Brian Petro
@smartguyinatie.com
Food and drink historian, educator, and nerd. Looking at what we eat from the intersection of culture and curiosity.
#OnThisDate, 7 Sep 2002, the world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich was made in Oklahoma. Weighing in at 900 lbs., it had 350 lbs. of pb and 144 lbs. of jelly.
There is no record of the flavor of the jelly.
The current world record was set in 2010.
#Food #FoodHistory #PBJ
There is no record of the flavor of the jelly.
The current world record was set in 2010.
#Food #FoodHistory #PBJ
September 8, 2025 at 12:31 AM
#OnThisDate, 7 Sep 2002, the world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich was made in Oklahoma. Weighing in at 900 lbs., it had 350 lbs. of pb and 144 lbs. of jelly.
There is no record of the flavor of the jelly.
The current world record was set in 2010.
#Food #FoodHistory #PBJ
There is no record of the flavor of the jelly.
The current world record was set in 2010.
#Food #FoodHistory #PBJ
#OnThisDate, 6 Sep 1916, Piggly Wiggly first opened in Memphis, TN. Founded by Clarence Saunders, he was elusive about how he came up with the name. He told people that he saw pigs wiggling under a fence, and that is where the name came from.
#Food #FoodHistory #FirstSelfService
#Food #FoodHistory #FirstSelfService
September 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
#OnThisDate, 6 Sep 1916, Piggly Wiggly first opened in Memphis, TN. Founded by Clarence Saunders, he was elusive about how he came up with the name. He told people that he saw pigs wiggling under a fence, and that is where the name came from.
#Food #FoodHistory #FirstSelfService
#Food #FoodHistory #FirstSelfService
#OnThisDate, 6 August 1889, The Savoy Hotel in London opened. It was innovative for its day by offering guests electric lights, electric elevators, hot and cold water, and bathrooms in the most lavish rooms, and more innovations.
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
August 6, 2025 at 12:36 PM
#OnThisDate, 6 August 1889, The Savoy Hotel in London opened. It was innovative for its day by offering guests electric lights, electric elevators, hot and cold water, and bathrooms in the most lavish rooms, and more innovations.
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
Accurate.
There is more than enough food in this country to feed everyone. No one should be going hungry.
There is more than enough food in this country to feed everyone. No one should be going hungry.
July 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Accurate.
There is more than enough food in this country to feed everyone. No one should be going hungry.
There is more than enough food in this country to feed everyone. No one should be going hungry.
#OnThisDate, 28 July 1907, Earl Tupper was born. Using waste materials from oil processing, he was able to create Tupperware. He founded the Tupperware Plastics Company in 1938, and by the 1950s Tupperware home parties were all the rage.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
July 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
#OnThisDate, 28 July 1907, Earl Tupper was born. Using waste materials from oil processing, he was able to create Tupperware. He founded the Tupperware Plastics Company in 1938, and by the 1950s Tupperware home parties were all the rage.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
Dinner of champions? Maybe just Medieval monks?
July 26, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Dinner of champions? Maybe just Medieval monks?
#OnThisDate, 23 July 1894, British actor Arthur Treacher was born. Most of his roles involved playing servants, eventually appearing on talk and game shows.
After retiring, he lent his name to different businesses, including the very popular Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
After retiring, he lent his name to different businesses, including the very popular Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
July 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
#OnThisDate, 23 July 1894, British actor Arthur Treacher was born. Most of his roles involved playing servants, eventually appearing on talk and game shows.
After retiring, he lent his name to different businesses, including the very popular Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
After retiring, he lent his name to different businesses, including the very popular Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#OnThisDate, 22 July, 1926, chef and inventor Dorcas Bates Reilly was born. She worked in the Campbell's soup test #kitchen from 1946 to 1988, with a brief break to raise a family. Among many other foods, she is the inventor of the #Thanksgiving staple green bean casserole.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
July 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
#OnThisDate, 22 July, 1926, chef and inventor Dorcas Bates Reilly was born. She worked in the Campbell's soup test #kitchen from 1946 to 1988, with a brief break to raise a family. Among many other foods, she is the inventor of the #Thanksgiving staple green bean casserole.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#OnThisDate, 16 July 1907, Orville Redenbacher was born. He and his partner, Charles F. Bowman, developed their "RedBow" strain of #popcorn after tens of thousands of experiments. Released in 1970, it was one of the most popular brands on the shelf within five years.
#FoodHistory
#FoodHistory
July 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
#OnThisDate, 16 July 1907, Orville Redenbacher was born. He and his partner, Charles F. Bowman, developed their "RedBow" strain of #popcorn after tens of thousands of experiments. Released in 1970, it was one of the most popular brands on the shelf within five years.
#FoodHistory
#FoodHistory
#OnThisDate, 14 July 1906, Athanasios Karvelas, better known as Tom Carvel, was born. He is the founder of the Carvel brand of ice cream shops and helped popularize soft serve #icecream.
There are still over 300 Carvel franchises worldwide, primarily located in the U.S.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
There are still over 300 Carvel franchises worldwide, primarily located in the U.S.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
July 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
#OnThisDate, 14 July 1906, Athanasios Karvelas, better known as Tom Carvel, was born. He is the founder of the Carvel brand of ice cream shops and helped popularize soft serve #icecream.
There are still over 300 Carvel franchises worldwide, primarily located in the U.S.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
There are still over 300 Carvel franchises worldwide, primarily located in the U.S.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#OnThisDate, 13 July 1568, Dr Alexander Nowell, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, is credited with the first instance of bottled #beer. He left a bottle of beer that he had taken on a fishing trip, and when he found it days later, the beer was still fresh and had undergone second fermentation.
#History
#History
July 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#OnThisDate, 13 July 1568, Dr Alexander Nowell, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, is credited with the first instance of bottled #beer. He left a bottle of beer that he had taken on a fishing trip, and when he found it days later, the beer was still fresh and had undergone second fermentation.
#History
#History
#OnThisDate, 10 July 1985, the release of Coca-Cola Classic is announced. This came 79 days after the release of New Coke, a formula change in response to taste tests vs. Pepsi. The public hated it, and Coke brought the "real thing" back.
New Coke was discontinued in 2002.
#FoodSky #FoodHistory
New Coke was discontinued in 2002.
#FoodSky #FoodHistory
July 10, 2025 at 8:42 PM
#OnThisDate, 10 July 1985, the release of Coca-Cola Classic is announced. This came 79 days after the release of New Coke, a formula change in response to taste tests vs. Pepsi. The public hated it, and Coke brought the "real thing" back.
New Coke was discontinued in 2002.
#FoodSky #FoodHistory
New Coke was discontinued in 2002.
#FoodSky #FoodHistory
#OnThisDate, 9 July 1766, American inventor Jacob Perkins was born. He was the first person to develop a man-made refrigeration system. His cooling system used ammonia as a coolant.
Perkins also worked on central heating systems and improved steam power.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
Perkins also worked on central heating systems and improved steam power.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
July 9, 2025 at 12:26 PM
#OnThisDate, 9 July 1766, American inventor Jacob Perkins was born. He was the first person to develop a man-made refrigeration system. His cooling system used ammonia as a coolant.
Perkins also worked on central heating systems and improved steam power.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
Perkins also worked on central heating systems and improved steam power.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#OnThisDay, 17 June 1903, Ruth Graves Wakefield was born. The proprietor of the Tollhouse Inn, she wanted to create a new cookie to supplement their butterscotch cookies.
She chose to add broken chocolate pieces to the new cookie, and chocolate chip cookies became a hit.
#FoodSky #History
She chose to add broken chocolate pieces to the new cookie, and chocolate chip cookies became a hit.
#FoodSky #History
June 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
#OnThisDay, 17 June 1903, Ruth Graves Wakefield was born. The proprietor of the Tollhouse Inn, she wanted to create a new cookie to supplement their butterscotch cookies.
She chose to add broken chocolate pieces to the new cookie, and chocolate chip cookies became a hit.
#FoodSky #History
She chose to add broken chocolate pieces to the new cookie, and chocolate chip cookies became a hit.
#FoodSky #History
#OnThisDay, 16 June 1868, Detroiter William Davis received a patent for improvements to the refrigerated train car. His design was based on a Detroit inventor's concept of a powered icebox.
His invention enabled the shipping of fruits and meats all around the Great Lakes.
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
His invention enabled the shipping of fruits and meats all around the Great Lakes.
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
June 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
#OnThisDay, 16 June 1868, Detroiter William Davis received a patent for improvements to the refrigerated train car. His design was based on a Detroit inventor's concept of a powered icebox.
His invention enabled the shipping of fruits and meats all around the Great Lakes.
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
His invention enabled the shipping of fruits and meats all around the Great Lakes.
#FoodHistory #HistorySky
#OnThisDate, 15 June 1859, the U.S. and Great Britain almost threw hands over a...pig. The Pig War began when an American settler on San Juan shot a British-owned pig. The border there was debated to the point of military escalation.
The bloodless conflict was resolved in 1871.
#History #FoodSky
The bloodless conflict was resolved in 1871.
#History #FoodSky
June 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
#OnThisDate, 15 June 1859, the U.S. and Great Britain almost threw hands over a...pig. The Pig War began when an American settler on San Juan shot a British-owned pig. The border there was debated to the point of military escalation.
The bloodless conflict was resolved in 1871.
#History #FoodSky
The bloodless conflict was resolved in 1871.
#History #FoodSky
#OnThisDate, 14 July 1892, Polish Jewish immigrant Nathan Handwerker was born. When he came to the U.S., he and his wife spent the last money they had on a hot dog stand in Coney Island in 1916. This stand launched Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
June 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
#OnThisDate, 14 July 1892, Polish Jewish immigrant Nathan Handwerker was born. When he came to the U.S., he and his wife spent the last money they had on a hot dog stand in Coney Island in 1916. This stand launched Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#OnThisDate, 11 June 1842, German engineer Carl Paul Gottfried von Linde was born. He developed the artificial refrigeration cycle, which is the foundation of modern refrigeration.
The first place it was installed? The Spaten Brewery in 1873, to make more beer!
#FoodSky #Beer #History
The first place it was installed? The Spaten Brewery in 1873, to make more beer!
#FoodSky #Beer #History
June 11, 2025 at 1:16 PM
#OnThisDate, 11 June 1842, German engineer Carl Paul Gottfried von Linde was born. He developed the artificial refrigeration cycle, which is the foundation of modern refrigeration.
The first place it was installed? The Spaten Brewery in 1873, to make more beer!
#FoodSky #Beer #History
The first place it was installed? The Spaten Brewery in 1873, to make more beer!
#FoodSky #Beer #History
#OnThisDate, 9 June 1953, John H. Kraft, a founder of Kraft Foods, received a patent that aided the creation of soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie. The patent enabled easier removal of the mold board, critical for making soft cheeses, but it often damaged them in the process.
#FoodSky #History
#FoodSky #History
June 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
#OnThisDate, 9 June 1953, John H. Kraft, a founder of Kraft Foods, received a patent that aided the creation of soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie. The patent enabled easier removal of the mold board, critical for making soft cheeses, but it often damaged them in the process.
#FoodSky #History
#FoodSky #History
#OnThisDay, 2 June 2003, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ruled that batter-dipped frozen French fries were considered fresh vegetables. Why? Because, according to their rules, batter dipping something does not change its character.
#FoodSky #History #FoodHistory
#FoodSky #History #FoodHistory
June 2, 2025 at 7:58 PM
#OnThisDay, 2 June 2003, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ruled that batter-dipped frozen French fries were considered fresh vegetables. Why? Because, according to their rules, batter dipping something does not change its character.
#FoodSky #History #FoodHistory
#FoodSky #History #FoodHistory
#OnThisDate, 29 May 1886, the first Coca-Cola ad appeared in the @ajc.com (Atlanta Journal). Initial ads for Coke touted the fact that it was "delicious and refreshing" and a way to combat various ailments, from stomach pain to nerve disorders.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #TasteTheFeeling
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #TasteTheFeeling
May 29, 2025 at 12:46 PM
#OnThisDate, 29 May 1886, the first Coca-Cola ad appeared in the @ajc.com (Atlanta Journal). Initial ads for Coke touted the fact that it was "delicious and refreshing" and a way to combat various ailments, from stomach pain to nerve disorders.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #TasteTheFeeling
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #TasteTheFeeling
#OnThisDay, 28 May 1897, Jell-O was trademarked by Pearle Bixby Wait in Le Roy, New York. The original four flavors were raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and orange. Seven years later, cherry and chocolate were added.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #Dessert
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #Dessert
May 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
#OnThisDay, 28 May 1897, Jell-O was trademarked by Pearle Bixby Wait in Le Roy, New York. The original four flavors were raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and orange. Seven years later, cherry and chocolate were added.
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #Dessert
#FoodHistory #FoodSky #Dessert
#OnThisDay, 26 May 1955, Iron Chef Morimoto Masaharu was born. The last Japanese-Born Iron Chef, he opened his first restaurant in Hiroshima in 1980. After selling it in 1985, he travelled to the U.S., working in many well-known #restaurants, including Nobu in NYC.
#HappyBirthday #FoodHistory
#HappyBirthday #FoodHistory
May 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM
#OnThisDay, 26 May 1955, Iron Chef Morimoto Masaharu was born. The last Japanese-Born Iron Chef, he opened his first restaurant in Hiroshima in 1980. After selling it in 1985, he travelled to the U.S., working in many well-known #restaurants, including Nobu in NYC.
#HappyBirthday #FoodHistory
#HappyBirthday #FoodHistory
#OnThisDay, 21 May 1921, was the date that the Taggart Baking Company told Indianapolis, IN that "Wonder was coming." Wonder Bread hit the shelves that day. It was one of the first commercial breads to be pre-sliced (1920s) and enriched with vitamins and minerals (1940s).
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
May 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
#OnThisDay, 21 May 1921, was the date that the Taggart Baking Company told Indianapolis, IN that "Wonder was coming." Wonder Bread hit the shelves that day. It was one of the first commercial breads to be pre-sliced (1920s) and enriched with vitamins and minerals (1940s).
#FoodHistory #FoodSky
#FoodHistory #FoodSky