Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.
New Mexico is known for topping its hamburgers with green chili. The green chile burger (less often spelled as "green chili burger") and green chile cheeseburger (green chili…
"Eat Beef --The West Wasn't Won on Salad" is a bumper sticker that has appeared throughout the West. The saying originated in a 1990 promotional campaign by the North Dakota Beef…
A ""Yankee Burger" is a hamburger (or cheeseburger) with ketchup. In most parts of the country, this is simply called a "hamburger" (or "cheeseburger"). However,…
Texans traditionally eat hamburgers with mustard or with mayonnaise (or with both), but without ketchup. This is simply called a "hamburger" in Texas, but is sometimes called a…
A "Sissy Burger" is a hamburger with mayonnaise and without ketchup or mustard. Dirty Martin's (established in Austin, Texas in 1926) serves a "Sissy Burger" with…
"You Texas brush-popper!" said John Wayne in the movie True Grit (1969). A "brush popper" (also known as a brush buster, brush hand, brush rider, brush thumper and brush…
"Rockapulco" (Rockaway + Acapulco) has been a nickname for Rockaway Beach since at least the 1980s. Acapulco is a famous Mexican resort area; in 1964, a The Flinstones cartoon episode had…
Far Rockaway in Queens has called itself "Hamptons West" since 2001, largely from promotion by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. The Hamptons are the expensive vacation areas on…
NoChe (North Of Chelsea) is an infrequently used neighborhood nickname for the Manhattan area between Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea that is also sometimes called Hellsea. "NoChe" is…
"ProHo" (like "Soho") has been infrequently used as a neighborhood nickname for Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. The nickname has vulgar connotations ("pro ho" or…
Hell's Pantry is a neighborhood name spin-off from Hell's Kitchen. Entertainment writer Earl Wilson (see citations below, from as early as 1951) claimed that "Hell's…
"Hell's Kitchenette" is a neighborhood nickname spun off from the name Hell's Kitchen. The nickname could indicate a smaller Hell's Kitchen, encroached by development. The…
Hellsea (or HellSea) is a Manhattan neighborhood nickname, blending Hell's Kitchen with Chelsea. "Hellsea" appears to have been coined by gay publications (2004 Go Guide and Out…
SoHell (south of Hell's Kitchen is a neighborhood name that was coined by New York magazine in August 2006. (The Gothamist citation below is from August 8th, but New York magazine dates its…
Entry still in progress -- B.P. Glossary - Mexican food recipes, cooking termsMilanesa A breaded, fried cutlet of veal, beef or pork. Glossary of Mexican CookingMilanesa: Breaded and fried pork,…
Memelas are antojitos (appetiizers or snacks) from Oaxaca, similar to tlayudas/clayudas (Oaxacan "Mexican pizza"). Oaxacan memelas are a local name for the identical sopes that are served…
Waxahachie (the county seat of Ellis County) has many well-kept Victorian (pre-1900) homes. The "gingerbread" architecture is celebrated in the city's annual June "Gingerbread…
"Elephant ears" are sugary, fried dough pastries that are popular at state fairs. In Mexican bakeries, the same pastries are called orejas (ears). Other names for elephant ears include…
North Austin is a place of suburban shopping centers, like the Arboretum and the Domain. Some people claim that North Austin doesn't have the artistic, bohemian feel of South Austin. North…
I-35 in Austin splits into an upper deck and a lower deck. The split is confusing to drivers not familiar with it, and accidents are frequent. One writer (below) states that the lower deck is…