Today’s Food History

National Egg Nog Day

1809 Kit Carson, American frontiersman, was born. When he died May 23, 1868, his last words were supposedly “Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.”

1826 ‘Eggnog Riot’ at West Point military academy. When informed that their Christmas eggnog would be alcohol free, cadets in North Barrack No. 5 decided to make their own eggnog with alcohol, for a Christmas eve late night/early morning celebration. Of course it got noisy and they were caught. Shouting and general disorder developed, some swords were drawn, firewood crashed through windows, and at least one shot was fired. The artillery unit stationed at West Point had to be called in to quell the disturbance. In the aftermath 6  cadets resigned, 19 were court marshaled, and many, including a young Jefferson Davis, were confined to quarters for more than a month.

1914 John Muir died. Muir was a naturalist who was largely responsible for the establishment of Sequoia and Yosemite national parks in California in 1890.

1968 ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye is #1 on the charts.

2006 In the Chicago suburb of Villa Park, thieves stole a semi tractor trailer filled with broccoli. It was valued at $50,000.

some content is courtesy of www.FoodReference.com, used with permission