Goomba wrote:

> Gregory Morrow wrote:
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/ma...ood-t-000.html
> >
> >
> > December 7, 2008
> >
> > Recipe Redux
> >
> > 1879: Peppermints
> >
> > By AMANDA HESSER
> >
> > "Peppermints were a popular European candy as early as the mid-19th
century.
> > "Brandy balls," a sweet made with peppermint and cinnamon - "all the
spices
> > that warm the tongue, like brandy does," explained Francine Segan, a
food
> > historian - were sold on the street in London in the 1850s. And
peppermint
> > candies in all forms were found throughout Europe by then.
> >
>
>
> Thanks for the interesting read. I love learning about the anthropology
> of food (to include candy!)

Peppermint is something that is now so ubiquitous that it was interesting to
read this article...

Wrigley's Spearmint gum is mentioned in the article as being introduced in
1893, this was done for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Other foods
introduced at that fair include IIRC Crackerjacks and Aunt Jemima Pancake
Mix...

World's fairs at that time were showcases for new foods, IIRC both the
modern hamburger and hotdog were introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World's
Fair...maybe even the waffle ice cream cone, too. Belgian Waffles were a
big hit at the '64 - '65 NY World's Fair. Some prominent French
restaurateurs who were hired by the French gov't. to cook at the French
pavilion at the '39 - '40 NY World's Fair were stranded here by WWII, they
stayed and opened famous French restos in Manhattan, thus starting a trend
towards fancy Continental cuisine in the US
..
I'm fascinated by the history of air conditioning, apparently one of the
first uses of modern mechanical air conditioning was by candy and
confectionary manufacturers, a/c provided a stable temp and humidity
manufacturing environment and it helped to prevent chocolate "bloom". Other
industries that first adopted a/c were textile mills, pharma manufacturers,
and printers. IIRC the first modern a/c system was built by Willis Carrier
in 1902 for a Brooklyn printing plant, they were having trouble lining up
the color for the printing of Sunday newspaper supplements and comics. A/C
insured that the printing results were uniform, in - line color - wise, and
trouble - free...it helped eliminate that pesky color "bleed".


====>>> full of useless facts tonight


--
Best
Greg