Bet you didn't know...

1. The oldest evidence for soup is from 6,000 B.C. and calls for hippopotamus and sparrow meat.

2. Pringles once had a lawsuit trying to prove that they weren't really potato chips.

3. Pound cake got its name from its original recipe, which called for a pound each of butter, eggs, sugar, and flour.

4. Ripe cranberries will bounce like rubber balls.

5. An average ear of corn has an even number of rows, usually 16.

6. Consuming dairy may cause acne

7. Most wasabi consumed is not real wasabi, but colored horseradish.

8. Central Appalachia's tooth decay problem is referred to as Mountain Dew mouth, due to the beverage's popularity in the region.

9. Apples belong to the rose family, as do pears and plums.

10. Oklahoma's state vegetable is the watermelon.

11. One of the most popular pizza toppings in Brazil is green peas.

12. About 70% of olive oil being sold is not actually pure olive oil.

13. Real aged balsamic vinegar actually costs anywhere from $75 to $400 or more.

14. Store bought 100% "real" orange juice is 100% artificially flavored.

15. The most expensive pizza in the world costs $12,000 and takes 72 hours to make.

16. The winner of the 2013 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest consumed 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

17. The Dunkin' Donuts in South Korea offer doughnut flavors such as Kimchi Croquette and Glazed Garlic.

18. Chocolate was once used as currency.

19. There is an amusement park in Tokyo that offers Raw Horse Flesh-flavored ice cream.

20. The tea bag was created by accident, as tea bags were originally sent as samples.

TEM

Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!

I believe tacos are an acquired taste. Until recently, I was not a big fan. I rarely, if ever, ordered tacos when out and my bride rarely makes them knowing I am not a fan. Hers are traditional. Basic. Ground beef and taco seasoning with shredded cheese in a hard shell. Again, not a fan. But, today the taco is making quite the noise. The "Fancy" taco, as I call it, is wildly popular. Trendy taco shops are popping up everywhere. The lowly taco is the biggest thing since the iPhone. Filled with everything imaginable, they are the hit of the menu almost everywhere. And, the lowly taco now commands a hefty price. Much like "Fancy" beers that many waste their money on. So, where is the best taco in Greenville? Well, that is an almost impossible question to answer. Seems that everyone has a different opinion. It is fascinating that such a simple item now carries a complex nature. I have now eaten many at many different places and most, not all, seem about equal. Oh, some seem "fancier" than others. So, the tastes vary, but overall most of these trendy taco shops are near equal. And, with all this complex mixture of various ingredients, it is hard to tell what you are eating. You bite into one and either it tastes good (to you) or it doesn't (to you). But the next person likes it (or not). Most of the time you really don't know what you are tasting. It has Korean Beef with Thai Curry Sauce and Mango Chutney spread topped with melted Feta/Gouda/Jalepeno Cheese. You tell me. Is that great or horrible? I don't know. And, how is that even a taco. Show me that taco on a menu in Chihuahua, Mexico. You can't. Since this is a tough one, I turned to Yelp. They rank tacos in Greenville SC. 1 - 145. Yes, they rank the top 145 taco shops in Greenville. Are you believing we have 145 taco shops? I am not telling a tale. Look for yourself. I told you they are gaining enormous popularity...and I don't know why. I like them... now. I don't love them. There are much better ways to fatten me up. My favs at this point are White Duck Taco, Willy Taco and Kitchen Synch. Those are my top three out of the 145. But, as I progress in my taco search, I am beginning to appreciate that good ole' fashioned basic taco. Maybe from Taco Casa. Maybe I need to try my bride's basic taco one more time, along with a basic Rolling Rock non-fancy beer.
TEM