October 19, 2022 - National Seafood Bisque Day | International Gin And Tonic Day

Welcome to October 19, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a flavorful soup and smooth medicine. The rich creamy soup known as seafood bisque has been around for centuries. It most likely originated in France in the Bay of Biscay where seafood was plentiful. But that’s not exactly how bisque got its name. For that we take a clue from how it's cooked. First the seafood shells are sauteed with onions, celery and carrots then simmered in wine or broth with aromatic herbs. This makes it “bis” “cuit” or twice cooked and by the time the seafood and cream are added an unparalleled flavor has developed. On National Seafood Bisque Day make your mouth happy with this classic seafood concoction. The British Empire spanned the globe in the mid 1800s and one of its most valuable colonies was India. Though England was able to conquer much of the world with its powerful army and navy, one thing its military couldn’t fight was malaria. This disease had long been eradicated in Europe, but in India’s tropical climate, malaria was still a problem. The locals used quinine powder to prevent the disease, but the British troops stationed here did not have a taste for the bitter medicine. That is until someone mixed it with soda water and sugar creating what is now known as “tonic water.” When they added gin the famous cocktail was born. On International Gin And Tonic Day, enjoy a classic drink that is as smooth as British ingenuity. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices