Fact or Foolery? Foodie Edition April Fools H&T

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Ketchup was once sold as medicine.

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Fact! In the 1830s, ketchup was sold as a cure for indigestion before becoming a popular condiment.

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The world’s most expensive pizza costs over $12,000.

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Fact! The Louis XIII Pizza from Italy costs about $12,000 due to its luxury toppings like lobster, caviar, and rare cheeses.

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In France, it’s illegal to eat croissants after 3 PM.

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Foolery! There’s no such law—croissants are enjoyed any time of day!

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A restaurant in Japan serves ramen using melted ice cream instead of broth.

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Fact! Some Japanese restaurants experiment with unusual ramen broths, including one using melted ice cream for a sweet-savory twist.

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If a waiter spills water on you in a Michelin-starred restaurant, your meal is free.

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Foolery! No such rule exists, though excellent service is expected in high-end restaurants.

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McDonald's once created bubblegum-flavored broccoli.

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Fact! In 2014, McDonald's attempted to make broccoli taste like bubblegum to encourage kids to eat healthier. It was a failure!

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Hospitality workers in Italy are legally required to sing 'Happy Birthday' if a guest requests it.

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Foolery! There’s no such law, but many restaurants will happily sing to guests!

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In Switzerland, fondue is considered bad luck if you don’t eat it with a fork.

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Fact! Tradition says that if you drop your bread in the cheese, you may have to sing a song or buy drinks for the table.

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The oldest cookbook in the world is from ancient Rome.

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Fact! Apicius, a Roman cookbook from the 4th century, contains recipes for stuffed dormice, honey-roasted ham, and even jellyfish.

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A luxury hotel in Dubai has an entire floor made of solid chocolate.

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Foolery! While Dubai has extravagant hotels, no hotel floor is made entirely of chocolate (yet!).