Welcome back to our series sharing Food Holidays: October 16th, 2021. Did you know today is National Liqueur Day and if David was home we would be making our favorite drink. Rum and Coke for me while David has a glass of Wine of a Beer.
National Liqueur Day is celebrated on October 16th which celebrates the myriad classes and flavors of Liqueur.
The word Liqueur comes from the Latin liquifacere, which means to liquefy. A Liqueur is an Alcoholic beverage made from a distilled Spirit. Distillers flavor the Spirit with Fruit, Cream, Herbs, Spices, Flowers, or nuts. Next, they bottle the Spirits with added Sugar or Sweeteners. While Liqueurs are typically considerably sweet, distillers do not usually age their product long. They do, however, allow a resting period during production, which allows the flavors to marry.
With the broad selection of Spirits available in Seasonal, Fragrant, or often curious flavors (Vodkas and Rums in particular), there is often confusion of Liqueurs and Liquors. In the United States and Canada, Spirits are frequently called Liquor. The most reliable rule of thumb to follow suggests that Liqueurs comprise a sweeter, syrupy consistency, while Liquors do not. Most Liqueurs also have a lower Alcohol content than Spirits. However, some do contain as much as 55% ABV.A
Five facts about Liqueur:
- In parts of the United States, Liqueurs may also be called Cordials or Schnapps.
- Grand Marnier Created in 1880, it is one of the most popular Liqueurs of all time. Escoffier used it as an ingredient for his culinary masterpiece Crepe Suzette. Cesar Ritz was so impressed with this Liqueur that he was among the first to introduce it at his hotels.
- All Liqueurs are blends, even those with a primary flavor.
- Liqueurs are not usually aged for any great length of time but may undergo resting stages during their production in order to allow the various flavors to “marry” into a harmonious blend.
- The most common Liqueurs that you should consider absolutely essential when stocking your bar: Amaretto, Coffee Liqueur Kahlua, Dry and Sweet Vermouth, Irish Cream Liqueur, Maraschino Liqueur and Orange Liqueur Triple Sec, Cointreau, Curaçao.
Liqueurs descend from herbal medicines prepared by Monks in Italy as early as the 13th century. They steeped these often bitter herbs and sweetened them with Sugar to make them more palatable to the Monks’ ailing patients. The curative’s potency received a restful boost from its alcohol content as well.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalLiqueurDay
Go out for a drink of liqueur with friends. Share your favorite Cocktail containing your favorite Alcohol with friends or family. Ask your bartender to make you their favorite Cocktail. Also you can explore Liqueurs by reading up on them. One book you might want to check into is Luscious Liqueurs by A.J. Rathbun.
Celebrate today using this hashtag #NationalLiqueurDay
National World Food Day
I have a question for you. Where would we be without food? We certainly wouldn’t be at Starbucks, the Grocery Store or a restaurants. In fact, we wouldn’t be anywhere for very long, because we need food to live. Food is seen as a basic human right, and yet one in nine people globally experience chronic hunger. As far back as 1945 the United Nations recognized food as not a privilege, but a right. That’s why United Nations created World Food Day, which was observed annually on October 16, in 1979. World Food Day is a day of observance to draw attention to the plight of the hungry. Join us in stamping out hunger.
Join me in observing WORLD FOOD DAY
- I would like to ask you to give to a local food bank in the United States it’s estimated 1 in 7 people rely on food banks as their primary or supplemental food source. Many of these people are working families who suffer from underemployment and cannot afford the groceries needed to help their family to live healthfully. The top requested items for food banks are healthy, non-perishable items high in protein, including canned or dry beans, peanut butter, rolled oats, low-sodium soups and vegetables along with Tuna in water.
- I would like to ask you to help us support small scale farms. Ninety-eight percent of the farms in the world are family farms. They usually practice sustainable agriculture with plants that are indigenous to the area, rotating crops and limited use of pesticides. Sadly, many family farmers are unable to produce the variety of crops needed for their own survival. Without support farmers can suffer from malnutrition themselves. On World Food Day, shop locally and support family farms.
- Would you help us raise money to end hunger. On World Food Day there are a number of food drives and if you don’t know of a local food drive, organize your own Food Drive and donate the food to a local Food Shelter. Globally there are hunger walks, World Food Day dinners or food packaging rallies. Let’s end world hunger!
WHY WORLD FOOD DAY IS IMPORTANT
- Millions of people suffer the health consequences of malnourishment, which damages growing bodies and brains. That’s why it’s important to draw attention to this health crisis. By doing so, ensure food security and availability of nutritious foods to everyone on the planet.
- Our planet currently produces enough food to feed every person on the planet. However, 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted annually (that’s 20% of food produced). World Food Day acts as an impetus to get involved, reduce food waste, and help provide sustenance for millions.
- World Food Day brings attention to eating mindfully. Food is a great source of pleasure and entertainment, but sometimes we can overindulge. if we return to the focus of eating mindfully we can reduce the amount food that’s wasted and the number of people going to bed hungry. World Food Day serves as a reminder to refrain from overeating and to make choices that are ecologically sustainable.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
