you plenty of "food for thought", and will test your knowledge of dieting history.
Average, 10 Qns, poshprice, May 04 13
Average
poshprice
3105 plays
14.
  Gastronomic Migrations   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The cuisines of many nations would not be what they are today were it not for the various ingredients that have circumnavigated the globe over the last millennium. Come along on a gastronomic journey.
Average, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Mar 16 24
Average
looney_tunes editor
Mar 16 24
3483 plays
15.
  Edible People   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Down through the centuries people have been honoured by having dishes and drinks named for them. With how many of these eponymous treats are you familiar?
Difficult, 10 Qns, Cymruambyth, Mar 09 17
Difficult
Cymruambyth gold member
4383 plays
16.
  Foods of Antiquity   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Food brings humanity together, whether that be through adversity, differences, or in this case, even time. These foods have existed since antiquity and many of them even today.
Average, 10 Qns, trident, May 22 22
Average
trident editor
May 22 22
531 plays
17.
  Curious Comestibles in Cans    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A potted history of canned foods.
Easier, 10 Qns, Stoaty, Aug 23 21
Recommended for grades: 9,10,11,12
Easier
Stoaty gold member
Aug 23 21
685 plays
18.
  Guess the 1990s Dish   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I'll give you the details of a particular 1990s food, and you tell me what the dish is! So turn up that grunge music, put on your bugle boy jeans, open up a Zima and let's have some fun!
Average, 10 Qns, mbovary, Apr 15 24
Average
mbovary
Apr 15 24
2602 plays
19.
  The Lost Language of the American Diner   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
With the global domination of fast food "restaurants" the golden age of the American diner has passed. However, traditional diners can still be found each with its own language. Here's my tribute to a great American cultural icon & to its niche lexicon.
Tough, 10 Qns, 1nn1, Nov 25 16
Tough
1nn1 gold member
785 plays
20.
  The History of the Sunday Roast   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Believe it or not, the humble Sunday roast has been around for centuries, and generations of Britons have enjoyed it. This quiz will test your knowledge of this beloved British dish, and perhaps unveil some things you never knew about it.
Average, 10 Qns, poshprice, Mar 18 24
Average
poshprice
Mar 18 24
925 plays
21.
  Camels to Carrots: A Food For All Quiz   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"PUT THE CANDLENUT DOWN AND STEP AWAY FROM THE TABLE!" From exotic spices to wild carrots, test your knowledge of foods that fall alphabetically between camel and carrot, inclusively. Generous hints provided. "And DO try the camel paste."
Average, 10 Qns, uglybird, Mar 22 24
Average
uglybird
Mar 22 24
4332 plays
22.
  Don't Eat That! editor best quiz   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Human beings are omnivores, and will eat almost anything! Nevertheless, certain foods are or were taboo among some groups at one time or another. How much do you know about these "banned" foods?
Average, 10 Qns, daver852, Jan 02 22
Average
daver852 gold member
Jan 02 22
2022 plays
23.
  I Scream, You Scream!   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
That's right, this quiz is all about ice cream! This quiz looks at who were amongst the first to enjoy this frozen treat, how it spread from country to country and how it evolved into the summer dessert we know today. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, doublemm, Sep 01 09
Average
doublemm gold member
1967 plays
24.
  Food Innovator   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Most food doesn't just grow on trees. People combine ingredients and create recipes - sometimes by accident. This quiz is about the history and people behind my favorite foods.
Easier, 10 Qns, jcpetersen, Apr 15 24
Easier
jcpetersen
Apr 15 24
647 plays
25.
  Food Facts for Fun   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz should be interesting. It is full of surprising facts. Good luck and most of all----HAVE FUN!
Difficult, 10 Qns, tigey, Jul 06 24
Difficult
tigey
Jul 06 24
4035 plays
26.
  Henry's Medieval Banquet   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Henry's back! My lord, the Earl of Warwick, is planning a huge celebration on Christmas Day, 1443. Please be my guest at the banquet!
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Dec 17 23
Average
ponycargirl editor
Dec 17 23
854 plays
27.
  Hot Dog, We're On A Roll!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a Quiz Commission. It must seem strange an Australian is reporting on a quintessential American food icon. Let's go...
Average, 10 Qns, 1nn1, Sep 03 23
Average
1nn1 gold member
Sep 03 23
528 plays
28.
  Potato or Potatoe?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz looks at how the humble potato conquered the world and became the staple food for people everywhere.
Average, 10 Qns, AlonsoKing, Sep 17 15
Average
AlonsoKing
846 plays
29.
  American Food History #1: Native Influence   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I love to cook and I love history so... This is the first in a series about what Americans eat and why. We will start from the beginning, with the original Americans and work our way forward in time. Bon Appetit!
Average, 10 Qns, rwminix, Jan 26 24
Average
rwminix
Jan 26 24
2563 plays
30.
  What's That in This Old U.S. Cookbook?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I want to bake a cake using a recipe from a 19th Century U.S. cookbook. But what do all these old words and ingredients mean? Can you help?
Average, 10 Qns, littlepup, Jan 02 17
Average
littlepup
596 plays
31.
  Eaten Out of House and Home   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In "2 Henry IV" Shakespeare's well-fed character Falstaff is sued by the tavern hostess, because "he hath eaten [her] out of house and home!" (2.1.74) What can we learn from Falstaff about the history of food in 14th-16th century England?
Average, 10 Qns, nannywoo, Feb 16 13
Average
nannywoo gold member
813 plays
32.
  Food Preservation without Ice or Cans    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How was food preserved in the 19th Century and before? They had ice and were starting to can back then, but that makes it too easy. This quiz is about other ways.
Average, 10 Qns, littlepup, Oct 20 16
Average
littlepup
421 plays
33.
  A Second Helping of Edible People   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Pass your plates for another helping of Edible People. See if you can match the name with the dish or drink. Bon appetit!
Difficult, 10 Qns, Cymruambyth, Sep 07 07
Difficult
Cymruambyth gold member
1734 plays
34.
  Mess is Lore   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Lore is the accumulated knowledge, stories and legends of a group on a specific subject. Our specific subject is military food, called "mess", complaints aside it derives from the Old French "mes" meaning a portion of food. Come explore the lore of mess!
Average, 10 Qns, Jdeanflpa, Aug 04 18
Average
Jdeanflpa
Aug 04 18
406 plays
35.
  The Urban Legends Diner    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Welcome to the Urban Legends Diner. Every item on the menu tells a story, and every story is true. Can I get you an appetizer?
Tough, 10 Qns, czolgolz, Aug 26 22
Tough
czolgolz
Aug 26 22
2498 plays
36.
  Yuck! Did They Really Eat That?   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about some of the unusual things that have been considered as tasty food by various cultures throughout history. Warning: some of these questions may cause you to lose your appetite.
Tough, 10 Qns, daver852, Sep 29 14
Tough
daver852 gold member
960 plays
37.
  Happy Historical Holiday Dish   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A listing in "Reader's Digest" about holiday dishes around the world caught my eye. Let's dive into the history of some of these delicious festive treats and the country to which they are paired.
Tough, 10 Qns, stephgm67, Dec 22 16
Tough
stephgm67 gold member
300 plays
38.
  Wrong Way   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Kitchen disasters and experimental mishaps have often produced unexpectedly interesting results. Here's ten culinary incidents where something went terribly or deliciously WRONG!
Average, 10 Qns, tiye, Nov 19 14
Average
tiye gold member
741 plays
39.
  Hostess Twinkie History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Hostess Twinkie has been around for years. Now it's time for a quiz on it's history.
Tough, 10 Qns, maskman22, Jun 28 09
Tough
maskman22
707 plays
40.
  That's Not Mrs Beaton! - Medieval English Cookery   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
'The Forme of Cury' or 'Method of Cookery' is a 14th Century vellum parchment written by the Master Cooks to King Richard II. One of the earliest books of its kind written in English, here we examine a selection of its recipes.
Tough, 10 Qns, SisterSeagull, Sep 09 16
Tough
SisterSeagull gold member
235 plays
41.
  Cooking on the Hearth: No Microwave, No Stove    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Hearth cooking didn't even use a wood stove. With a crane, a wide hearth, lots of cast ironware, a shovel and lid lifter and ladle, you could make any delicacy that you could on a stove, sometimes better!
Average, 10 Qns, littlepup, Nov 27 16
Average
littlepup
252 plays
42.
  Regional Cooking in the U.S.    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
What would you have eaten for breakfast in Colonial America? How about on the trail in the Old West? Take this tasty quiz and discover American cuisine.
Average, 10 Qns, nmerr, Oct 02 13
Average
nmerr gold member
684 plays
43.
  Lincoln - President, Emancipator..Foodie?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Abraham Lincoln is well known as one of the more influential leaders in history. But what many don't know is that he was also very interested in the preparation and partaking of food. Join me in a look at gastronomy through his life.
Average, 10 Qns, stephgm67, Jul 26 16
Average
stephgm67 gold member
313 plays
44.
  Eat, Drink and Be Merry    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Tudors reigned for only three generations but left a lasting impact. This quiz explores some of the Christmas feasting Henry VII, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I would have enjoyed.
Average, 10 Qns, Tan72, Sep 01 21
Average
Tan72
Sep 01 21
306 plays
45.
  Fad Diets throughout History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Throughout the ages, man has been aching for a magic bullet to help himself loose those extra pounds! Let's take a stroll through time and marvel at his many, and perhaps misguided attempts to tackle this ageless problem.
Tough, 10 Qns, mbovary, Dec 14 20
Tough
mbovary
Dec 14 20
531 plays
46.
  Chef Boyardee: Fact or Fiction   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Join me now for a study of the man, the myth, the maker of meals that shaped so many American childhoods; Chef Boyardee!
Tough, 10 Qns, mbovary, May 26 08
Tough
mbovary
1336 plays
47.
  Food in ancient Greece and Rome   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a short quiz on the food and meals in the ancient world, the first five on ancient Greece and the last five on ancient Rome.
Average, 10 Qns, Ampelos, Dec 05 13
Average
Ampelos gold member
453 plays
48.
  Food Tales    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How some foods were named, misnamed or misrepresented.
Tough, 10 Qns, russalka, Jan 07 15
Tough
russalka
475 plays
49.
  History of Medieval Food and Drink   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Step back in time and find out about food and drink in the Middle Ages.
Tough, 10 Qns, lorstrivia, Oct 27 10
Tough
lorstrivia
818 plays
50.
  Tea and Sympathy, or possibly Chips!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Everything you never needed to know about Tea and English Tea habits.
Tough, 10 Qns, Englizzie, May 01 10
Tough
Englizzie
770 plays
51.
  Salt: Can't live without it, or can we?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Most of us love salt, although sometimes more than we should. But salt is so predominant in our lives that it contributes more to human culture than just spicing up our foods.
Average, 10 Qns, smeone, Aug 20 14
Average
smeone
496 plays
52.
  The World's Oldest Restaurants    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
In 2020, "Travel and Leisure" published a list of the world's oldest restaurants. Here are the 10 oldest, including one that served both Mozart and Clint Eastwood. Simply match the name of the restaurant with the food that they are known for serving.
Average, 10 Qns, Trivia_Fan54, Sep 03 20
Average
Trivia_Fan54 gold member
Sep 03 20
344 plays
53.
  American Food History #2: Spanish Influence    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I love to cook & I love history so, this series is about what Americans eat & why. We started with the Native Americans & now work our way forward in time to the Spanish. Even a couple of recipes are included. Bon appetit, amigos!
Tough, 10 Qns, rwminix, Feb 09 08
Tough
rwminix
616 plays
54.
  Animal Crackers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In Honor of the 100 year aniversary of American made animal crackers, here is a quiz!
Tough, 10 Qns, foxgap, Nov 05 11
Tough
foxgap
1477 plays
55.
  Dark Matter    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In a time, long before microwave popcorn and fast food restaurants, people still had to feed themselves. What did the people of the dark ages, (500AD - 1000AD),eat and drink?
Average, 10 Qns, cathyR88, Aug 22 24
Average
cathyR88
Aug 22 24
541 plays
56.
  The Tim Tam Slam    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz touches on a subject close to the hearts of a few (perhaps millions of) drinkers of hot beverages ... dunking biscuits (or cookies, if you are American). Let's see what you know.
Average, 10 Qns, suomy, Mar 10 13
Average
suomy
409 plays
57.
  It Wasn't All Bad - A history of British Food    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
British Food has gained a dreadful reputation over the years - some true, some false. Find out more
Tough, 15 Qns, Englizzie, Jul 09 24
Tough
Englizzie
Jul 09 24
902 plays
58.
  A Brief History Of Greek Cuisine    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ask any visitor to Greece what parts of their journey they most enjoyed and "the food" will be near the top of the list. Here are a few questions about how our delicious Greek cuisine became what it is today.
Average, 10 Qns, wilbill, Jan 02 17
Average
wilbill
203 plays
59.
  History of Food Lore    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A good quiz.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, May 25 16
Very Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
2358 plays
60.
  History of Victorian Food and Drink    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Queen Victoria is on the throne and food for the poor is hard to come by and sometimes hard to stomach. The rich on the other hand have the pick of the crop but still with grave consequences if they were not careful.
Average, 10 Qns, lorstrivia, Nov 02 10
Average
lorstrivia
738 plays
61.
  Ketchup Through Time    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A staple of the gourmand's table for over three hundred years, here's a quiz that celebrates that caliph of condiments, that sovereign of sauces - my beloved ketchup.
Difficult, 10 Qns, dobrov, Feb 07 08
Difficult
dobrov
1789 plays
62.
  Pizza: The Historical View    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Just some baked dough with toppings huh? How much do you really know about one the world's most popular and diverse culinary masterpieces?
Difficult, 10 Qns, joemc37, Apr 27 08
Difficult
joemc37
1356 plays
63.
  I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Competitive eating was a sport that gained popularity in the latter twentieth century due in large part to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. How much do you know about this sporting event? Let's find out!
Average, 10 Qns, Ted_Striker, Aug 15 14
Average
Ted_Striker
356 plays
64.
  Interesting Culinary Tidbits    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
Some fascinating tidbits about the world of food, spanning the 20th century.
Tough, 5 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Sep 21 15
Tough
thejazzkickazz gold member
3761 plays
65.
  Lady Rowena Invites You...    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
...to join her noble household at table, for a fine banquet to celebrate the Feast of St. George, in this the Year of Our Lord 1364.
Tough, 10 Qns, Rowena8482, Jul 17 13
Tough
Rowena8482 gold member
346 plays
66.
  Moon Pies and RC Cola    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many of you younger quiz takers may have never tried this snack, but the history behind it is interesting. Try this quiz and learn a little about Moon Pies and RC Cola.
Difficult, 10 Qns, foxgap, May 05 21
Difficult
foxgap
May 05 21
1393 plays
67.
  The Receipt Book of Harriott Pinckney Horry    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In 1770, Harriot Pinckney Horry of South Carolina started her cook book, which survives today and is in print. See how much of Colonial Cooking you recognize! There are some odd capitals and spelling in the quiz, they're copied directly from the cookbook
Tough, 10 Qns, pigwaller, May 04 22
Tough
pigwaller
May 04 22
512 plays
68.
  Food History, part 1    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Just some obscure historical food trivia. Multiple choice, some dates.
Impossible, 10 Qns, JaneGalt, Jul 28 17
Impossible
JaneGalt
2872 plays
69.
  World Records Big Food    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about food, big food, World record food.
Difficult, 10 Qns, Paul1405, Jun 30 18
Difficult
Paul1405
Jun 30 18
381 plays
70.
  Food History, part 2    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Another quiz on the history, development, and other stuff that could be related to food and its production. Maybe a couple of beverage questions thrown in if I can think of any. And it's all in chronological order.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, janegalt, Aug 31 02
Very Difficult
janegalt
1410 plays
71.
  Ancient Food History    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
Very Difficult, 5 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Jan 30 02
Very Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
2141 plays
72.
  Ancient Food History pt. 2    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
More ancient food history that may be of some interest.
Very Difficult, 5 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Aug 08 06
Very Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
1380 plays
73.
  Food History pt. 2    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
The dark history of food additives, people, and behaviors.
Difficult, 5 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Jan 30 02
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
1769 plays
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History of Food Trivia Questions

1. The Ancient Romans generally ate three meals, of which "cena" was the most important. What kind of meal was it?

From Quiz
When in Rome, Eat as the Romans Did

Answer: dinner

For the Ancient Romans, the day started with "ientaculum", the equivalent of breakfast. This was taken at daybreak. A small lunch, "prandium", was eaten before noon. The "cena" was the main meal of the day, eaten late in the day. Ordinary Romans might have eaten a small late supper called "vesperna", as their cena was small and eaten quickly. More wealthy citizens, who did not have to work, ate a bigger cena starting from late afternoon, well into the evening with overlap with the vesperna that the ordinary folks ate. The cena for the wealthy was a grandiose social affair lasting several hours. It would be eaten in the dining room called the "triclinium". The tables were low, with couches on three sides. The fourth side was left for servants to serve the dishes. The triclinium itself was expensively and expansively decorated. It was a place to display wealth and status. Some of the wealthiest homes had a second, smaller dining room for other more basic meals. Meals showed the divide between the ordinary Romans and the wealthy. The less wealthy ate bread for breakfast, sometimes softened with wine. Cheese and olives were added if possible. Bread was important to the Romans, and was given away free of charge to unemployed people as was the entrance fee to gladiatorial contests - hence the expression "bread and circuses". Wealthy Romans supplemented their bread with meat, fish and/or vegetables. At lunch times the divide was apparent. The less wealthy ate vegetables, a thin porridge, or cheese with bread, and then continued to work. The wealthy ate bread, salad, olives, cheese, fruit and nuts, plus any leftover meat or fish from the day before. They then had a two-hour siesta. For cena, the less wealthy ate porridge and vegetables and fish, meat, and olives only on occasion when/if they could afford it. This question was swallowed whole by Phoenix Rising's 1nn1.

2. At the time of Henry VII, England was Catholic and very devout. The lead up to Christmas was marked by a period of fasting for 40 days, where meat, eggs and cheese were not to be eaten. What was this period known as?

From Quiz Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Answer: Advent

Advent was a time of fasting, and even today is observed with fasting by some communities such as Eastern Orthodox communities. More recent traditions include Advent calendars, with some European towns featuring these in prominent places such as town halls and church buildings. Lent is the period leading up to Easter and is also a period of fasting, beginning with Ash Wednesday.

3. When corn was first introduced into Europe, many Spaniards quite seriously worried that, by eating this plant, it would result in what?

From Quiz Amusing or Interesting Food Facts

Answer: They would turn into Indians

Corn, or maize as it is also known, was first domesticated in Mexico thousands of years ago, and, by 2,500 BC, had spread throughout the Americas from there. Spanish explorers, conquerors and traders who made their mark on these two continents from the 1500s on, took the seeds of this new food product back to Europe with them, and introduced it there. Oddly enough though, the Spanish were slow to accept corn and corn flour, and this was for two main reasons. The first was, as it was such a religious nation, the Spanish people believed that corn flour could not be substituted for wheat flour in the manufacture of Holy Communion bread. Because of the belief of transubstantiation, they were convinced that only wheat could be transformed into the body of Christ. The other reason, which should give you a chuckle, is that many Spaniards also believed that, by eating corn, they would be turned into Indians. Did you know that when corn was first cultivated, the plants only produced one cob per plant, and that this cob was only about one inch long? Imagine trying to nibble on that. Over the many centuries that followed, the very clever indigenous people of the Americas managed to artificially select and grow better and better plants so that, by today, we have those glorious crops of very tall maize with several lovely cobs of corn on each plant. Oh yum, there's nothing more delicious than roasted hot corn on the cob, covered in butter, salt and pepper. Hang the diet.

4. In 320 B.C. the poet Archestratos made an important contribution to the development of Greek cuisine. What was it?

From Quiz A Brief History Of Greek Cuisine

Answer: Wrote the first cookbook

Archestratos lived in Syracuse, a Greek colony on Sicily. In addition to the cookbook, he is remembered for his humorous poem "Life of Luxury" suggesting where to find the tastiest food. Several philosophers of the time considered "Life of Luxury" a corrupting influence on readers.

5. Whortleberries sound British, but they're in all the 19th century American cookbooks. What should I add?

From Quiz What's That in This Old U.S. Cookbook?

Answer: blueberries

Whortleberries are various berries of the Vaccinium genus. The word itself goes back to berries across the pond, but American cookbook writers applied it to our Vaccinium species, any of the blueberries that grow here. The 1859 "Dictionary of Americanisms" has an entry: "Blue-berry. (Vacinium tenellum.) A fruit resembling the whortleberry in appearance and taste." Blueberries weren't cultivated in the early 19th century, so the average cook would be purchasing or picking wild ones, something reasonably close to the little ones sold as wild blueberries today. Or if you live where you can pick wild ones, even better and more fun!

6. What was a crane, a central piece of equipment in hearth-cooking?

From Quiz Cooking on the Hearth: No Microwave, No Stove

Answer: a horizontal bar affixed to the chimney wall, that held pots and swung away from the fire when wanted

A crane was a horizontal bar that reached from one chimney wall out over the fire. You could swing it into the room to safely hang or inspect a heavy pot, without ever needing to lean over the flames. In general, it made life much easier for the hearth-cook, and allowed her to use the heat of the flames while she was also making coals to cook on the hearth.

7. Lincoln was born in 1809 and spent his early years in Kentucky. He used to tell tales that he could eat dodgers back then "as fast as two women can make them". What is the best description to this accompaniment of the main meal?

From Quiz Lincoln - President, Emancipator..Foodie?

Answer: Cornbread

A corn dodger is usually of an oblong shape and is made from cornmeal, pork fat, salt, and boiling water. They have a crisp crust with a soft, moist interior. In later years, John Wayne would use them for target practice in 'True Grit'!

8. Which pair of brothers invented corn flakes in 1894?

From Quiz Food Innovator

Answer: John and Will Kellogg

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943) and his brother Will Keith Kellogg (1860-1951) accidentally left some cooked wheat unattended. When they tried to salvage the material, it became flakes which they then toasted. The Kelloggs made flakes of several different grains. Dr. Kellogg operated the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, and believed in a strict, bland, vegetarian diet in order to combat illness and immoral urges.

9. Aquapatys was the name given to a main meal accompaniment prepared with which root vegetable?

From Quiz That's Not Mrs Beaton! - Medieval English Cookery

Answer: Garlic

"Pill garlec and cast it in a pot with water and oile and seeþ it, do þerto safroun, salt, and powdour fort and dresse it forth hool". Aquapatys was a dish, served hot, consisting of cloves or bulbs of garlic that had been first boiled and then simmered in a mixture of water and oil and which was then seasoned using saffron, salt and pepper before being served. Ignoring the fact that Aquapatys makes an appearance in a cook book written for the King of England, the use of saffron in this dish demonstrates quite clearly that Aquapatys was something that would only ever be encountered in a wealthy household.

10. Pythagoras may be best known for his theorem about triangles, but legend has it that he instructed his followers not to eat a common food. Which one?

From Quiz Don't Eat That!

Answer: Beans

Pythagoras (570-495 BC) is best remembered for his theorem that states that the square of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. He wrote about a lot of other things as well, and some of his ideas were pretty strange. A persistent story says that he warned his followers not to eat beans. Why he did this is a matter of debate; the most obvious reason is that beans cause many people to become flatulent. But other sources relate that the reason for the ban is that beans resemble human fetuses, or that Pythagoras believed beans contained the souls of people waiting to be reincarnated. The story was well-known in Roman times, since the historian Aulus Gellius (125-180 AD) said that the story was nonsense, and that Pythagoras chowed down on plenty of beans; according to Gellius, the ban was actually against eating testicles, which would seem to make more sense, but the bean theory seems to enjoy the widest acceptance.

11. This "blue veined" cheese that is perfectly matched with pears, walnuts and sweet wines, was created by a fungus. What is its "protected" name?

From Quiz Wrong Way

Answer: Roquefort

The fungus "penicillium roqueforti" is responsible for Roquefort cheese which is created and matured only in the limestone caves of Roquefort, near Toulouse, France as a "protected designation of origin" product. The legend says that a peasant boy was having his lunch of bread and ewe cheese in the cool shade of a cave when he saw a beautiful girl and rushed to meet her, leaving his lunch behind. When he returned to the cave many days later, the cheese was moldy and had a sharp, smoky taste. Interestingly, long before Alexander Fleming invented penicillin, the peasants of the Roquefort area, used the cheese on wounds to avoid infection and gangrene.

12. The Latin word for salt, "salarium" gave us the following word in the English language which had roughly the same meaning in Roman times as it does today?

From Quiz Salt: Can't live without it, or can we?

Answer: Salary

The English word "salary" is derived from the fact that Roman soldiers were paid in salt, or sometimes given money to buy salt, a valuable commodity during Roman times, particularly for the common man. The word "soldier" also comes from the French word for salt "sel". It also gave rise to the expression "worth one's salt", which means that someone is a good employee. Interestingly, the word salacious means obscene, even slightly pornographic, which we sometimes refer to as "salty".

13. What year was the first documented Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?

From Quiz I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing!

Answer: 1972

Legend has it that the first contest was held on July 4, 1916 at Nathan's Famous stand on Coney Island by four immigrants to settle an argument about who was the most patriotic. There is no proof of that contest and no other proof exists of any contest at Nathan's Famous prior to 1972.

14. Potatoes were first brought to Europe from the New World by Spanish conquistadors. Where exactly were potatoes first domesticated?

From Quiz Potato or Potatoe?

Answer: The Andes

Inhabitants of the Altiplano (southern Peru and northern Bolivia) already cultivated potatoes from 8000 to 5000 BCE. Nowadays there are about 4,000 different types of potatoes. Beside potatoes the conquistadors also brought pineapples, papaya, peanuts, tomatoes, cacao, paprika, avocados and vanilla from the New World. Imagine how limited our diet would be without all those ingredients.

15. A pork stew, commonly called "the black broth", was a staple associated with what ancient Greek warrior society?

From Quiz Food in ancient Greece and Rome

Answer: Sparta

Spartans were known for their simple and basic tastes that suited the military stereotype of their society. "Black broth" (melas zomos) was a stew made up of boiled pork, salt, vinegar, and blood. A visitor to Sparta tasted the stew and remarked, "Now I know why Spartans do not fear death".

16. In the dark ages, bread was a staple of food consumption, as it is today. They had the choice of flat breads and risen breads. What was bread used for in addition to eating?

From Quiz Dark Matter

Answer: It could be used as payment for wages and rents

There were home bakers and professional bakers as far back as the dark ages. Bread could be plentiful or scarce depending on the season or health of the crops. It carried its own value and could be used in place of coins.

17. Ouch! Cook just hit me on the head with one of her pots for interrupting her important plans! I was just hoping to see what was on the menu! As she is preparing for our AD 1443 medieval Christmas Day feast, what is her main goal?

From Quiz Henry's Medieval Banquet

Answer: To have plenty of food available to eat.

During a time when people are generally malnourished and gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, the most important aspect of the Christmas Day feast is to make sure there is plenty of food available to eat. My Earl will invite all people who live at Warwick to come to his manor on Christmas Day. There really isn't a specific menu that is only used at Christmas; most of the time it is the same food we always eat - just more of it. What is considered important is not what is prepared, but how it is prepared, how much is there, and the act of sharing a meal and eating together. I know Cook will have some of my favorite foods, though! She always does!

18. In 1364, the number of dishes that could be served to each level of society (nobles, gentlefolk, commoners etc) was actually laid out in English Law. How many dishes could be served to a Lord?

From Quiz Lady Rowena Invites You...

Answer: Five

At that time, King Edward III was reaching the end of his fifty year reign in England, and he had made several Laws designed to prevent extravagance among the people. One of these measures was the Law which set out specific numbers and composition of dishes to be served at meals. A typical five course meal for a Lord and Lady could include such now exotic ingredients as swan and peacock among the more mundane chicken, pheasant, pork, and venison.

19. 'Ods Bodkins! Falstaff is in the tavern! Hostess, fetch a pottle of sack, anon! But what is a pottle of sack?

From Quiz Eaten Out of House and Home

Answer: A four-pint tankard of strong sherry

In 1400, Falstaff's time, a "pottle" was a half-gallon (2 quart or 1.9 liter) measure or a tankard that would hold that amount. Falstaff is drinking a lot in one serving! Over time, "pottle" became an obsolete measurement, while pints, quarts, and gallons remained common measurements in English-speaking countries. In some parts of New Zealand, a "pottle" is a small plastic carton that might hold strawberries, whitebait, or anything that will fit, but it is not a measurement. The wine that Falstaff called "sack" or "sherris sack" was sherry, named for its place of origin, Jerez de la Frontera and surrounding areas in Spain. Sherry, shipped out of the port of Cadiz, was a popular import to England when trade was lively between the two nations. In Shakespeare's time, in 1587, as the Spanish Armada was getting ready to sail against England, Sir Francis Drake famously stole 2,900 butts of sack from Cadiz harbor.

20. During the 1920s, with the emergence of the flapper girl, who was, ideally, long, lean and flat chested, full figured women turned to which dangerous and unpalatable parasite to help them lose weight?

From Quiz A History of Fat People

Answer: Tapeworm

During the 1920s, UK and US women were confronted with a new weight loss solution, which came in the form of sanitized jars of tapeworms. Advertised specifically as a dieting aid, these parasites were hailed as the way forward, with one advertisement going so far as to claim "No diet, no baths, no exercise. Fat- the enemy that is shortening your life - Banished! How? With sanitized tapeworms - jar-packed!" However what was at the time hailed to be the perfect dieting solution was eventually discovered to be extremely harmful to one's health. Indeed those who did ingest these parasitic little critters soon began to exhibit some very unpleasant and potentially serious symptoms, including weakness, nausea, diarrhoea, fever, cysts and seizures, Needless to say, the tapeworm diet was far more likely to shorten one's life, rather than prolong it.

21. What is meant by the term 'Welsh rarebit'?

From Quiz Where Does Your Food Come From?

Answer: cheese sauce on toast

Although it was originally called 'Welsh rabbit' the rarebit is anything but a rabbit, as it is made with cheese. Recipes vary greatly, but in general it is a melted cheese sauce served hot on top of toast. Very much a matter of personal taste, some recipes include a little beer or mustard, or (my favourite) Worcestershire sauce. A 'buck rarebit' is the same but with the addition of a poached egg on top. Cheddar cheese is normally used. It is a very old British recipe, but the exact origin of the name is uncertain.

22. Most people in the middle ages ate bread as their staple food of the day. What is the name of the dark, heavy bread that the peasants of medieval England ate?

From Quiz History of Medieval Food and Drink

Answer: Maslin bread

Maslin bread was made with rye and barley, producing a very heavy dark bread. After a particularly poor harvest when the grains were scarce, the peasants would add peas, beans and on occasions even acorns to make the bread more nourishing.

23. In which country in 2005 was a World record large Easter egg made?

From Quiz World Records Big Food

Answer: Belgium

This was a monster egg made by the Guylian Chocolate Company during Easter. The egg was over 27 foot tall and weighed in at a hefty 4299 pounds.

24. During the Victorian era the Poor Law Commission found that the standard of working class family fare mainly consisted of bread, potatoes, butter,tea and what other ingredient?

From Quiz History of Victorian Food and Drink

Answer: Beer

For Victorians earning higher wages, bacon was also included as part of their everyday diet.

25. What year was the Twinkie invented?

From Quiz Hostess Twinkie History

Answer: 1930

Twinkies were first made by The Continental Baking Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Continental also made "Wonder Bread" and had a snack line called Hostess. There are some citations that the Twinkie was invented in 1933, but the Hostess website says 1930.

26. The Roman occupation of Britain lasted from 41 - 410 CE. During this time many new foodstuffs were introduced. What was considered a special delicacy that might have been served at a Roman banquet?

From Quiz It Wasn't All Bad - A history of British Food

Answer: Dormice dipped in honey and sprinkled with poppy seeds

Although the poor would have subsisted on a diet of mostly rough whole grain loaves and Puls, a sort of cereal porridge, the wealthier Romans introduced many delicacies and opulence into their cooking. Written descriptions of this are cited in Petronius' 'Satyricon' and 'De Re Coquinana'.

27. Legend has it that William the Conqueror, desperate to lose weight, created the first "fad" diet which consisted of drinking nothing but this.

From Quiz Fad Diets throughout History

Answer: Alcohol

Even in 1087, England's royalty was conscious about their appearance. William the Conqueror was no different, and had packed on the pounds in his later years. Apparently, he was having trouble riding a horse without injuring the poor beast, and the final straw occurred when France's King Phillip told him that he looked pregnant. William believed if he gave up food in favor of drinking nothing but alcohol he would eventually wake up one day and be thin. This story might be apocryphal. What we do know is that William, who was still significantly overweight, died after falling from his horse. History does not mention that he was tipsy at the time. Apparently, he was so large the clergy could barely fit his body into the stone sarcophagus.

28. Tofu is an important part of traditional Japanese cuisine, but the earliest known reference to it existing in Japan is in an eleventh century document. From where did the Japanese learn the technique for producing tofu from soy beans?

From Quiz Gastronomic Migrations

Answer: China

Almost 2,500 years ago, trade between Japan and the Asian continent began. People from both Korea and China passed on ingredients and food preparation techniques to the Japanese, and somewhere around the end of the first millennium C.E. tofu arrived in Japan. It has been one of the most important sources of protein for Japanese people, especially for those living inland and for Buddhists who adhere to a vegetarian diet. In 1782 a cookbook featuring 100 tofu recipes was released in Japan, and it was so popular that the next year a second volume containing a further 138 dishes followed.

29. The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore North and South America and the first to create a permanent settlement. Who were the first European cooks in North America?

From Quiz American Food History #2: Spanish Influence

Answer: Spanish soldiers and priests

Some time before the English and other Europeans began to arrive in the New World, the Spanish were exploring and settling in what is now Florida and the Southwest. There is even evidence of a brief mission presence in the Chesapeake Bay area dating back to the late 1500's. As a matter of fact, some English settlers were startled to find Indians with a knowledge of the Spanish language when they came ashore in the early 1600's. Spanish civilians were less likely to leave the comforts of home in large numbers due to the relative absence of religious persecution compared to the rest of Europe. That is as long as you were a Roman Catholic. Realizing that Spanish sailors generally went home in their ships, and that the English were the ones most prone to "transporting" their criminals and convicts, the first cooks and therefore the first European food influences in North America were compliments of the Spanish soldiers and priests.

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