Final Jeopardy: French Food History (10-23-14)
The Final Jeopardy question (10/23/2014), in the category “French Food History” was:
A popular product was born when Jean Naigeon of this city substituted the juice of unripe grapes for vinegar.
New champ Ali Palmer won $16,300 yesterday for being the only one to know the world’s 5th largest island. Today she takes on these two players: Matthew LaMagna, from Arlington, VA; and Angela Chuang, from New York, NY.
Round 1: It sure looked like time was going to run out and we wouldn’t even see a Daily Double in this round but Matthew got to it in “U.S. Military Medals” under the $800 clue with the minute to go already running. He had a huge lead with $7,200, $4,800 more than Ali in second place. He bet $2,800 and he was RIGHT.
To be eligible for this medal, you must have been held captive after April 5, 1917. show
Matthew finished in the lead with $10,000. Ali was second with $2,400 and Angela was last with $1,400.
Round 2: Angela found the first Daily Double in “I Have a Theory” under the $1,600 clue. She was in second place with $3,800, $12,600 less than Matthew’s lead. She made it a true Daily Double and she was RIGHT.
John Nash’s Nobel Prize announcement mentions this theory that looks at rivalries among competitors. show
Ali found the last Daily Double in “Literary San Francisco” under the $2,000 clue. In third place with $5,600, she had $14,800 less than Matthew’s lead. She made it a true Daily Double and guessed Daedalus. That was WRONG.
This bookstore on Columbus Avenue at Broadway is also a publisher whose books include “Howl”. show
Matthew finished in the lead with a runaway $20,800. Angela was next with $8,400 and Ali was in third place with $1,200.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
“1752. The creation of Dijon mustard can be accredited to Jean Naigeon. Naigeon revolutionized the original mustard recipe by substituting verjuice (the sour juice of unripe grapes) for the vinegar traditionally used in the making of mustard. This resulted in a smoother, less acerbic mustard which was immediately embraced by mustard lovers everywhere. ” (Kitchen Project: History of Dijon Mustard)
Ali didn’t take a guess nor did she bet anything. She remained at $1,200.
Angela came up with “red wine v”, going for the vinegar product not a city. That cost her $8,300 and she finished with $100.
Matthew thought it was Paris. He lost his $3,000 bet but won the match with the remaining $17,800.
Matthew LaMagna is a digital consultant who once wanted to be the play-by-play announcer for the Yankees. He used to mute the TV and offer his own play-by-play for practice but it didn’t work out because of school and… “nobody would hire you,” Alex chimed in. Matthew said that was the big one.
2 years ago:: TWO of the players got this FJ in “World Languages”
Of the Romance languages, it has the greatest number of native speakers in a single country. show
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had the category been named “condiments”, i believe it would not have been a triple miss . yes, you eat mustard, but “french food” was just a tad misleading, sort of. not technically, but when you think of french food then mustard is not necessarily the first thing on your mind. a little knuckleball. j likes to throw them from time to time.
Well done Angela on losing a free $1000 by not wagering to guarantee second place. Better to go all in rather than leave $100 in her case, in the outside chance the leader would wager for a tie and they’re wrong and second place is right.