Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... Page Onorato: Snacking hither and yon Comment By Page Onorato More Content Now MailTribune.com By Page Onorato More Content Now Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM By Page Onorato More Content Now Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM » Social News Got the munchies? Need to nosh? Want a little nibble or two? You have plenty to choose from, that’s for sure. There are thousands of brands of potato chips alone in the USA. Lay’s has over 40 different varieties, including Carolina Barbecue and Southern Biscuits and Gravy. Ritz is the number one snack cracker, but ask any true son of Dixie what his favorite crunch is, and he’ll probably say “I go for skins, man.” Snacking has been a popular pastime all over the world, ever since Eve munched down on the first apple. On this side of the big drink, folks love, in addition to their chips, pork rinds and crackers, things like Oreos, beef jerky, corn dogs, salsa, Cinnabon rolls and Krispy Kremes, sliders and wings, corn dogs, Twinkies, nachos and pizza, s’mores and Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream. Snacking in America was pretty much homemade fare until the late 19th century. Popcorn, fixed the old-timey way over an open fire, was no doubt the number one munchie of yore, while many a dainty lass won her beau’s heart with a pan of fudge. Then along came F.W. Rueckheim to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 with his concoction of peanuts, popcorn and molasses, which was soon manufactured as “Cracker Jack.” Jelly beans and candy corn followed not long after, with the Hershey milk chocolate bar making the scene in 1900. But it was at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904 that many familiar snack foods became known. Hot dogs and hamburgers, iced tea and Dr. Pepper, ice cream cones, the club sandwich, cotton candy and peanut butter all were made popular to the public at the Exposition in St. Louis. You know the rest of the story. Along came Animal Crackers, Oreos, Moon Pies, Hostess Cupcakes, Eskimo Pies and by 1920, America’s love affair with snacking was off and running. We’re not alone in our affection for eating in-betweens. A culinary tour of snacks around the world would take us first to the United Kingdom, where we’d chomp down on biscuits (cookies to us) such as Walker’s Shortbread Fingers or Border Dark Chocolate Gingers. There’d be scones, of course, with clotted cream and all sorts of cheeses and wafers, Scotch eggs and sausage rolls. I’d nibble a handful of Big D peanuts, but I’d skip the haggis pakora or anything else haggis-y. In France, a chocolate croissant tempts our taste buds, while crepes with sugar and whipped cream, frites (double fried potatoes) with dipping sauce and macarons (two cookies sandwiched together with jam or buttercream) would hold us over until dinner. Ah, Italy, and what could be better than an antipasto with cheeses, olives, meats, anchovies and artichoke hearts, or a bruschetta or crostini, a gelato? Oops, better save room for the pasta. In India, we’ll treat ourselves to samosas, pastry cones filled with mincemeat or spinach mixtures and deep fried, or maybe chaat, a spicy potato concoction. We’ll drop in on China for street noodles and fried dumplings, and who can resist stinky tofu? In Japan, I’ll go for the dorayaki, two pancakes held together sandwich-style with whipped cream, a couple of senbers and dangos (rice crackers and rice dumplings) and a big bowl of kakigori, shaved ice dessert. We’re back to the New World, but how about a stop-off on the Argentine for a tasty empanada stuffed with beef or chicken or dogfish, raisins and spices? Maybe a little sip of Pampas Red on the side wouldn’t hurt, either. Mustn’t forget the national dish of our neighbor to the north when we think of noshing. Save your calories for a plateful of poutine when you visit Canada, French fries smothered in cheese curds and brown gravy. Make sure your health insurance premiums are paid up before you indulge, though. It’s good to be in the states, ready for some down-to-earth, back-to-normal snacking. Now, where did I put those Southern Biscuits and Gravy potato chips? Page H. Onorato is a retired teacher. By Page Onorato More Content Now MailTribune.com By Page Onorato More Content Now Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 8:58 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501