Texas Celery (cardoon)
Cardoon (from the Latin word for thistle) is a plant from the globe artichoke family. Cardoon is native to the Mediterranean region, but it grows in Texas from the fall through the spring.…
Archive for 09/2008
God’s Gravy (natural juices)
Some Texans prefer not to add gravy or sauces to cooked meat. The meat is cooked in "God's gravy" -- the natural juices. The term "God's gravy" dates back to at least…
Cowboy Roux (Water Roux)
A "roux" is an essential part of Cajun cooking (Louisiana and East Texas) and usually involves wheat flour and fat (such as vegetable oil). When water is substituted for the fat, the roux…
“First, you make a roux…”
Many Cajun country (Loisiana and East Texas) recipes require a roux (wheat flour and fat, such as butter, lard or vegetable oil). "First, you make a roux..." (or, "First, make a…
Boudain or Boudin (Boudain Balls or Boudin Balls)
"Boudain" is the frequently used Texas spelling for "boudin," a spicy Cajun sausage popular in Louisiana. Boudin noir consists of pork, pig blood, rice and spices. Boudin blanc…
Hurricane Cocktail (Hurricane Punch)
The Hurricane Cocktail is said to have been invented at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans, a bar that began in 1933. Whiskey had been in short supply during World War II, but rum was readily…
Upstate Manhattan (Washington Heights & Inwood)
The upper Manhattan neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood are far removed geographically and culturally from midtown Manhattan. New Yorkers frequently call anything above Westchester…
MaNo (Manhattan North)
MaNo (Manhattan North) is a sparsely used neighborhood nickname that appeared in 2008. A slightly more popular neighborhood nickname arising at about the same time for the same area is NoMa…
Hungarian Boulevard or Hungarian Broadway (East 79th Street in Yorkville)
Both "Little Hungary" and "Little Germany" used to be located in Manhattan's lower east side. Gradually, both communities moved uptown to Yorkville. Yorkville's East…
Bohemian Boulevard or Bohemian Broadway (East 72th Street in Yorkville)
"Little Bohemia" has been the name of a section of Yorkville (in Manhattan) since at least the 1890s. East 72nd Street or East 73rd Street has been called "Bohemian Boulevard"…
German Broadway or German Boulevard (East 86th Street in Yorkville)
"Little Germany" (Kleindeutschland) was originally located on Manhattan's lower east side. The German community there was devasted by the 1904 Slocum ship tragedy; gradually,…
NoMa (Northern Manhattan)
NoMa (Northern Manhattan) began to receive buzz as a neighborhood nickname for Washington Heights and Inwood when a property at 175 Payson Avenue was offered in 2007 as "NOMA175." Not…
Texas Tapenade
"Tapenade" comes from the Provençal word for capers, tapéno; it is a dish of capers, olives, anchovies and olive oil. "Texas Tapenade" recipes have appeared in Texas Monthly…
Texas Goat Sauce
The city of Brady (located in the geographical center of Texas) has held a goat cook-off since 1973. Approximately 20,000 goats are raised in McCulloch County, making it one of the leading…
Clam Digger & Mussel Sucker (City Island terms)
City Island in the Bronx has a New England-type culture that makes it seem much different from other parts of New York City. A native City Islander has been called a "clam digger" (or…
MGM (Merrill Lynch + Goldman Sachs + Morgan Stanley)
"MGM" are the famous initials of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, one of the oldest and most famous of all Hollywood movie studios. Three large Wall Street investment banks -- Merrill Lynch, Goldman…
Southwestern Pimm’s Cup (cocktail)
Southwestern Pimm's Cup is a Texas twist of an old cocktail, invented at the Liberty Bar in San Antonio in the 1980s. The drink contains Pimm's No. 1, Ruby Red grapefruit juice and…
Texas Chowder (Texas Clam Chowder)
Chowder (especially clam chowder) is a New England dish. What is Texas chowder? On ABC's Nightline television program of September 17, 2008, someone who was cooking chili for the Texans…
“Trick or Treat” (“Trick or Treat for UNICEF”)
The origin of the "trick or treat" ritual (children going from door-to-door on Halloween, asking for candy) derives from "guising" that was done in Scotland and Ireland. The…
Supermarket (Super Market)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: SupermarketA supermarket is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments. It is larger in size and…