Variety
The show business newspaper Variety began in New York City in 1905. However, the word "variety" (show business meaning) also comes from New York City. I've been trying to verify the…
Apples and Horses
Horses love apples. This was universally known in the early parts of this century, but it appears to be universally unknown today. I have to constantly explain horses and apples to almost everyone…
New York System 〈Providence, RI “hot dogs”〉
"New York System" is the name for a kind of hot dog sold in Providence, Rhode Island. PROVIDENCE (RI) CITY DIRECTORY 1931 Pg. 575, col. 2: Coney Island Hot Weiners (Theodore Kanelos)…
Blackout Cake
The "Blackout Cake" is the famed product of Brooklyn's Ebinger's Bakery, which began in 1898 and closed its doors in 1972. It's not clear when this was called…
Negimaki or Negimayaki
Japanese food is booming here and this is one of the early New York City classics--or is it? According to John Mariani's Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink (1979): "The word is from…
Lobster Newberg (Lobster Newburg; Lobster Newburgh)
"Lobster Newberg' (also spelled "Lobster Newburg" or "Lobster Newburgh") was invented at Delmonico's restaurant in New York City in the late 1800s. The name…
Who Owns New York?
"Who Owns New York" is a Columbia University fight song, and it goes like this: Oh, who owns New York?Oh, who owns New York?Oh, who owns New York the people say.Why, we own New York!Yes,…
Clams Casino
John Mariani's Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink (1999) states: "A dish of clams mixed with butter, paprika, and shallots, then baked with small strips of bacon on top. The recipe…
N.Y.C.
The Oxford English Dictionary's March 2004 revision contains my 1869 entry as the earliest for the initials "N.Y.C." representing New York City. "N.Y." is far more common.;…
Alphabet City (East Village, Manhattan)
"Alphabet City" is the nickname of a neighborhood in the East Village of Manhattan, where Avenues A, B, C, and D can be found. The "Alphabet City," "Alphabetland" and…
Belgian Waffle
An issue of Saveur, June/July 2004, pp. 31-32, credits the 1964-65 New York World's Fair for the "Belgian Waffle." The Belgian waffle was mentioned in the United States slightly…
Broadway Blueshirts
The New York Rangers hockey team doesn't play on Broadway, but they do play in blue shirts. The Rangers were founded in 1925; the nickname "Broadway Blueshirts" appears in print by…
Pasta Primavera (Spaghetti Primavera)
"Pasta primavera" (or "spaghetti primavera") was invented at Le Cirque -- then located at 58 East 65th Street in Manhattan -- and is cited in print from 1976. The Le Cirque dish…
“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded” (restaurant joke)
"Nobody goes there anymore -- it's too crowded" is supposedly New York Yankee baseball great Yogi Berra's statement about a popular restaurant. Yogi might have said it, but he…
If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere
if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhereIt's up to you, New York, New York--The song "New York, New York" (1977) by Fred Ebb and John Kander This was a familiar saying in…
Do a Brodie
On July 23, 1886, Steve Brodie jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, survived, and achieved instant fame. Some books state that this was a hoax and that Brodie never jumped, but David Shulman of Brooklyn…
Smoke-Eater; Smoke-Chewer
"Smoke-eaters" are firefighters, also known as New York's "Bravest." "Smoke-chewer" isn't used today, but the 1884 citation below is interesting.…
Zucchini Sticks
It appears that this popular appetizer began in a New York City restaurant, probably Theodore's. 19 February 1949, New York Herald Tribune, pg. 11, col. 6:She folds the veal turnover style,…
Gridlock
"Gridlock" is "grid" + "lock." The Oxford English Dictionary has: "Apparently coined by two U.S. transport engineers, Roy Cottam and Sam Schwartz ('Gridlock…
Bodega
"Bodega" came to us from Spain, through Cuba and Puerto Rico. The term has been used regularly in New York City since at least the 1930s, but most consistently since the 1950s and 1960s…