Food Trivia Weekly Winners

A listing of our past winners (in reverse chronological order):

8/25/10

Question: the most common discovered variety of tea on the market today is?

Correct Answer: All of the about

4 Winners:

Robyn Dones
Kenneth Jackson
Tanya Sicina
Carol throckmorten

8/18/10

Question: The best Arabica beans typically grow at 3,500 to 7,000 feet. Cooler weather at these higher elevations causes the beans to:

Correct Answer: take longer to mature

4 Winners:

Judy Dorton
Linda Russell
Andrew Gilbride
Carleen Blankenship

8/11/10

Question: Now we all know should know that not all balsamic vinegars are created equal. Buyer beware!… there is plenty of fake balsamic vinegar on the market. Often found in grocery stores, Aceto Balsamico di Modena, is not the same as regulated Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. The better quality Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale's are aged at least __ years while the low-quality balsamic vinegars are aged only a couple months in stainless steel tanks and are artificially sweetened and thickened.
Correct Answer: 12

4 Winners:

Barb Bovee
Cheri Sabuda
Scott Vance
Milton Brooks

8/4/10

Question: How many calories are in a serving of Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
Correct Answer: 120

4 Winners:

Sheryl Wright
Kathryn Lamb
Deborah Anderson
Sheryl SoRelle

7/28/10

Question: Approximately how many recipes does Avanti Savoia have posted on the "Recipes & Menus" portion of the website?
Correct Answer: 700

4 Winners:

Fulton Li
Donna Glomski
Larry Grey
Sandra Crispo

7/21/10

Question: in Italy, Porcini mushrooms are commonly referred to as the________?
Correct Answer: Poor man's steak

4 Winners:

Donna Kilburn
Randy Nimon
Barbara Salley
Ken Hull

7/14/10

Question: Historians believe cheese-making may have originated in the Middle East as far back as 3500 B.C., but there is definite evidence of _____ cheese-making dating from _____.
Correct Answer: Egyptian cheese-making dating from 2300 B.C.

4 Winners:

Angie Merritt
Andy Chan
Peter Durnin
Robert Inderbitzen

7/07/10

Question: From the outset, Americans celebrate independence on July 4th, the date shown on the Declaration of Independence written in 1776. When, though, was the resolution of independence approved in a closed session of Congress?
Correct Answer: July 2, 1776

4 Winners:

Michael De Luca
Fawn Ulam Hammons
Geri Pritchett
Robert Winstead

6/30/10

Question: Any rice that has had only the outermost layer [husk] removed, but with the outer bran layer left intact can be termed:
Correct Answer: Brown Rice

4 Winners:

Cathy Wilcox
Megan Anderson
Raymond Kinney
Michael Pasternack

6/23/10

Question: Italy, alone, produces approximately how many different varieties of rice?
Correct Answer: 50

4 Winners:

Pati McElroy
Mary Capps
James Finke
Kevin McCloy

6/16/10

Question: The first recorded observation of an American Father’s Day occurred on June 19, 1910. It was left to which President to establish permanent observation of Father’s Day on the 3rd Sunday in June?
Correct Answer: President Richard Nixon

4 Winners:

Robert Inderbitzen
Matt Kreider
Carol Robinson
Christy Ryan

6/09/10

Question: Used by the Etruscans as a votive offering, honey was mentioned for the first time by the Romans in which way?
Correct Answer: Honey was first mentioned by the Romans "in detailed descriptions of culinary usage - as a sauce".

4 Winners:

Anthony Freeman
Mary Janssen
Melissa McCool
John South

6/02/10

Question: Dry rub mixtures are typically made out of...
Correct Answer: Ground Spices and herbs

4 Winners:

Ernest Bertram, Jr.
Theresa Jenkins
James McKeever
Rita Seraphim

5/26/10

Question: Which one is not true when discussing the difference between jam, jelly, preserves, and marmalade?
Correct Answer: Jelly is made by boiling fruit and contains fruit bits

4 Winners:

Barbara Bibel
Dana Lyn Brandenburg
Rick Bogren
Craig Strete

5/19/10

Question: Morchella esculenta is more commonly known as the Morel mushroom. What is a nickname of these delicious, gourmet mushrooms that occur throughout North America?
Correct Answer: dry land fish

4 Winners:

Rick Bogren
Eva Daniell
John Fry
Renee Turner

5/12/10

Question: The Mayans were among the first to cultivate cacao trees more than a thousand years ago. During this time, the elite throughout Mesoamerica used the seeds to:
Correct Answer: Purchase and trade

4 Winners:

Victoria Ploplis
Wayne Bowen
Larry Grey
Sharon Beckwith

5/5/10

Question: Originally, what was the distinctive focus of Mother's Day?
Correct Answer: Patriotic commemoration

4 Winners:

Madeleine Seese
Steve Taylor
Joanne Quarz
Kate Higgins

4/28/10

Question: It's spring time in Tennessee! That means Joseph, Ben and I are taking to the woods both here in the valley, and in the Smoky Mountains. Which wild foods are we looking for this time of year?
Correct Answer: All of the above: Ramps, Poke Salat, Watercress AND Morel Mushrooms

Extra Credit: The U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed with ink made from what berry?
Extra Credit Answer: Pokeberry ink

4 Winners and a Special Winner:

Tanya Sicina
Steve Gillard
Jon Erickson
Peggy Ferguson

Special Winner: Hannah Beck who just knew we would find fiddlehead ferns if we were on the lookout during our hike.

4/21/10

Question: "Black Pigs" are used to produce what variety of ham?
Correct Answer: Jamon Iberico

Extra Credit: How many Bourbon Whiskeys are actually distilled and produced in the state of Tennessee?
Extra Credit Answer: none, zero, zipola. We make whiskey in Tenneesse, not bourbon.

4 Winners:

Gerlinde Smith
Joseph Grasso
Gayle Watkins
Robert Evans

4/14/10

Question: All Country Hams are cured by:
Correct Answer: The Dry Cure Method

Extra Credit: Today the State of Tennessee is known as The Volunteer State. Back in the early 1800's, what was its nickname?
Extra Credit Answer: The Hog and Hominy State

4 Winners:

Herb Eddy
Al Falcone
Joyce Russell
Bob "The Saxman" Barton

4/6/10

Question: In Chef Joseph's Easter feast blog, what brand of bacon does he recommend for his potato salad?
Correct Answer: Benton's Smoky Mountain Ham and Bacon

Extra Credit: Name the town where this bacon is produced.
Extra Credit Answer: Madisonville, TN

4 Winners:

Angela Palmer
Ed Ring
Harry McElroy Jr.
Pat Couty

3/30/10

Question: In Italian cheese making tradition, what is the meaning of the word "Affinamento?"
Correct Answer: Aging and refining the cheese

Extra Credit: What French word means the same thing?
Extra Credit Answer: Affinage

Bonus Question: What is Chef Joseph serving for dessert on Easter Sunday?
Bonus Answer: Strawberry Tiramisu

4 Winners

Bill Buchanan
John Caldwell
Darlene Wright
Ronni Fox

3/23/10

Question: What is the name of the ancient Italian sweetener made from the buds of a pine tree?
Correct Answer: Mugolio

Extra Credit: To what concentration of sugar is maple sap "boiled off"?
Extra Credit Answer: 60% Maple Syrup Reduction

4 Winners

Charles Hildebrand
Deacon Maccubbin
Merry Graham
Sharla Long

3/17/10

Question: Originally Guffanti, our world famous cheese supplier, accomplished the aging process in what location?
Correct Answer: An abandoned silver mine.

Extra Credit: What year was the company established?
Extra Credit Answer: 1876

4 Winners

Ken Layton
Susan Pertierra
Dan Roller
Jason Fiske

3/10/10

Question: Which two Italian families are responsible for Avanti Savoia's new line of fine cheese?
Correct Answer: Guffanti & Fiori

Extra Credit: For how many generations have these two families been aging cheese?
Extra Credit Answer: 5 Generations

4 Winners

Cynthia Dash
Scott Vance
David Mee
Susan Noll

3/3/10

Question: Who was the first African-American professionally trained chef?
Correct Answer: James Hemings

Extra Credit: Who did he cook for?
Extra Credit Answer: Thomas Jefferson

4 Winners

Peter Barber
Kathy Brown
Nancy Buick
Shelly Mortenson

2/24/10

Question: What regional "departement" in France also shares its name with a river, a melon and a fortified wine?
Correct Answer: Charente

Extra credit: What is the fortified wine?
Extra Credit Answer: Pineau des Chartentes

4 Winners

Joe Titone
Hannah Beck
Michael Rockwell
Anne Rosen

2/17/10

In France stands a statue erected in honor of the legendary creator of one of the worlds most famous soft cheeses (Hint: When not busy inventing famous French cheeses, she apparently liked to wear funny hats).

Question 1: What is the name of the cheese?
Answer 1: Camembert

Question 2: What is her name?
Answer 2: Marie-Harel

5 Winners

John Seals
Sandra Pappalardo
Jim Crandall
Alicia Wallace
Joy Casas*

*Special Winner for her clever comment. We love clever comments!

2/10/10

Question: You have just received a gift of one dozen eggs from a friend. Your friend assures you that the eggs are very fresh, but you are dubious. You decide to check their freshness by floating them in a solution and judging their buoyancy.

Correct Answer: 1/2 cup of 100% salt solution in 4 cups of water

Extra Credit Question: What time did the train leave the station?

Extra Credit Answer: 5:33

5 Winners

Dana Okamoto
Michael De Luca
John South
Tommy Karkoska
Lori Ramani*

*Gave the most creative answer to the extra credit question: "…if you're wasting your scotch and using Hamburger Helper, no train would take you"

2/3/10

Question: On the 25th of January, poetry lovers from around the world celebrated the 251st anniversary of the birth of Scotland's most revered poet, Robert Burns. At that celebration, plenty of Scotch whiskey is passed around in hopes of drowning out the bag pipe music and in preparation for the entrée. Robert Burns himself called this dish the "great chieftain o' the puddin' race".

Correct Answer: Haggis

Extra Credit Question - Who wrote the following:
"O pointy birds, o pointy pointy,
Anoint my head, anointy-nointy."

Extra Credit Correct Answer: John Lillison

Extra Extra Credit Question: How did he die?

Extra Extra Credit Answer: He was struck by a car

6 Winners!

Darlene Wright
Robert Bradshaw
Karen Gill
David Lucking
Sandy Okstad
Colby Coates

1/27/10

Question: What wine was used to christen the USS Constitution?

Correct Answer: Madeira

7 Winners!

Johnny McGee
Matthew Clark
Roxann Trexel
Maureen Murphy
Joy Casas*
Deborah Rosen*
Wilma Tipton*

*Special Winners

1/20/10

Question: The French make a wonderful sauce which features both wine and truffles called Perigueux sauce. What wine is traditionally used in the preperation of this sauce?

Extra Credit: Where does it come from?

Correct Answers: Madeira, which comes from the Madeira Islands in the Atlantic, (Portugal).

4 Winners:

Michelle St. James
Christina Sparks*
Ricardo Valenzuela
Bill Schnefke

Christina was first to give a correct answer for Extra Credit.

1/13/10

Question: This cured meat is primarily taken from the neck and shoulder portions of a hog (the meat must come from a hog raised in the Emilia or Lombardy regions of Italy). The meat is lovingly massaged and flavoured with a mixture of salt, pepper, sugar and various spices which may include cloves, cinnamon and laurel seed (not to mention eye of newt and ground bat toenails). The meat is then rolled up in the hog's diaphram and aged for 6 to 9 months. This cured meat product is typically served on an Antipasto plate. The name of this delicacy is...

Correct Answer: Coppa

4 Winners

Timothy Harper
Norma Zaleski
John Fry
John Adams