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Did You Know? FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2018 11 By Micki Rosen DID YOU KNOW THAT JULY 30 IS PAPERBACK BOOK DAY? One of the things that led to lighter books being developed was the commonality of the railway. Trains were indeed a faster form of travel across vast distances (before planes, of course), but one could still easily spend a week or more in a railway carriage as it covered the great expanse of the countryside. While books were a fine way to pass the time, they were very expensive and quite large and heavy, making then inconvenient to read while on the road. So the first paperback books were aimed at railway passengers. Even though these days you can pull up a book on your cell phone, for some people there's nothing quite as satisfying as holding a book in your hands. DID YOU KNOW THAT JULY 4 IS CAESAR SALAD DAY? The first thing to know about Caesar salad is that it wasn't named for the ill-fated leader of Rome. The salad is instead credited to Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who got into the restaurant business in the US and Mexico. Like most great culinary inventions, it wasn't the result of a deliberate design; instead, it came about in a moment of desperation. In 1924 there was a rush on Cardini's restaurant and he quickly got to work to keep the customers happy. Like most food, it has undergone multiple permutations throughout its existence. Originally there were no anchovies in the salad (Cardini supposedly would not have liked them). And of course nowadays you can add steak, chicken or shrimp almost every place Caesar salads are offered. DID YOU KNOW THAT JULY 12 IS PECAN PIE DAY? There are various ideas about the origins of pecan pie. Some say the French first made it soon after settling in New Orleans in the 1700s and being introduced to the pecan by the Native Americans of the area. Others claim that pecan pie was first made in the early 1800s in Alabama, but nothing has been found to support this. The first actual pecan pie recipe was written in 1886. Originally, pecans were mixed with custard and boiled, and then poured into a crust and baked. The makers of Karo syrup contributed to the popularity of pecan pie as their product was often used in the recipe (and was cheaper than honey and maple syrup). Pecan pie has become a literary symbol of the American South. DID YOU KNOW THAT JULY 15 IS ORANGE CHICKEN DAY? Orange chicken is a common favorite at many North American Chinese restaurants. It was an immensely popular dish in China during the Hunan era and continues to be popular. There was one period in the past when orange chicken wasn't even made from chicken. During the 1600s there was a plague that crossed through northern China and killed off large portions of the chicken population. Out of desperation (and a love of orange chicken), people had to find new meats to use in their orange chicken dish. Beef was the most common, but just about anything was used at the time. DID YOU KNOW THAT JULY 22 IS CRÈME BRULEE DAY? Crème Brulee first appeared in a recipe book by Francois Massialot in 1691. Known as the "Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois," the book held the first recorded recipe for this incredible treat, but when it was translated to English it became known as "Burnt Cream." Oddly, even though it is deeply associated with France, and specifically with Paris, a Crème Brulee recipe didn't appear in any French cookbook from 1740 to 1980! It came back onto the scene in a big way in the 1980s, and became the darling of the restaurant boom. Traditionally served in ramekins, it has the appearance of a small pie or tart, but once you crack that burnt sugar shell, you'll enjoy something truly unique.

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