The Great Minds of New Haven
Most people know that New Haven, Connecticut is reknowned for the intellectual capital of it's inhabitants. In fact, you probably won't find smarter gas station attendants anywhere than those in this small university town. Yes, New Haven is the home of Yale University; one of the prestigious ivy league schools and the brain trust of so many great minds.
Eager to learn more about this mecca of education, Spud headed to Yale's historical gothic library to research the history of this famed learning center. The potato discovered that over the course of the University's 300 year history, the school has produced many reknowned scholars - such as 'Choptop' from 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and the 'Fonz' from TV's 'Happy Days'.
Aside from such memorable contributions to society as the affectionate phrase 'Sit on it', the Yale crop has been responsible for countless other inventions that have enriched the lives of millions the world over.
In fact, the artifical heart was invented in Connecticut along with the first heart/lung machine. While those certainly were important advancements, Spud found they paled in comparison to New Haven's other inventions, like the Frisbee, the football tackling dummy and the collapsible toothpaste tube.
Surprisingly enough though, the great minds of New Haven are best known for their gastronomic contributions to society:
The first pizza pie in the United States was developed and consumed here in 1900. Legend has it that it was also the first pizza to glue itself to the cardboard pizza box.
The first lollipop was also invented in New Haven in 1892. Spud also learned its origin symbolized the 'suckers' who paid the exorbitant tuition fees to attend the University!
Aside from suckers and pizzas, New Haven's greatest claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of the 'hamburger'. Louis Lassen created the chopped steak sandwich way back in 1895 at his tiny cafe called Louis Lunch nearby the Yale campus. Lassen was such an innovator, he is rumoured to also have invented the 'heat lamp' and the preservative that keeps burgers 'alive' for weeks on end. The entrepreneur sold these patents to McDonald's in the 1950's and supposedly retired to live out his life in the Caribbean, leaving his restaurant to his son to run.
All this talk about food was making Spud hungry, so he decided to venture to Louis' fabled restaurant to try one of these staples of the American diet at the place that started it all. Unfortunately, when Spud arrived at the historic eatery, it was all boarded up with big padlocks. Perhaps the preservatives finally wore out....
Touring the state of Connecticut