AMAZE YOUR FRIENDS WITH THIS INTERESTING TRIVIA:

• BLACK BOX – Commercial aircraft “Black Box” flight data recorders are not actually black, they’re usually bright red, orange, or yellow. “Black Box” likely came from the WWII British Air Force term for any number of general “box” mechanisms inside the aircraft.

• SPANISH FLY – The legendary aphrodisiac “Spanish Fly” is not a fly, but a species of Blister Beetle (Lytta vesicatoria). Known since Medieval times, the Spanish Fly secretes the toxin cantharidin – when consumed and then excreted through urination, it causes severe irritation of the urethra and swelling of the genitals, which can generate “priapism” (prolonged erection) in men. However, cantharidin is highly toxic even in small doses and can cause permanent damage to the urethra and kidneys. Aphrodisiacs containing Lytta vesicatoria are banned in most countries for this reason.

• THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING – Thousand Island Dressing is indeed named after a series of islands: the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York, near Lake Ontario. There are varying histories about who exactly gave it this name.

• FRENCH TOAST – French Toast is not a culinary invention of the French, but has been around in some form since at least the 4th Century (there is a recipe for it in an ancient Roman cookbook). The name “French Toast” may have either come from the introduction of this food to England by the French Normans during the Middle Ages, or perhaps because it is a common way to render old/dry bread edible – French bread is notorious for drying out within a day.

• RANCH DRESSING – Ranch Dressing is named after the Hidden Valley (Dude) Ranch near Santa Barbara, California where it was invented in the 1950’s by the owner of the ranch, Steve Henson.

• GENERAL TZO’S CHICKEN – This common (American) Chinese food dish is named after Manchu Dynasty military general Zuo Zongtang. Despite the name, this dish does not exist in Hunan province, China – the homeland of General Zuo – and is likely to have been invented in the United States sometime during the early 1970’s.

Share this: