Q. Do you have any choice food pairings that others find… unusual? Any so quirky that you would never indulge in public? What are some seemingly weird food mash-ups that people are willing to divulge (in anonymous surveys?) Chicco polled 2,000 Americans from 44 States on just that… . A.

Q. Happy Halloween! Which mini treats are most likely to go in your ‘one for me’ pile? What are the most popular Halloween candies this year? . A. Out with their annual ratings, Candy Store has catalogued the most popular Halloween Candies in the US – based on their sales

Q. Back in the day, the quince was it… the ‘Golden Apple’ of Ancient Greece, no less. This proud Maloideae member of the flowering Rosaceae family – with cousins that include apples, pears, and serviceberries – starred in stories of Hercules, Aphrodite, and Venus. With origins in the Caucasus Mountains,

Q. How and when did chocolate become so popular at weddings? A. Photo-engraved chocolate bars, DIY chocolate buffets, chocolate dipped meringues, pyramids, bacon, truffle diamonds. Every year, brides and grooms get more creative in how they work chocolate into their wedding days. And why not? If you’re going to incorporate one

Q. Happy National Coffee Day! Where does coffee rate in your – and others’ – ratings of favourite home smells? . A. Well, according to a 72 Point Poll of 1,000 adults, the sweet perfume of morning coffee sits atop our most beloved household aromatics. . The best smells to

Q. Think back to your middle school lunches or after-school snacks. You’re negotiating trades at the lunch table. You’re dashing en masse to the corner store. Which snacks are worth your hard-earned allowance money? Which snacks – whether available today or not – elicit the most nostalgia? . A. Nostalgia-inducing snacks

Q. The Negroni – another classic drink on James Bond’s ‘shaken not stirred’ list. Its three equal-part ingredients? Gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. . In this excerpt from Ian Fleming’s 1960 short story Risico, we find 007 meeting with Kristatos. ‘The waiter came. ‘Good evening, sir. Signor Kristatos is at

Q. What are we supposed to do with fruit pits, seeds, and unexpected little bones when we’re eating out? . A. Perhaps you, too, have had that moment of horror when diner eyes are on you and your teeth crunch into some inedible innard. Now what? It’s hard to resist

Q. It’s summer, it’s school vacation, and some of us are merrily embarking – or not-so-merrily being dragged – on camping trips. One delicious highlight/distractor for all? S’mores. Where did these gooey campfire treats originate? . A. In 1927, Loretta Scout Crew published the first known recipe for s’mores in

Q. It’s hothothot this B.C. long weekend. Whom do we have to thank for inventing this beautifully juicy relief on a stick? . A. Most credit 11 year old Frank W. Epperson of Oakland, California for the invention of the popsicle. After an intense day of outdoor play, Frank retired inside