In all the plant kingdom, no food inspires more words of wisdom than garlic. Or so it seemed, at least, as I went searching for questions for our latest food puzzle. Everyone from Cervantes (“Do not eat garlic or onions; for their smell will reveal that you are a peasant.”) to William Shatner (“Stop and smell the garlic! That’s all you have to do.”) has been willing to offer up an opinion on the humble bulb, and a few have even extended their commentary to include other vegetables. Can you identify which vegetable has been removed from each of the quotes below? (Hint: The answer to none of these is garlic, and no vegetable is repeated.)
- “_____ is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” –Mark Twain
- “The day is coming when a single _____, freshly observed, will set off a revolution.” –Paul Cezanne
- “For every _____ full of weevils, God supplies a blind grocer.” –Arabic proverb
- “When General Lee took possession of Chambersburg on his way to Gettysburg, we happened to be a member of the Committee representing the town. Among the first things he demanded for his army was twenty-five barrels of _____.”—Editor of ‘The Guardian’ (1869)
- “We kids feared many things in those days – werewolves, dentists, North Koreans, Sunday School – but they all paled in comparison with _____.” –Dave Barry
- “A man taking _____ from a woman will love her always.” –Sir Thomas Moore
- “My boy, the ‘quenelles de sole’ were splendid, but the _____ were poor. You should shake the pan gently, all the time, like this.” –Marie-Antoine Carême (Supposedly his last words, spoken to a favorite pupil, January 12, 1833)
- “A cooked _____ is like a cooked oyster: ruined.” –Andre Simon
- The ____ is “one of the earth’s monstrosities.” –Pliny
- “The _____ is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish is a cold fire, the fire of discontent, not of passion. Tomatoes are lusty enough, yet there runs through tomatoes an undercurrent of frivolity. ____ are deadly serious.” –Tom Robbins
- “Fatherhood is telling your daughter that Michael Jackson loves all his fans, but has special feelings for the ones who eat _____.” –Bill Cosby (1986)
- “My idea of heaven is a great big _____ and someone to share it with.” –Oprah Winfrey
Don’t click continue reading until you’re ready to see the answers!
Answers:
- Cauliflower
- Carrot
- Bean
- Sauerkraut (but give yourself credit for cabbage)
- Brussels sprouts
- Basil
- Peas
- Tomato
- Artichoke
- Beet/Beets
- Broccoli
- Potato (Baked)
Thanks to Foodimentary.com for many of these quotations. –SD