National Papaya Month

May 31, 2026May 11, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 5 Comments

National Papaya Month takes place in June. The vibrantly colored fruit grows on an herb in southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They are also commercially produced in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

The mildly flavored fruit tastes subtly like a cross between a mango and a peach when ripe. It pairs well with spices and makes a delicious salsa. Papaya can be enjoyed in smoothies and savory dishes as well.

Be sure to take advantage of the papaya’s health benefits. Whether it’s used to enhance the skin or eaten to gain the rich vitamin A, C, E, potassium, and antioxidants, you can’t go wrong.

More fruit…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy papaya fresh or in a recipe. Use #NationalPapayaMonth to share on social media.

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NATIONAL LOBSTER NEWBURG DAY

March 24, 2026March 5, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Lobster Newburg day on March 25th ushers in a celebration worthy of a sea captain. An American seafood dish, Lobster Newburg includes lobster, butter, cream, cognac, sherry, eggs, and cayenne pepper.

Delmonico’s of New York debut Lobster Newburg in 1876. A sea captain by the name of Ben Wenburg developed the elegant and rich dish. After he demonstrated the recipe to restaurant manager Charles Delmonico, Chef Charles Ranhofer made refinements and they added the creation to the restaurant’s menu as Lobster a la Wenburg. It wasn’t long before the dish grew in popularity.

However, an argument between Wenburg and manager Charles Delmonico caused the dish to be removed from the menu. After many requests from patrons, Delmonico’s returned the dish with a new name. The entree came to be known as Lobster Newburg.

When Delmonico’s first opened in 1930, Brothers Giovanni and Peter transformed a small café into New York’s first customary restaurant with cloth-covered tables and printed menus. Similar to the café’s transformation, Lobster Newburg came about right around the time lobster was transforming from a poor man’s food to a delicacy. See before the mid-1800s, people considered lobster to be fish bait or food for prisoners. It was an undesirable food. But right around the time Captian Wenburg invented the dish, tourism by train and ship was taking off. Couple that with improved canning options (including lobster), people were experiencing the seafood for the first time.

As dishes like Lobster Newburg, lobster tails, lobster bisque, and others found their way on to restaurant menus, the nation’s love of the crustacean grew.

Explore More Seafood…

HOW TO OBSERVE #LobsterNewburgDay

There are so many ways to celebrate this day. Of course, enjoy a dish of Lobster Newburg. But you can also do some exploring.

Check out the history of Delmonico’s.
Learn more about the types of lobsters in the sea.
Explore the history of the lobster industry.
Who was Captian Wenburg?

Use #LobsterNewburgDay to post on social media.

Lobster: 75 Recipes Celebrating the World's Favorite Seafood#LobsterNewburgDay — Lobster: 75 Recipes Celebrating the World’s Favorite Seafood

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GREAT AMERICAN PIES MONTH

January 31, 2026January 10, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

February makes an excellent time for Great American Pies Month. Fill the whole month by tasting delicious pies from around the country! How many pies will it take to find your favorite?

Pie makers get ready to count the ways of making pies. From crust to filling, we dream of the mouthwatering goodness that goes into each slice. Where do we even begin?

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Apple springs to mind, of course. There’s no doubt there. And blueberry pie is popular, too. National Cherry Pie Day is the only one celebrated in February. In Texas, they make a dewberry pie. We could, no doubt go on until we reach zucchini pie. Somewhere in all those, we would find key lime and Mississippi Mud, pecan, and peanut butter. We can’t forget coconut or lemon meringue. For those with an extra sweet tooth, head to Indiana for the sugar cream pie. Did we forget the traditional pumpkin pie?

But in the middle of a cold winter’s day, one way to warm up the whole house and the people in it is with a savory pot pie. Stuffed inside a flaky golden crust are the tender chunks of vegetables, beef or chicken, and a thick and hearty broth steaming full of goodness.

GREAT AMERICAN PIE MONTH HISTORY

Crisco helped start Great American Pies Month in 1990.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #GreatAmericanPieMonth

We didn’t come close to naming all the best pies in America. However, that’s not what the month is about. It’s about enjoying them. Bake them, share them, eat them. Use #GreatAmericanPiesMonth to share your favorite pies and recipes on social media.

NATIONAL OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER DAY

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

National Oysters Rockefeller Day on January 10th recognizes a dish so rich there was only one man’s name this dish could bear at the time. At least, that’s the story according to the chef who so masterfully created famous recipes in the French Quarter.

In 1889 in the renowned kitchen of Antoine’s, Jules Alciatore developed a recipe for baked oysters on the half shell with sauce and bread crumbs that would earn the name Oysters Rockefeller. A dish so rich Alciatore himself admitted, “…I know of no other name rich enough for their richness.”

While other restaurants serve similar dishes, only historic Antoine’s (founded by Antoine Alciatore, Jules Alciatore’s father in 1840) serves the original Oysters Rockefeller. Food Network’s Alton Brown even told us on Good Eats that Alciatore took the recipe to his grave. Others have tried to determine the finer ingredients without success. Only Antoine’s and the Alciatore family have the authentic recipe.

Having served over 3.5 million orders of Oysters Rockefeller, and counting, Antoine’s recipe has withstood the test of time and garnered the praises of culinary critics. Since 1889, the restaurant has numbered each order. Even today’s customers receive their privileged number identifying their place in the history of Oysters Rockefeller.

The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York#NationalOystersRockefellerDay — The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York

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NATIONAL OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER DAY HISTORY

In 2017, Antoine’s founded National Oyster Rockefeller Day to celebrate the dish’s history and longevity.

More to explore….

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalOystersRockefellerDay

Have you tasted the flavor of authentic Oysters Rockefeller? Tell us what you think. If you are near Antoine’s, stop in to savor a taste of history and share using #NationalOystersRockefellerDay on social media.

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NATIONAL SARDINES DAY

November 24, 2025October 24, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 20 Comments

November 24th recognizes these silver little fishes on National Sardines Day. They may not swim right up to your plate, but they sure do pack in the flavor.

While some people are afraid to taste these small, silverfish, others consider sardines a delicious snack enjoyed on their own or with crackers.

Sardines are several types of small, oily fish, related to herrings. While we might be most familiar with sardines packed in cans, some enjoy fresh sardines grilled. This small fish can also be pickled and smoked, too. When canned, they can be packed in water, olive, sunflower or soybean oil or tomato, chili or mustard sauce.

The term sardine was first used in English during the beginning of the 15th century, possibly coming from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia where there was an abundance of sardines.

Sardines are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
From one’s daily vitamin allowance containing:

13 % B2
.25 % niacin
150% vitamin B12
phosphorus
calcium
potassium
iron
selenium
omega-3fatty acids
vitamin D
protein

– B vitamins are important in helping to support proper nervous system function and are used for energy metabolism.
– Omega 3 fatty acids reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and regular consumption may reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease and can even boost brain function as well as help lower blood sugar levels.

Relative to other fish commonly eaten by humans, sardines are very low in contaminants, such as mercury.

Sardine oil is used in the manufacturing of paint, varnish and linoleum.

The sardine canning industry peaked in the United States in the 1950s. The Stinson Seafood plant in Prospect Harbor, Maine, which was the last large sardine cannery in the United States, closed its doors on April 15, 2010, after 135 years in operation.

More Seafood….

Look, most years, this is the only holiday on this date. So we’ll offer some extra special tips to help you celebrate.

Try sardines on a salad. Mash them up and mix them with some Caesar dressing for a start. Add some extra croutons if that improves the experience.
Toss them with pasta and a spicy marinara sauce.
Grill them with olive oil. Add lemon, garlic, and tarragon.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSardinesDay

Share a can or two of canned sardines with a friend. See if you prefer the mustard, chili or the tomato packed ones better!Use #NationalSardinesDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL LOBSTER NEWBURG DAY