Tastemakers: National food and drink days

Sept. 27, 2009

Tastemakers
Rick Coates 9/28/09

National Food
and Drink Days

I have always wondered who comes up with all of the days of celebration. for example, Sweetest Day (October 17) is on the horizon. Does some guy who is locked in a greeting card company closet dream up these holidays? Thankfully there are not greeting cards for the hundreds of national food and drink days we throughout the year.
Yes that’s right, everyday, 365 days a year there is some sort of National Eat or Drink. For example, this week on September 28, it is National Drink Beer Day. Seems like the proponents of this day picked the wrong day as October 4 is National Eat Tacos Day and also National Drink Vodka Day. Ever try eating tacos and drinking vodka? they should have switched the vodka with beer.
Okay this week is also National Don’t Eat Salt Week. Now what is the point of this? It is also National Drink Beer Week, salty foods goes best with beer don’t they? Oh yeah, it is also National Eat Chili Week. try making a good chili without some salt. Now next week is National School Lunch Week, isn’t every day the kids are in school a school lunch day?
Earlier in September there was National Rum Punch Day. I wonder Vodka has its own punch day. On October 1 it is National Homemade Cookie Day. is there a National Store Bought Cookie Day? Now October is also National Pizza Festival Month. has anyone ever been to a Pizza Festival? Here is one of my favorites as October is National Eat Better, Eat Healthier Month, but that is just a warm up for November which is National Good Nutrition Month. Is there a National Eat Junk Food Month? Personally I can’t wait till October 30 which is National Buy A Doughnut Day. do we just buy the doughnut and not eat it? Here is another good one and you have plenty of time to prepare now: November 4 is National Leftovers Day, start saving now and you will have quite the leftovers feast.
Now some of these National Days sound reasonable but why do we need a National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day that is coming up at the end of November? I couldn’t find a National Carbonated Beverage without Caffeine Day.
Here is another one that makes no sense: National Pumpkin Pie Day must be around Thanksgiving right? Wrong, it is on December 25, Christmas. At least they got National Dry Champagne Day on New Years Eve, of course we are all going to want to celebrate National Bicarbonate Soda Day on December 30. What the hell kind of day is that?
Okay my birthday is coming up on November 12, and what do I have to look forward to? National Pizza With Everything Day Except Anchovies. Shoot, I love anchovies. At least my birthday is not on February 23, National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, too bad it isn’t Chocolate Covered Dog Biscuit Day. I hear those are tasty, maybe they will get their day soon.
Probably my favorite is May 11, National Eat What You Want Day. Of course I celebrate that every day. Why do we need all of these special days to celebrate? When I want to eat tacos I am going to eat tacos. I do not need a special day. For most people I know every day is national drink carbonated beverages with caffeine day. Come on why do we wait a whole year till Valentine’s Day or Sweetest Day to let someone know we love them, shouldn’t we do that every day? Okay, better get busy planning my National Chicken Cacciatore Day celebration, it will be here before I know it.
--Rick Coates