27th November: Cauliflower

Today is Chou-fleur (Day of Cauliflower) in the French Revolutionary Calendar. 10 things you might not know about cauliflower:

1. The white head of a cauliflower is made up of undeveloped flower buds.
2. It is white because the leaves shield it from the Sun and inhibit the development of chlorophyll.
3. The leaves are usually thrown away, but they are edible too.
4. White is the most common colour, but there are varieties whose heads are Green, Orange and even purple.
5. The earliest written record of cauliflower dates back to the second century, when Pliny wrote about it.
6. The name cauliflower means cabbage flower.
7. Menon, a food writer of the 18th century, suggested serving it in a rich sauce made with veal, ham and cream, or as part of a stew of sweetbreads, mushrooms and foie gras.
8. Cauliflower requires slightly acidic, clay-like soil that is rich in minerals and regular watering for successful growth.
9. The Romans grew cauliflower, but there are no records of how they used it.
10. According to Mark Twain, Cauliflower is nothing but a cabbage with a college education.