Introduction to London Foodie Quiz
A new generation of QI Elves have their own foodie podcast, Lunchbox Envy — in which they spill the beans on foodie trivia through the ages. They’ve cooked up this London foodie quiz for us — see if you know your apples and pears from your pea-soupers with these 11 fiendish questions.
The Lunchbox Envy team know their onions when it comes to London food trivia.
London Foodie Quiz Questions
1. What is the nickname of the building at 30 St Mary Axe?
2. What foodstuff did diarist Samuel Pepys immediately bury in his garden when he heard the Great Fire of London was headed his way?
3. Which alcoholic drink was named after the tradesman who carried things around in London’s markets?
What foodstuff did diarist Samuel Pepys immediately bury in his garden when he heard the Great Fire of London was headed his way? Images: public domain
4. What filling, according to a Victorian social commentator, was in every one of the 436,800 sandwiches sold in London during 1851?
5. Which London-founded chain of restaurants is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida?
6. In 1999, archaeologists found the oldest known remains of which food, buried in a Tudor rubbish tip in Southwark?
7. The oldest members’ club in the world, first located in Mayfair — and where King Charles III spent his stag night— was originally an establishment selling what?
Which London event saw 250,000 eggs eaten by the performers? Image: Jakub Kapusnak via Unsplash
8. Which famous chef stole his own reservations book in 1998 in order to pin it on his rivals?
9. Which London event saw 250,000 eggs eaten by the performers?
10. What edible treat has been delivered to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane every 6 January since 1795?
11. How many of the 32 London boroughs contain the word ‘ham’?
Answers
1. The Gherkin. Completed in 2004, it was the first of several delectably-nicknamed buildings, including the Cheesegrater (Leadenhall Building), The Prawn (Willis Building), and The Pringle (Olympic Velodrome)
2. A wheel of parmesan cheese. A valuable delicacy at the time, Pepys buried it in his garden to protect it from the flames so he could retrieve it later.
3. London Porter. A rich dark ale brewed with roasted malt or barley, and a forerunner to modern stout. Notable events in its production include the Great Beer Flood of 1814, when a giant vat of porter at a Tottenham Court Road brewery burst, releasing over a million litres of beer into the streets.
4. Ham. In his monumental social study London Labour and the London Poor, Henry Mayhew reported on street food vendors and declared London to be a one-filling city.
5. Hard Rock Cafe. First opened in London in June 1971, the concept grew into an international chain. In 2006, Hard Rock International was purchased by the Seminole, a Native American tribe based in Florida. Their other culinary business interests include citrus farms and cattle ranches.
6. A banana. Historians unearthed a blackened, shriveled banana skin in a waterlogged rubbish pit dating back to around 1560, making it nearly a century older than the previously believed earliest banana sighting in Britain (from 1633).
7. Hot chocolate. The oldest private members’ club in the world, White’s, started life in 1693 as a hot‑chocolate shop called Mrs White’s Chocolate House.
8. Gordon Ramsay. He orchestrated the theft of the reservation book from his own restaurant, Aubergine in Chelsea, in 1998, in order to frame his then‑mentor and rival Marco Pierre White. He eventually confessed to New Yorker magazine in 2007.
9. The 2012 Summer Olympics. Described as the world’s largest peace-time catering operation, the athletes also got through 25,000 loaves of bread and over 330 tonnes of fruits and vegetables.
10. A fruitcake. Known as the Baddeley Cake. After theatrical benefactor Robert Baddeley died in 1794, he left a bequest in his will to provide a Twelfth Night Cake and punch to be enjoyed by the company in residence at Drury Lane every year on 6 January 6.
11. Eight. Barking & DagenHAM, Kingston upon THAMes, Tower HAMlets, WaltHAM Forest, LewisHAM, NewHAM, Richmond upon THAMes and HAMmersmith and FulHAM (which contains two!). The suffix ‘ham’ derives from Old English hām, meaning ‘homestead’ or ‘village’.
How did you do?
0-2: Recipe for disaster.
3-5: Few sandwiches short of a picnic.
6-8: Palatable.
9-10: Chef’s kiss!
11: You’ll be dining out on this for years.
Conclusion
This London foodie quiz has tested your knowledge of the city’s culinary history and landmarks. From the Great Fire of London to the 2012 Summer Olympics, we’ve covered a range of topics that will make you appreciate the diversity and richness of London’s food scene. Whether you’re a foodie or just a curious learner, this quiz has something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the name of the podcast that created this quiz?
A: The podcast is called Lunchbox Envy, and it’s hosted by a team of QI Elves who are passionate about foodie trivia.
Q: How many questions are in the quiz?
A: There are 11 questions in the quiz, covering a range of topics related to London’s food scene.
Q: What is the nickname of the building at 30 St Mary Axe?
A: The building is nicknamed The Gherkin.
Q: What foodstuff did Samuel Pepys bury in his garden during the Great Fire of London?
A: Samuel Pepys buried a wheel of parmesan cheese in his garden to protect it from the flames.
Q: How many London boroughs contain the word ‘ham’?
A: Eight London boroughs contain the word ‘ham’, including Barking & Dagenham, Kingston upon Thames, and Hammersmith & Fulham.
