OuterB or Outerb (Outer Borough)
"OuterB" is a Queens real estate blog that was named in January 2006. "OuterB" stands for "outer borough" (i.e., not the borough of Manhattan). The term has been…
Archive for 05/2008
Tweeding or Tweeded (after William M. Tweed)
The blog "Queens Crap" began in December 2006, with this stated purpose: "A website focused on the overdevelopment and 'tweeding' of the borough of Queens in the City of…
Piragua (Puerto Rican snow cone)
"Piraguas" are "snow cones" that are popular in Puerto Rican areas of New York City, such as East Harlem. Ices are flavored with coconut, lemon, strawberry, passion fruit,…
“Don’t sell America short”
"Don't sell America short!" (or "Don't sell the United States short!") is a famous Wall Street. phrase. It means to hold stock in the United States -- whatever dips…
Tacos Ahogados (drowned tacos or drowning tacos)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Chico's TacosChico's Tacos is a small restaurant chain located in El Paso, Texas.Founded on July 4, 1953 by boxing promoter Joe Mora, Chico's has…
Barbecue Syndrome (Hamburger Disease: Barbecue Season Syndrome; Backyard Barbecue Syndrome)
"Barbecue Syndrome" (also commonly called "Hamburger Disease" and, less often, "Barbecue Season Syndrome") is a type of food poisoning. "Backyard Barbecue…
Bonehead Play or Boner (“Merkle’s Boner”)
"Merkle's boner" occurred on September 23, 1908, when New York Giants baseball player Fred Merkle -- running from first base in the ninth inning of a 1-1 game -- saw the winning run…
Drunken Egg Cream (Kahlua Egg Cream)
The egg cream is a quintessential New York drink, containing no eggs and no cream. The usual egg cream ingredients are seltzer, chocolate syrup (Fox's U-Bet), and milk. In 2008, several…
“Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Tacos”
"Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Tacos" is a popular Tex-Mex (or Cal-Mex) slogan of unknown origin. First Lady Nancy Reagan began a campaign of "Just say no" to drugs in October…
Tasso
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Tasso hamTasso Ham is a specialty of Cajun cuisine. In this case, "ham" is a misnomer, since tasso is not made from the leg of a pig, but the shoulder…
Rubber Room
A "rubber room" originally meant a room walled with rubber (where an insane person couldn't hurt himself). This meaning dates to at least the 1930s. New York Times columnist William…
Etouffee (Crawfish Étouffée)
"Étouffée" is French for "smothered." "Crawfish Étouffée" (smothered crawfish) is a popular dish in Louisiana, especially in Breaux Bridge, the "Crawfish…
Maque Chou (Maque Choux; Maquechou; Maquechoux)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Maque chouxMaque choux (pronounced: "mock shoe") is a traditional dish of southern Louisiana. It is thought to be an amalgam of Acadian French (Cajun)…
Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May)
Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May) has been described as a Mexican "Fourth of July," but it's not Mexico's Independence Day. The holiday celebrates the Battle of Puebla on May 5,…
Pistolette or Pistolet (French roll for Cajun sandwich)
A "pistolette" (the more frequent form, also spelled "pistolet") is a French roll, cited in English (in European contexts) since at least the 1850s. "Pistolettes" are…
Blintze (Blintz; Blin)
The "blintze" (or "blintz," usually plural as "blintzes," a diminutive from the Russian "blin" for pancake or crêpe) was served on the Jewish Lower East…
Sabich
Sabich came to New York City from Israel, where it is popularly served in falafel restaurants. Sabich contains such ingredients as eggplants, fried eggs, hummus, tahini, and amba sauce (an Iraqi…
Liberty City
Liberty City is the name of a fictional city in the video game Grand Theft Auto series, especially GTA IV. New York City has a Statue of Liberty; Liberty City has a Statue of Happiness. Liberty…
Panini (sandwich)
"Panini" (plural) or "panino" (singular") is Italian for "roll(s)." The sandwich included with that bread roll also began to be called a "panino" or…
Bánh Mì (Vietnamese sandwich)
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich, served in a French baguette and often containing a pork filling. Pickled carrots, daikon, onions, cilantro, and mayonnaise are also usually included in the…