Foods Beginning with G Trivia Quiz

Answer: galangal

Galangal is a rhizome (looks rather like a root) in the same botanical family as ginger (Zingiberaceae). There are four major species, all of them sometimes called galangal. The plants are grown in Southeast Asia; they are used especially in Thai, Lao, Vietnamese and Indonesian cookery.

When used fresh, it is peeled and shredded like ginger. It is also available dried and powdered but fresh is better.

Answer: gammon

In the UK, a hind leg of pork which has been partly cured by either dry salting or brining is properly called a gammon rather than a ham. Because gammon is not completely cured, it must be cooked before consumption. The joint is called a gammon hock and is used in the same way as ham hocks in cooking. Gammon is a common Christmas dinner in the UK.

The name of this meat entered English from the French "gambon" meaning ham, which derived in turn from the Latin "gamba" meaning the leg or hock of a horse or other animal.

Answer: garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of many species of the genus Allium which includes onions, chives, leeks and shallots. A great many of its relatives grow wild around the world. It is a flowering plant which grows from a bulb. The lobes of the bulb are called cloves of garlic.

The Modern English word "garlic" derives from an Old English compound noun "garleac" which meant spear-shaped leek. Garlic not only flavours many culinary offerings but is also useful in keeping vampires at bay.

Answer: gigot

"Le Gigot d'Agneau" is the French term for roasted leg of lamb. Gigot may also be used to describe a leg of mutton or even occasionally a leg of venison. The etymology of gigot is unclear. It may descend from the French noun "gigue" meaning a long leg, derived in turn from the verb "giguer" meaning to hop, jump or dance.

There were dances in the 16th century called "gigues" or "giga" which supports this etymology.

Answer: ginkgo biloba

The nuts of the Ginkgo biloba tree are a delicacy in Asia. The tree is the oldest living tree species on the planet. It has been growing at least 170 million years. It is spelt g-i-n-k-g-o, not g-i-n-g-k-o, no matter how people may mispronounce it. It has both culinary and ethnobotanical (folk medicine) uses. Chinese cooks add it to the Chinese New Year's dish called Buddha's Delight; Japanese cooks add it to chawanmushi (a warm custard). People take ginkgo biloba as an alternative medicine to improve brain function.

Answer: gooseberry

Gooseberry is the common name for many species in the genus Ribes (or sometimes the genus Grossularia). The berries are usually green or red but may also be white, yellow, pink purple or black. All are edible but some are so sour that they make your teeth ring.

The vitamin C rich fruit is often baked into pies or crumbles. Gooseberry wine is typically made at home. The name may come from the Dutch word "kruisbes" or the German word "Krausbeere". They are called "goosegogs" in British slang.

Answer: Grand Marnier

Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is a liqueur created in 1880 which blends Cognac brandy, essence of Caribbean bitter orange and sugar. The Marnier Family produced until the Campari Group bought them out in 2016. The liqueur is not only good to drink but is an important ingredient in the French Christmas dessert Bûche de Noël, in crêpes Suzette and crêpes au Grand Marnier, in cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, and in the sauce for roasted duck Canard à l'orange.

It is often compared to (and substituted for) Cointreau and Triple Sec.

Answer: grapefruit

The grapefruit tree (Citrus × paradisi) is an accidental cross of the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and the pomelo or shaddock (Citrus maxima), which occurred in Barbados. Those two parent trees had been transplanted from Asia in the 17th century. The name refers to the clusters of fruit which resemble grapes on a vine.

The large round fruit varies from yellow to pink to red. They are grown extensively on China, the US, Vietnam and Mexico. Grapefruit is good to eat and essential to cocktails such as the Salty Dog and the Greyhound.

Answer: grits

Grits are ground dried corn. Hominy grits are made from ground dried hominy (corn which has been nixtamalization by soaking in alkali). The ground dried corn is brought to life by boiling in water, milk or stock. When served at breakfast, they may be accompanied by melted butter, or the runny yolk of an over-easy egg or even maple syrup.

When served as a savoury dish, they often accompany shrimp or catfish. The Native American Muskogee tribe taught the early colonists to cook and enjoy grits. While grits are available throughout the US, they are a staple in the American South. (Chef's secret: Leftover grits, packed into an old metal can, refrigerated and then sliced into little hockey pucks, is delectable when fried in bacon grease.)

Answer: Gruyère

Gruyère cheese originated in Switzerland and is named for the town of Gruyères. It is a Swiss-type cheese, the flavour of which changes as it ages. The cheese is smooth when young and slightly grainy after a year of maturation. It is similar to Emmental which differs in that it has lots of "eyes". Gruyère is used in quiche, fondue, French onion soup, croque-monsieur, and chicken cordon bleu.