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EVERYONE LOVES FOOD.
But did you know that every day is a national food or drink holiday?
It’s true! There’s National Bloody Mary Day, National Cheese Lover’s Day,
and even National Shrimp Day—just to name a few.
Based on the popular blog Almanac of Eats, Eat the Year is a tribute to
food-lovers everywhere that introduces a national food or drink holiddaayy
for every day of the year. From National Martini Day to National
Chip and Dip Day, this book includes tasty recipes, food history,
and a variety of food holidays that are as diverse as they are deliciouuss!!
has worked in marketing for several food and drink companies and is currently
eating her way through her next food adventure. She is the author of The Ice Cream Theory, which won
six independent book awards. Steff lives in Portland, Maine. Please visit her at AlmanacOfEats.com.
ISBN 978-0-7624-5094-7
51600
Visit us on the web!
www.offthemenublog.com
$16.00 in U.S.A. • $18.50 in Canada • £10.99 in U.K. 9 780762 450947 RUNNING
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CARI, DELL, JEFFREY . . . THANK YOU.
DISCLAIMER: This book does not hold ownership of, or rights associated with, any food or drink holidays displayed in this book. The
presentation of trademarked brands in this book is not intended to imply any association with or endorsement by the trademark owners, and no
association or endorsement should be inferred. This book is not authorized by the owners of the trademarks or products referred to in this book,
and neither the Publisher nor the Author maintains any affiliations with them.
© 2014 by Steff Deschenes ISBN 978-0-7624-5094-7
Illustrations © 2014 by Mike Lowery Library of Congress Control Number: 2013958112
Published by Running Press,
A Member of the Perseus Books Group E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-5187-6
All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright Conventions Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing
Printed in China Designed by Ashley Haag
Edited by Jordana Tusman
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by Typography: Blockhead, Verlag, and Vonnes
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record-
ing, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or Running Press Book Publishers
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Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
Books published by Running Press are available at special discounts
for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, Visit us on the web!
and other organizations. For more information, please contact the www.offthemenublog.com
Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300
Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (800)
810-4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail [email protected].
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CONTENTS
Introduction 4
JANUARY
6
FEBRUARY
40
MARCH
74
APRIL
110
MAY
143
JUNE
178
JULY
213
AUGUST
245
SEPTEMBER
278
OCTOBER
313
NOVEMBER
351
DECEMBER
387
Formulas for Metric Conversion 422
Acknowledgments 423
Index 424
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INTRODUCTION
At the end of 2011, I had gained a following of some kind every day for one year. I fully acknowl-
sorts. People had watched me—a silly twenty- edge that I wasn’t the fi rst person to eat the
something with perpetually bad hair—take a national food holidays, and I know I won’t be the
photo of myself at dinner every night for two last. (Actually, I’m hoping this book inspires you
years and started to connect because I was a to try it!) But I’m particularly proud of the unique
real person going through real events. They saw way in which I accomplished my own adventure to
friends come and go from my life, traveled where do so; not once did I compromise my vegetarian
I traveled, and I never tried to hide the days values. Also, the fi rst year I celebrated the national
when I was sad, sick, or lonely. At the end of that food holidays over one-third of the year ended up
year—around December 29—I began wondering being sponsored by companies who believed in
if I should evolve my daily photoblogging project what I had to say—the bottom line of which was, is,
into something different. and always will be inclusivity.
I had been watching more and more folks post Nobody tells you how to celebrate Christmas
on social media about national food holidays, and (if that’s your holiday of choice in December), do
thought it might be interesting to see if I could eat they? For the most part—if you remove the com-
a food holiday every day. I pitched the idea to a mercialism from it—it’s one part tradition and one
couple friends, and, literally, forty-eight hours later part instinct. Holidays are both very personal and
(just an hour or so before the clock struck midnight a refl ection of the person celebrating them. So it
on 2012), with their help, my food blog, Almanac of shouldn’t be expected that everyone believes in,
Eats, was born. does, or practices the same thing. Though less seri-
So my journey to “eat the year” began. ous, the same is true for food holidays. Know that
Now since you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ve I never have and never will push my personal or
realized that I successfully did eat a food holiday of dietary beliefs on you or tell you how to celebrate
4
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any of the days. Some foodies believe their opinion new food holiday will have no doubt popped up,
is far too important than what it really is, and unfor- so forgive my inability to include it here! Also, the
tunately they will try to tell you there is a right and food calendar can be very frustrating. Trust me, I
wrong way to celebrate. Do not listen. know! There are loads of repeated days, but that’s
Food holidays are about capturing the essence because somewhere along the line people lobbied
of the day—whatever that means to you. They’re for those days to be recognized (perhaps without
about having fun, exploration, education, trying realizing it already existed). Which brings me to my
new things, and camaraderie. Embrace the days, last point.
make them uniquely your own, and do what feels People often ask how food holidays become
right. And if you’re feeling uninspired one day, but food holidays, which are really just daily obser-
still want to partake, don’t feel guilty getting some- vances held in honor of a certain food (or drink).
thing premade or celebrating a couple days late! Usually they’re created (and then promoted) by
There are some things you should be armed food or health organizations, public relation fi rms,
with, though, before beginning your own feat to food bloggers, or through petition to a governmen-
Eat the Year. You should know I did not make up tal body (sometimes local, sometimes national)
any of these holidays. Through researching food for consideration. So the majority of these aren’t
holidays I simply culminated what I thought was actually “national” holidays, but that’s what they’ve
the ultimate list based entirely on what the majority been coined as. You will see that there are actu-
of people seem to be celebrating. ally a couple days that the president himself has
Also, I guarantee that between the time of proclaimed as legitimate national holidays, though
my writing this introduction and you reading it, a I don’t know why we don’t get the day off for them!
Cheers—and happy food holidays to come!
Steff
5
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JANUARY IS...
01 National Bloody Mary Day / 7 28 National Blueberry Pancake Day / 36
02 National Buffet Day / 8 29 National Corn Chip Day / 37
03 National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day / 9 30 National Croissant Day / 38
04 National Spaghetti Day / 11 31 National Hot Chocolate Day / 39
05 National Whipped Cream Day / 12
JANUARY IS ALSO . . .
06 National Bean Day / 13
07 National Tempura Day / 15 International Gourmet Coffee Month
08 National English Toffee Day / 16 National Bread Machine Baking Month
09 National Apricot Day / 17 National Diet Month
10 National Bittersweet Chocolate Day / 18 National Fat-Free Living Month
11 National Hot Toddy Day / 19 National Hot Tea Month
12 National Curried Chicken Day / 20 National Meat Month
13 National Peach Melba Day / 21 National Oatmeal Month
14 National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day / 22 National Prune Breakfast Month
15 National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day / 23 National Slow Cooking Month
16 International Hot and Spicy Food Day / 24 National Soup Month
17 International Day of Italian Cuisines / 25 National Wheat Bread Month
18 National Peking Duck Day / 26 •••
19 National Popcorn Day / 27 3rd Saturday —National Soup Swap Day
20 National Cheese Lover’s Day / 28
21 National New England Clam Chowder Day / 30
22 National Blonde Brownie Day / 31
23 National Pie Day / 32
24 National Lobster Thermidor Day / 33
25 National Irish Coffee Day / 34
26 National Peanut Brittle Day / 35
27 National Chocolate Cake Day / 36
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NATIONAL BLOODY MARY DAY
JANUARY
01
“When people ask me if Dean Martin drank, let me put it this way. If Dracula bit
Dean in the neck, he’d get a Bloody Mary.”— Red Buttons
When I was younger, my mom taught me a really The only thing I want to do on January 1st is eat my
valuable lesson about New Year’s resolutions: You weight in greasy foods and sneer at people who
never start them on January 1st, especially if your are existing too loudly.
resolution is to lose weight. Oh, and crawl into a hot bath while nursing a
After cruising through a couple months of holi- tall Bloody Mary, which I’m pretty sure is the only
days, indulging and binging on all manner of sinful thing that cures the “what the hell did I just do last
things, do you really think on the very fi rst day of night?” feeling.
the new year you’re gonna have the willpower to Besides, it sorta has vegetables in it . . . right?
say no to all those holiday leftovers that are giving So it’s totally okay to drink if your resolution is to
you the come-hither look? up your daily veggie intake. Maybe even have
C’mon, it’s too much pressure! If you give in to two! I’ve got only your best interests at heart—I’m
even one piece of pie making sexytime eyes at you, making sure you get your vitamins now because
you’re gonna feel defeated. if you’re eating the year with me, trust me, there’s
And that’s no fun. going to be plenty of days ahead where we do
So let’s postpone this whole New Year’s res- nothing but damage to your body.
olution to eat healthy and get fi t until tomorrow. So bottoms up!
Besides, who really wants to start some new regi-
mented diet when they’re hungover? I know I don’t. Today is also Apple Gifting Day.
JANUARY / 7
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BEST BLOODIES
Makes 2 to 4 drinks In a pitcher, stir together the vodka, tomato juice,
1 cup vodka Worcestershire, pepper, and celery salt. Pour the drink
3 cups organic tomato juice into ice-filled glasses, add a celery stalk to each drink,
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and serve.
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons celery salt Tip! Some Worcestershire sauces are made with
1 celery stalk for each drink (2 to 4 needed) anchovies. If you’ve got a plant-based diet, you might
want to double-check the ingredients. Personally, I
always go with Annie’s Organic Worcestershire Sauce.
NATIONAL BUFFET DAY
JANUARY
02
“I went to this restaurant last night that was set up like a big buffet in the shape of
an Ouija board. You’d think about what kind of food you want, and the table would
move across the fl oor to it.” — Stephen Wright
According to Templeton the rat in Charlotte’s Web, epic affairs because there were so many people.
“a fair [not “life” . . . though that’s applicable, too] is It only made sense to serve food stuffs in giant
a veritable smörgåsbord, orgåsbord, orgåsbord,” containers from which people could serve them-
and I tend to agree . . . especially today. selves whenever, whatever, and however much
The smörgåsbord—which translates to a “table they wanted. It also taught me survival skills: If
of (open-faced) sandwiches”—originated in you wanted stuffed mushrooms (a coveted food
Sweden. Personally, I’m no stranger to this “buf- on my dad’s side), you stalked the oven until the
fet” concept. My family gatherings were always moment they came out. Then you filled your
8 / EAT THE YEAR
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plate and fled the scene. You could always let tubs and tubs of food that I could stuff myself silly
them cool once they were in your possession, on and that I didn’t have to compete for.
but if you waited too long after they hit the “buf- (In case you haven’t fi gured it out yet, yesterday I
fet table,” you risked the chance of not getting lied to you. You’re not starting your New Year’s res-
any at all. olution today. Actually, why don’t we just go ahead
Family Buffet Tactics 101, right there. and scratch that idea altogether now.)
Even if you’re not serving a clan tonight, you can
still celebrate like you are—which is how I did—with Today is also National Cream Puff Day.
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE
JANUARY
03
COVERED CHERRY DAY
“Break open a cherry tree and there are no fl owers, but the spring breeze brings
forth myriad blossoms.” — Ikkyu Sojun
No one seems to quite know why January 3rd was at people (that just kind of freaks me out), but I
declared National Chocolate Covered Cherry am a fan of anything chocolate. And juicy, sweet
Day. It just is. My thoughts are that it was created cherries are always a nice surprise to fi nd bursting
because A) there are a lot of these confectionaries out of the center of a rich, creamy coating of white,
left over from Yankee Swap/Mean Santa, and B) to milk, or dark chocolate.
excite and remind us about the next holiday com- Although, truth be told, I originally ended up
ing up . . . Valentine’s Day! celebrating today a little nontraditionally. I pur-
I’m not usually a huge fan of commercially chased chocolate ice cream and a pound of fresh
promoted love or naked babies shooting arrows cherries. After one bite, I realized it wasn’t going to
JANUARY / 9
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