August is upon us, often hot, often humid, and often marked by late summer gatherings, vacations, fairs, and festivals. These are summer’s Dog Days, but they are rarely lazy. Whether you grill marinated flank steaks or tofu, and whether you cool down with a soda, sparkling water, or a treat from a passing ice cream…
Every September in the United States, the first Monday of the month is reserved for the celebration of Labor Day. This federal holiday was first observed in 1894. Today, it is generally recognized as the end of summer in the US, with many summer festivals concluding on Labor Day and schools reopening from summer break…
In the United States, Irish pub owners (who were actually raised in Ireland) have long joked that St. Patrick’s Day is every publican’s “favorite English holiday.” It can be an extraordinarily profitable day for them. The pubs teem with revelers. Pints pour endlessly. And no shortage of corned beef and cabbage is served. It doesn’t…
Chocolate is a universal treat. It’s enjoyed by cultures throughout the world. Derived from the cocoa beans, it has historically been harvested in South America (where it originated); but today the African continent is the largest producer (accounting for roughly 66% of the global supply). Côte d’Ivoire alone produces half of that. Suffice it to…
It’s hard to fathom the influence that basic spices, such as black pepper and cinnamon, have had upon the world; yet, from the end of the Middle Ages through the European “Age of Discovery” and into modern times, the spice trade has had an enormous impact on the global economy. The spice trade by land…
