How important are grapes? Today we pretty much take this wonderful fruit for granted and forget they changed the course of history like so many other foods.
Grapes originated about 130 million years ago, that’s right, 130 million years, according to archaeologists. They have evidence to prove it. I wonder what they found, petrified grapes?
Of course, we all know that grapes make wine naturally when airborne yeast and enzymes land on the skin, fermenting the fruit into wine. You can do this at home, except speed up the process by adding yeast and a little sugar. Let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
Wine you say? Actually, it will be more like Kool-Aid with alcohol in it. Cabernet Sauvignon, Kool-Aid Estate Private Collection, Vintage July 1-31 … a great month for wine.
The record of wine fermentation dates to 7,000 BCE in China and it took off from there. With the cultivation of domesticated grapes, wine making spread from Eurasia to the Nile Delta and then to Asia Minor. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians helped to introduce grape growing to the Mediterranean and eventually found its way to Italy, Spain, France and central Europe.
The creation of wine from grapes is an all-natural product that is very healthy. It was considered safer to drink than the water down through the centuries. That is why it was offered at breakfast, lunch and dinner to everyone no matter what the age. So, drink up one and all!
So much about wine. Let’s talk grapes. When we think about grapes, we usually think about buying a cluster of grapes for home and serving it as a snack or on a cheese tray. Think that’s been around a long time? You might be surprised to learn it didn’t happen until the 1500s. The French King Francois had a fondness for the grape as a dessert. He was the originator of the table grape.
Today there are 92 varieties of grapes with only three uses: table grapes, raisin and wine. Wine uses 90% of all grape production and almost all grapes come from California, which also produces 90% of the wine produced in the U.S. Surprise, surprise!
Now what are your favorite grapes to eat? Thompson seedless is the most popular. The green Cotton Candy grape tastes almost like candy. One of my favorites is the Moon Drop, a long black grape in length; it is not round. Tips on grapes: the smaller grapes are the sweetest.
When storing at home, do not wash them, just place in food-safe plastic bags for 1-2 weeks. Be sure to wash before eating. Freezing grapes is also wonderful. It’s like eating a Popsicle. Of course, you could always make some wine, just remember to wash your feet first.
Special Salad with Grapes
Ingredients
3 cups hearts of lettuce, chopped 1 inch
1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, chopped ¼ inch (cherry or grape cut in half will work)
1 cup chopped English cucumber (seedless)
¼ cup slice thin red onions
1/2 cup celery, chopped ¼ inch
1 cup Cotton Candy grapes, cut in half
¾ cup Feta cheese crumbled
Oil and vinegar dressing of your choice
Directions
Mix well. I like to splash some extra virgin olive oil and a splash of apple cider vinegar over the salad.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Costa Magoulas is dean of the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management at Daytona State College. Contact him at (386) 506-3578 or magoulc@daytonastate.edu.
The Link LonkJuly 15, 2020 at 02:00PM
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Chef's Corner: Put some grapes on the table - Hometown News
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Grape
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