Global Food Trivia Quiz

Answer: chips

French fries originated in France or Belgium as early as the 1640s, but their exact origin is disputed. However, the original dish was for thinly sliced potatoes to be fried in fat. The name French fries might have its origin in the US, when President Jefferson had "potatoes served in the French manner" at a White House dinner in 1802. These were still discs of potatoes: it is not clear when the discs were cut into thin strips. Also French-fried had a similar meaning to deep-fried.

In the UK, they too knew of "French-fried potatoes" around 1850. At some point in the next fifty years they were sliced into strips (but thicker than the American type) and called chips. This may be confusing, as what the British called "crisps" is what Americans call "chips". Australia, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand all use the term "chips". They are nearly always salted and are often served with ketchup, vinegar, and/or mayonnaise.

This question was chipped away until it was just right by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1.

Answer: rice

Rice is the main staple of the diet of people from China and many other parts of Asia, where it is one of the most important cultivations. Those parts of the world have a warm (or hot) and humid climate, and plenty of rainfall - both of which are necessary for growing rice. Rice is so important in these cultures that, in many parts of East Asia, "have you eaten rice?" is a common greeting that corresponds to our "how are you?".

In China, rice (generally steamed) is eaten with every meal, much like bread is eaten in Western countries. At Chinese restaurants, rice is almost always included when you order a dish, so you do not need to order it separately, or pay extra for it. Neither steak nor salad are typical of Chinese or other Asian restaurants, while pizza is an Italian speciality that has become globally popular.

LadyNym, who has always loved rice, served this question with a bow and a smile.

Answer: Spain

Tapa is a Spanish word derived from the verb "tapar", meaning "to cover". In the 18th century Spanish innkeepers would put a snack on a small plate which would be then placed on top of the traveller's sherry glass. (Sherry is a sweet fortified wine popular in Spain. But the sweetness attracted flies). The snack was usually some salted meat with some bread. This was usually a sample of what a main meal would taste like to entice the traveller to buy a full meal. The saltiness of the meat encouraged travellers to buy more wine!

Paella is a special dish from the Valencia region of Spain. It is a special type of rice cooked in broth on a flat really wide frying pan over 60cm (23 in) in diameter. There are many versions: meat, vegetables and seafood are added according to local recipes, but the rice is usually coloured with saffron or cumin. If it is cooked properly, there will be a crunchy crust on the bottom when served.

This question was served up by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1, who enjoys both tapas and paella.

Answer: popcorn

Popcorn is a favourite American movie snack. It is popular because it is easy to eat with your hands without making a mess. Popcorn became a movie snack during the Great Depression (1929-1939) because at 5-10 cents it was the cheapest snack that cinemas could offer. Ice cream and soda are best served cold. Most candies would get all gooey if warmed.

Not all corn kernels produce popcorn. You need a kernel with 14-20% moisture inside, in order for it to actually pop. Otherwise it'd just burn. Popcorn is actually one of six major types of corn. Its scientific name is "Zea mays" variety "everta", which is native to North America. Inside the kernel of corn there is a seed which contains a lot of water. When this is heated, this water turns to steam, which causes the outside of the corn kernel, the hull, to burst. This is the pop in popcorn.

Popcorn is now the favourite movie snack world-wide, but American consumption is still far higher than any other country.

JAM6430 from Phoenix Rising popped up this question for a snack.

Answer: pasta

Although various kinds of noodles are widely eaten in many parts of Asia, pasta is associated with Italy and Italian cuisine. A food of ancient origin, in its most basic form it is made of wheat flour (or semolina) mixed with water, to which other seasonings and ingredients (such as eggs, spinach or tomato) may be added. Pasta can be either fresh or dried, and is available in many different shapes that often have creative names - such as "farfalle" ("butterflies", called "bow ties" in English), "penne" ("quills"), or "orecchiette" ("little ears").

Pasta is cooked in boiling, lightly salted water, and served with a wide range of sauces, from simple tomato sauces to more elaborate, meat- or seafood-based ones. It should be firm to the bite - "al dente", as Italians say - which generally means a shorter time than indicated on the package. In Italy, cheese is never added to pasta with seafood, though people from other countries have fewer qualms about mixing seafood and cheese! Baked pasta dishes, such as lasagne, can be very rich, and are often served on Sundays or holidays.

This question was served al dente by unashamed pasta fan LadyNym.

Answer: salad

Salads are food dishes containing a mixture of mainly natural ingredients, including at least one raw (uncooked) item. They can be served warm, chilled or at room temperature. Salads can be eaten as any part of a meal: appetizers, side salads, main courses and desserts (with fresh fruit). Different cultures have evolved their own types of salads, depending in part on the types of ingredients available. Examples would include a Greek salad with feta cheese and olives, and an African salad from Nigeria with cassava and palm oil.

A casserole dish is a deep pan or bowl used to bake dishes in an oven. Foods cooked in a casserole dish are often called "casseroles". Generally, these are main courses with chopped vegetables, meat and a starchy "binder" to thicken the food. An omelet (also spelled omelette) is a dish made from beaten eggs. The eggs are cooked with butter or oil in a pan, frequently folded around any of a variety of fillings. A soup is usually a liquid food, usually warm or hot, although some cultures have produced chilled or cold soups (gazpacho from Spain and vichyssoise from France). Soups tend to be created by boiling ingredients in liquids to form a broth.

Phoenix Rising's psnz became quite hungry writing this question.

Answer: Japan

Sushi is a Japanese dish believed to have been invented by Hanaya Yohei from Japan around 1824. The dish originally was vinegared rice wrapped around fresh fish. The vinegar in the rice stopped the fish from spoiling, as refrigeration was unknown at that time. Many variations exist today and what is generally seen in Western cuisine is vinegared rice rolled around a series of ingredients, with a strip of nori (seaweed) on the outside holding the cylinder in place. In Japan this type of sushi is called "Futomaki", meaning thick or fat rolls.

This question was rolled into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1.

Answer: curry

Curry is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices that originated in South Asia. The selection of spices for each different dish, of which there are many, many recipes, depends on several factors - including regional cultural traditions, religion, and individual preference. The original dishes that were made at least 2,500 years ago contained ginger, garlic and turmeric, and possibly leaves from the curry tree. Southeast Asian curries normally use coconut milk and/or spice pastes. In this region, they are always eaten over rice. Regardless of region, curries usually contain a variety of fish, meat, poultry, or shellfish, and vegetables.

The word "curry" is thought to derive from the Tamil "karil", meaning vegetables and/or meat cooked with spices.

Curry powder was an invention to satisfy the British who occupied India. They wanted to take the curry flavors back to Britain, but there was too much variation. Indian merchants sold a mixture of spices, similar to the ones used in garam masala, to the British colonial government. This powder was taken back to Britain and became very popular. Even in the 21st century, it is the basis of the majority of curries made in the UK by people of a non-Asian background.

Phoenix Rising's JAM6430 hot-footed this question into the quiz.

Answer: Mexico

All the answers are large countries. However, these food names are Spanish and of these countries, only Mexico has Spanish as an officially recognised language.

Tacos are traditional Mexican foods. A hand-sized corn or wheat tortilla (flatbread) is folded around a filling before being eaten. Fillings vary considerably, including meats, seafoods, vegetables and cheeses. Usually too, there will be some sort of garnish: salsa, sour cream or guacamole. Aside from homes and restaurants, these delicious foods are also available from Mexican street vendors.

Nachos consist of fried tortilla chips, coated with melted cheese and a range of toppings, such as meats, vegetables, salsa and sour cream. Nachos are simple enough to be a snack but can be more substantial for a main course. Mexican chef Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya created nachos in 1941.

Enchiladas are corn tortillas wrapped around a filling before being coated in a savoury sauce. As with the previous two dishes, fillings include meats, cheeses, vegetables, or any combination of these. Sauces may be chili-based, cheese-based or traditional Mexican moles.

Mexican food is now very popular world-wide.

Phoenix Rising's psnz wrote the whole enchilada on this question.

Answer: tea

Tea is a refreshing drink, made by pouring hot or boiling water over "tea leaves". These are dried or fresh leaves from the tea plant "Camellia sinensis", an evergreen shrub which grows in Asian countries such as China and India. After water, tea is the second-most consumed drink in the world. Tea contains a chemical called caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on people.

In the 16th century (the 1500s), tea first became known in European countries when the Dutch shipped tea from Asia to the Netherlands. It quickly spread to the rest of the continent. By the 17th century, tea was being sold in English coffee houses. It was not widely consumed, because at that stage it was expensive. Smuggling, followed by the removal of taxes on tea, both resulted in price drops. Eventually by the 19th century the drink became an everyday beverage, with large quantities being imported into England from India, part of the British Empire.

Soon, many meals had the word "tea" incorporated into their names. "Teatime", "afternoon tea", and "high tea" were all meals held anywhere from mid-afternoon to early evening. Some people still refer to their evening meal as "tea", rather than "dinner" or "supper".

Phoenix Rising's psnz enjoyed drinking green tea with lemon and ginger while writing this question.