[1] National Prime Rib Day is April 27th (photo © Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar).

[2] National Crown Roast Of Pork Day is March 7th (photo © Harry & David).

[3] Want something simpler? National Meatball Day is March 9th (photo © Il Ritorno | St. Petersburg).

[4] After you’ve paid your taxes, you may have enough left to celebrate National Spiral Ham Day, April 15th (photo © Smithfield Foods).

[5] National Duckling Month, May, was created to celebrate all the delicious duckling dishes. In the photo is cassoulet, a classic French confit of duck with beans (photo © Bar Boulud | NYC).

[6] Hoping to drum up turkey business after the holidays, June is Turkey Lovers’ Month and the third Sunday is national Turkey Lovers’ Day (photo © Gelson’s Market).

[7] July is National Hot Dog Month, and the 3rd Wednesday is National Hot Dog Day. The all-American hot dog was inspired by a German sausage (photo © Applegate Farms).

[8] National Filet Mignon Day is August 13, celebrating the most tender cut of beef (photo © Ruth’s Chris Steak House).

[9] September is National Chicken Month (photo © Corto Olive | Facebook).

[10] A mincemeat pie (a.k.a. mince pie) is filled with spiced minced meat and other ingredients. National Mincemeat Day is October 26th; the pie is especially popular for Thanksgiving and Christmas (photo © Pillsbury).

April 27th is National Prime Rib Day, which got us to thinking about meat, the American diet, and our ancestors—not Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, but way, way back to the primates from whom we descend.

> You can skip to the meat holidays, below.

Why, we asked, are some primates herbivores while others—like us—are omnivores (eating both plant and animal foods)?

So we did what anybody sitting at a computer would do: We looked it up. Specifically, we asked our great editorial assistant, Claude.ai.

The insights follow, but first, elsewhere on The Nibble, explore your favorite meats in our photo glossaries:

> The different types of bacon.

> The different cuts of beef.

> The different cuts of chicken.

> The different types of duck.

> The different types of ham.

> The different cuts of lamb.

> The different cuts of pork.

> The different types of ribs.

> The different breeds of turkey.
 
 
WHY HUMANS ARE CARNIVORES

Claude reminded us that Homo sapiens (modern humans‡) are the most common and widespread species of primate—and the last surviving species of the genus Homo.

 
And that’s why we eat meat.

 
Human meat-eating likely evolved for several reasons:

 
With the growing emphasis on the longevity benefits of vegetarianism, animal rights, and the impact of raising food animals on the environment, we personally try to eat like a chimp: more plant foods and less animal-based foods.

But our world is an omnivore world, and here are all the meat holidays to prove it:
 

 
________________

*Orthodox Meatfare Sunday is the last day Orthodox Christians can eat meat until ‘Pascha’ or Easter.

**What is Mincemeat? It’s a spiced meat primarily used in pies but also in other preparations, such as cakes, muffins, tarts, and even as a topping for ice cream and porridge. It arose in the 15th century, when meat was preserved with fruits and spices—particularly cinnamon, cloves, and mace—wine and vinegar (later, brandy and other distilled spirits). Chopped nuts were also added to the minced meat. In England, mince pie became a traditional Yuletide treat.

By the 19th century, raisins, apples, and candied lemon peel were added to the recipe. In the 20th century, any similar recipe, including vegetarian versions, came to be referred to as mincemeat. During the 20th century, mincemeat pie (mince pie) was added to the Thanksgiving table, where can be served with cheese (like apple pie). If the combination sounds strange to you (i.e., mince pie filling or mince pie with cheese), try it: It’s quite tasty!

†Isn’t “Eat an Animal for PETA” an oxymoron? Yes, on purpose: The holiday was established by people who disdained the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). They found harm in their aggressive ad campaigns (one likened killing animals to the Holocaust). Hypocritical in their operations, PETA animal shelters have a very high rate of euthanizing the animals in care care. So on this day, participants are encouraged to eat eating animal products for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

†††Eat Flexitarian Day encourages the incorporation of more plant-based protein into one’s diets without eliminating the option to eat meat. The difference between vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and other food practices.

‡Our first ancestor to walk upright, Homo erectus, appeared about 1.9-1.8 million years, with advanced toolmaking and controlled use of fire. The older, first member of the Homo genus is Homo habilis, emerging around 2.4-1.5 million years ago. They were among the first known makers of simple stone tools. Homo erectus appeared about 2 million years ago and spread throughout Africa. Homo sapiens, anatomically modern humans, emerged 300,000 to 200,000 years ago in Africa. Homo neanderthalensis, Neanderthals, emerged around the same time in Europe and Western Asia. To go way back, our chimp and bonobo ancestors diverged around 5.7–11 million years from the hominin lineage (all species that existed prior to this split are extinct). Here’s more about our predecessors, who are known as archaic humans.
 

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If you’re looking for an especially tasty gift for someone who loves coconut, you can’t do better than Michelle’s Maccs.

They handmade, gourmet treats are gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free (except for Hazelnut and Peanut Butter, which are baked in dedicated pans).

All-natural and enrobed in one of the world’s finest couverture chocolate, Belgium’s Callebaut, they’re baked to order.

We are in heaven with each bite.
 
 
EXCEPTIONAL FLAVORS
 
There are the basics with plain coconut (photo #5):

 
And these may be the best “classics” you’ll ever taste.

Yet Michelle is a master at flavoring macaroons, which leads to the challenge:

How can one select from all these great flavors? Two solutions:

 
Even so, if you’re a connoisseur of everything delicious—but not wealthy enough to buy everything at once—you’ve got to prioritize. In alphabetical order, take your pick:

 
PARTY IDEA: For Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or any party time: How To Pair Macaroon Flavors & Beer.
 
GET YOUR MICHELLE’S MACCS!

They’re sold in packs of 4 or 12.

And they can be customized for parties and special events.

Use code GIFT4MOM at checkout for complimentary gift packaging (choose the gift option and then apply the code).

The line is certified kosher by United Kosher Supervision (UKS).

> Head to MichellesMaccs.com.

Note: Michelle advises that the macaroons should be eaten within a week. Otherwise refrigerate them.

They can also be frozen, if you’re a one-piece-a-day enthusiast, as we are.

From our experience, you can keep them for longer than a week in the fridge, without freezing. The coconut becomes less moist, but they’re still delicious.
 
 
> The history of macaroons and macarons, and how they differ.

> The history of cookies.

> The 11 basic cookie styles.

> The different types of cookies: a photo glossary.

> The year’s 44 cookie holidays (National Macaroon Day is May 31st).

> How to keep cookies fresher for longer.
 

[2] Mango Maccs are a tropical flavor duo.

[3] Espresso Maccs.

[4] Pumpkin Spice Macaroons.

[5] Raspberry Blackout Macaroons.

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[1] Sonoma-Cutrer’s Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County grapes (photos #1 and #5 © Sonoma-Cutrer).

[2] The grassiness of Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully with asparagus (photo © California Wine Institute).

[3] A pairing made in heaven: goat cheese and Sauvignon Blanc (photo © Fromages From Europe).

[4] It’s delish with white-flesh fish (photo © Stella 34 Trattoria | Macy’s NYC).

The first vintage of Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay Russian River Ranches* was launched in 1981. We had our first bottle of it in 1983, and it was love at the first buttery Burgundy-ish sip. It has won many fans and numerous awards in the ensuing years.

More Chardonnay vineyards were added. In 2002, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was added.

Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc was a limited release in the early 2014, and received such positive feedback that it became part of the permanent line.

Last year saw the launch of Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, made from grapes grown in various vineyards across Sonoma County.

The 2024 vintage was just released and we scored a bottle, which is only available at the winery or on the website. Total production was small: just 300 cases.

Bottled in early February 2023 and ready to drink now, the wine will sell quickly.

When the weather gets warm, heavier foods get traded for lighter ones, and so do the wines.

So for a welcome Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift for a Sauvignon Blanc fan, head to SonomaCutrer.com and stake your claim (that’s California Gold Rush talk, but it seems to be appropriate here).

The flavors and aromas are classic, sure to please the savvy Sauvignon Blanc fan.

The aromas yield lime and grassiness (i.e., fresh cut green grass). Super-noses may detect lychee, guava, pineapple, and rose, with an ever so slight minerality.

On the palate there’s more lime, plus melon and passionfruit. There’s a lovely acid backbone, crisp and balanced. The body and alcohol level are both medium, which is good for Sauvignon Blanc.

[5] Sauvignon Blanc with a light lunch: a salad with beets and a cheese plate.
 
 
MORE TO KNOW ABOUT SAUVIGNON BLANC

The Sauvignon Blanc grape produces refreshing, dry, white wines with one of two key flavor profiles: grapefruit/citrus or grassy/herbaceous, depending on the terroir†. Both are delicious.

The wine is known for high acidity, light to medium body and medium alcohol. It is most often unoaked.

It is also very affordable, with bottles available from around $10, many in the $12 to $15 range, and the finest of the breed (such as Sancerre’s Ladoucette Comte Lafond) in the $35 to $45 range.

By comparison, Chablis is double the price, with Grüner Veltliner in the middle. (If you like white wines such as Chablis and Grüner Veltliner, you’ll likely be a fan of Sauvignon Blanc.)

Its acid backbone complements everything from plateaux de fruits de mer (raw seafood platters) and grilled chicken and fish to buttery sauces and rich cheeses.

The grape was first cultivated in the Loire Valley of France, and the Loire’s great chèvres (goat cheeses), are the wine’s most popular cheese pairings.

> Styles of Sauvignon Blanc by world regions.

> The history of Sauvignon Blanc.

> Sauvignon Blanc food pairings.

> The six noble grapes.

> The history of wine.

†Pronounced tuhr-WAH, terroir is the French expression for sense of place, the unique environment in which something grows—its specific soil composition and microclimate. Microclimate includes temperature, amount of sunshine and rain. The flavor nuances of agricultural products, from grapes to olives to milk to cacao, is a function of its terroir.

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