I like pineapples, I like the way it tastes. It’s sweet, juicy and tangy all in one.
Christopher Columbus, in 1493 made an early references to pineapples. It was in the Caribbean, during his second voyage there on Guadeloupe that he encountered the pineapple. He didn’t know what it was however, because of the way it looked he called it ‘piña de Indes’ (‘little pine of the Indians’). He thought it was ‘the most delicious fruit in the world.’ I can’t argue with that description.
1920s Massachusetts, Boston
Pineapples had been grown and shipped commercially to America long before 1920. What changed was the availability. Subsequently because of that, the fruit was slowly moving from a luxury item to a mass-market ingredient. Helping that along nicely was James Dole’s company which made canned pineapple much more available. It also helped make them a culinary fad in the US in the 1920s.
In the 1920s my husband’s grandparents were in the States trying to set up a life there. I believe at some point they worked as a butler pair in Boston, too. Ben has a wonderful story about his grandmother’s first encounter with pineapples. Firstly, coming from Switzerland where the pineapple hadn’t really landed yet, that would happen sometime in the 1950s. Consequently she was learning about this ‘new’ fruit. She decided to try and cook some but didn’t know how, so she did the best she could. She put the hard pineapple in water and boiled it to make it soft. But unfortunately it didn’t turn soft at all. Being totally frustrated with the whole deal she simply threw the cooked pineapple away. I’m sure, in the end she figured it out but it sure didn’t start out well.
Probably around 1930s in Iowa, Davenport
Interestingly enough, one of the few recipes I have from my grandmother, who was practically the same age as Ben’s, is one for pineapple salad.
I mentioned this recipe in a post about Strange Swiss and American Food combinations. This is my grandmother’s original recipe that my mother wrote down for me in 1980.
Granma Armstrong’s Pineapple Salad
1 large can pineapple chunks
1 egg
2 Tbsp sugar (I use about 1/3 of that amount)
1 heaping Tbsp of flour
1 Tbsp butter
Drain juice from pineapple into sauce pan. Set aside.
In small bowl mix together egg, sugar and flour.
Bring pineapple juice to boil. Add small amount of boiling juice to egg mixture, stirring well.
Add this mixture to remaining hot pineapple juice.
Bring to second boil, stirring to thicken. Add butter mix.
Set aside to cool.
When cool, add to pineapple chunks and chill. Serve in lettuce cups.
Miniature marshmallows or chopped nuts could be added.
Hawaiian Pizza
In 1962 a Greek-born Canadian named Sam Panopoulos invented the Hawaiian Pizza saying he was inspired by the sweet-and-sour flavors he’d encountered. Many restaurants, especially authentic Italian ones see this pizza as a violation of tradition and won’t serve it. It seems that even in some Hawaiian restaurants it’s not on the menu.
But Switzerland seems to embrace it. It’s even been called ‘secret Hawaiian pizza land’. I’m okay with that, really, if you don’t like it you don’t have to order it. In short, who am I to tell other people what to, and not to eat?
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