WHAT IS A HAKE? It is a fish that comes in several colors. Red and white hake are considered authentic whereas silver hake (a.k.a. whiting) is a close relative. These fish are delicious despite a somewhat terrifying appearance. With an elongated body, long head and tooth-filled jaws, they almost look like an eel. A close […]
Blog
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Orange
WHAT IS AN ORANGE? Originally from Asia, the orange is a bastard offspring of the pomelo and mandarin citrus fruits. The European word “orange” is actually from its old French name “pomme d’orenge” or orange apple. While it may not look like it, this fruit is actually a modified berry. Its evergreen trees can grow […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Pear
WHAT IS A PEAR? This popular fruit is thought to have originated in China around 5,000 B.C. Since then pears have spread across the world on trees that can grow to over 50 foot (16 meters) in height! They are surprisingly cold-weather hardy, tolerating below zero temperatures. This fruit comes in a variety […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Vidalia Onion (Sweet)
WHAT IS A VIDALIA ONION? It’s a brand name that covers several varieties of sweet, white onions that range 1 to 3 inches in size. The state of Georgia trademarked the name “Vidalia” after the town where it was originally grown in the 1930s. Today there are 13 counties that can harvest this brand. The […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Plum
WHAT IS A PLUM? These oval skinned stone fruits are among the oldest plants domesticated by man. Similar to peaches and cherries, plums have a firm, juicy interior. Their exterior skin is smooth with a groove running down one side. They come in a variety of colors including red, yellow, purple, white and green. […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Yukon Gold Potato
WHAT IS A YUKON GOLD POTATO? This potato was the result of a Canadian science experiment that came to fruition in 1980. It was a larger version of a tasty Peruvian tuber but with a smoother shape that made it easier to peel. Yukon Gold potatoes are a great all purpose choice for any type […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Meyer Lemon
WHAT IS A MEYER LEMON? Named after a Mr. Frank Meyer, these citrus fruits were first imported to the States in the early 1900s. Smaller and rounder then traditional lemons (Eureka or Lisbon), famous chefs have made them a popular kitchen ingredient. They grow on trees 6 to 10 feet in height with white and […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF SEAFOOD – Tuna
WHAT IS TUNA? This nomadic, saltwater fish favors warmer waters and is one of the larger predators of the sea. They range in length from 1 foot (0.3 m) up to 15 feet (4.6 m). Capable of weighing over 1,500 lbs (680 kg) and living for 50 years, they’re one of the few warm […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Acorn Squash
WHAT IS AN ACORN SQUASH? Is it an acorn? Is it a squash? Is it a comic book superhero like a Spider or Bat man? Only in that this winter squash has vertical ridges and a squat form reminiscent of an acorn. It is related to other members of the gourd family including the zucchini. […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Sicilian Eggplant
WHAT IS A SICILIAN EGGPLANT? As with most eggplants, the Sicilian version is a vine-ripened berry that is related to tomatoes and potatoes. Introduced in the Middle Ages during its Arab occupation, it has a purple-white skin and is smaller then the more popular Black Magic variety. This has led to it also being called […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Celery
WHAT IS CELERY? With stalks growing up to half a foot in height (20 cm), this plants favors wet, marshy landscapes. Thought to have originated in the Mediterranean, it nevertheless can be found all over the world today. It was the Italians, though, in the 1700s that domesticated the plant and bred out its tendency […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Strawberry
WHAT IS A STRAWBERRY? Ironically this weed of the fruit kingdom is not technically a berry. But avocados are, go figure. The current strawberry varietal most popular today was bred in the 1700s in France. This garden version is the hybrid product of a North American and Chilean strawberry. It can grow up to 2 […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Bell Pepper
WHAT IS A BELL PEPPER? This fruit, also called capsicum, is a member of the nightshade family. They come in a rainbow of colors including red, yellow, orange and even chocolate brown. In general with fruits and vegetables, green is a sign of youth. And with many bell pepper varietals (not all), as it ages […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Butternut Squash
WHAT IS A BUTTERNUT SQUASH? Also known as a butternut pumpkin or gramma, this tan squash grows on a vine. Technically a fruit, as it ripens the skin turns orange in color and the butternut can weigh up to 5 pounds. A Native American original, the name squash is from the Massachusetts’ Narragansett word […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Roma Tomato
WHAT IS A ROMA TOMATO? This plum shaped fruit, like all tomatoes, is a member of the berry family. Named after Italy’s capital, this egg shaped ambassador is grown in throughout the world. Roma’s are often used in the production of tomato paste and canned tomatoes. Compared to their cousins Roma’s have a lower seed […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Haricot Vert
WHAT IS HARICOT VERT? These French green beans are more slender then the classic ones sold in the States. Averaging around 4 inches length, they are shorter and straighter then traditional green beans. But while they are smaller in size, haricot vert are more tender and flavorful (and expensive) as well. The fiber or string […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Kalamansi
WHAT IS A KALAMANSI? This citrus fruit is also called a calamansi, calamondin or Philippine lime. It is thought to be the Asian offspring of a mandarin orange and a kumquat. They are small, usually only growing to 1 to 2 inches in diamter (25 to 45 mm). Initially green, the fruit turns a yellow […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Dried Tomato
WHAT IS A DRIED TOMATO? The art of removing water from a tomato dates back to the dawn of time. Lowering the moisture content of foods is a great way to extend their shelf life. While cherry tomatoes are the most popular, any varietal can be used. In general they are either sold in slices […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Pineapple
WHAT IS A PINEAPPLE? This tropical fruit is actually a mass of berry flowers that have fused together around the central stalk. That is why the outer skin is segmented. It takes 3 years for a pineapple to fully mature. European explorers named them due to having an appearance similar to their native pine cones […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Apricot
WHAT IS AN APRICOT? This stone fruit was born in China and then traveled the world with various colonizing powers. Alexander the Great introduced it to the Greeks. Settlers from England brought this plant with them when colonizing the East Coast of the States. On the West Coast it was introduced in the early 1700s […]