WHAT IS A CRAB? With their sideways skitter and thick exoskeleton, these crustaceans are mobile tanks with an appetite . Born with 8 legs and 2 pincers, they’re smart enough to use tools or even communicate by drumming. While most aquatic life cannot live out of the water, crabs are a remarkable exception. Unlike fish, […]
GOURMET ARCHAEOLOGY
This section provides an introduction to the various ingredients that go into our everyday foods!
ARCHAEOLOGY OF CHEESE – Blacksticks Blue
WHAT IS BLACKSTICKS BLUE? The British mistress to England’s love affair with Stilton, this northern cow’s milk blue is made just north of Manchester. While its orange coloration is similar to English Shropshire, Blacksticks has a smaller wheel size. Made in the same area as Tasty Lancashire cheese, Blacksticks has a soft paste and beautiful […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF PASTA – Macaroni (a.k.a. Maccheroni or Gomiti)
WHAT IS MACARONI? This cut has been popular in the States ever since Thomas Jefferson introduced it. It is also called “elbow” pasta due to the slight bend in its’ middle. In the U.S.A. it is almost always served to children with a very suspicious cheese “product”. If you follow the letter of the law, […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF CHEESE – Limburger
WHAT IS LIMBURGER? It is a semi-soft, washed-rind, cow’s milk cheese originally from the Dutchy of Limburg and today well known in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It has an orange-yellowish color to it depending on who makes it. This cheese is famous for its’ strong smell which experts praise and novices think you’re playing […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF MEAT – neck (chicken)
WHAT IS A CHICKEN NECK? These long necks are designed to allow the bird to lean over and peck to their heart’s content. Covered in smaller downward pointing feathers known as hackles, the neck muscles are also one of nature’s most impressive steady-cam stabilizers! Having 3 times the number of neck vertebrae as humans is […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF SEAFOOD – Shrimp
WHAT IS A SHRIMP? It is one of the smaller members of the crustacean family. They’re thought to be the Neanderthal precursors of most of today’s larger arthopod pylum (invertebrate creatures with chitinous exoskeletons like spiders). Shrimp are marine garbage men who live on the bottom of the sea. As babies floating on water they […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF SEAFOOD – Salmon
WHAT IS SALMON? One of the most popular oily fish to eat, this name actually covers several different species that are all members of the same family Salmonidae. They are relatives of the trout and whitefish, but hatch in fresh water, migrate to the sea (salt water), and then return to their fresh water birthplace […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF BREAD – Ciabatta
WHAT IS CIABATTA BREAD? This Italian classic is not as old as you might think. It’s the Italian version of a French baguette whose name means “slipper.” Despite the name, ciabatta is a long, flat rectangular bread filled with irregularly shaped holes. This Italian loaf is made from a mix of white and rye flour. […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF MEAT – breast (chicken)
WHAT IS A CHICKEN BREAST? Retail chicken breasts are just one half of the pectoral muscle with the central bone removed. Also known as white meat, the fibers that make up this muscle are fast-twitch (when your survival depends on a burst of speed). Glycogen is the fuel of choice here whereas in slow twitch […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF SEAFOOD – Hake
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 […]
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 […]