“The word “Hungarian” is thought to be derived from the Bulgar-Turkic Onogur, possibly because the Magyars were neighbours (or confederates) of the Empire of the Onogurs in the sixth century, whose leading tribal union was called the “Onogurs” (meaning “ten tribes” or “ten arrows” in Old Turkic; see below). The “H-” prefix in many languages… Read More Dining from the Great Alfold

The Battle of Aljubarrota was a battle fought between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Crown of Castile on 14 August 1385. Forces commanded by King John I of Portugal and his general Nuno Álvares Pereira, with the support of English allies, opposed the army of King John I of Castile with its Aragonese, Italian… Read More No Crisis at the Portuguese Dinner

“The actual origin of the superstition, though, appears also to be a tale in Norse mythology. Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the… Read More Friggatriskaidekaphobia

“The stars twinkle in the Milky Way and the wind sighs for songs across the empty fields of a planet a Galaxy away.” – L. Ron Hubbard, author The Tanabata was upon us. Not to be feared, it is no bug-eyed, slavering monstrosity. We had no need to draw swords to fight it off, merely… Read More Festival of Stars

Instead of a quote, a quiz… The Shadow, a.k.a. The Dark Eagle or The Black Eagle, was originally a figment of the pulp fiction genre, later the radio, and still later, television and cinema. His motives and methods were always a touch suspect, and, particularly in the early years of pulp and radio, he was… Read More In the Shadow of Dinner

“But my humble opinion is, I’m not quite sure where I stand on the legalization of drugs – though, if tequila is legal, pot should probably be legal.” – Ted Demme, Director Still catching up – I’m going to skip over last weekend’s private dinner, it was all dishes we’ve done before selected from amongst… Read More One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor…

Little known facts about the great state of Georgia: When the colony of Georgia was founded in 1733, lawyers, hard liquor, and Catholics were banned. In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World, it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork. The kazoo was invented (by a man from Alabama) and introduced at the… Read More Last of the Rebels