Metropolis of America
"Metropolis” (from the Greek word polis for “city") means “a large city” and is not a city nickname peculiar to New York City. In the 1700s, Philadelphia (and sometimes Boston)…
Buildings/Housing/Parks
Metropolis of the South (New Orleans nickname)
New Orleans in the 1800s was frequently called the "Metropolis of the South." "This city (New Orleans -- ed.) may be called the metropolis of the south" was printed in an 1826…
MetroStars/Red Bulls (professional soccer team)
The MetroStars were formed after the 1994 World Cup revived interest in soccer. The team was sometimes called the "New York-New Jersey MetroStars." In March 2006, the team was renamed the…
Metrotard
"Metrotard" is a type of person whose name is derived from transit's "Metrocard." It's a combination of "metro" (from "metropolitan") and…
Mets (National League baseball team)
The 1962-present National League "Mets" share the same name as a baseball team from the 1880s. It's a shortened form of "Metropolitan."…
Mex-Mex and New Mex-Mex
"Mex-Mex" is simply Mexican food, a term that's a spin-off of "Tex-Mex." "New Mex-Mex" is New Mexican-Mexican food. The term "Mex-Mex" may have been…
Mexi-Skins (potato skins)
"Mexi-Skins" is a Tex-Mex dish of potato skins with cheese and perhaps jalapeños or salsa or sour cream added. Various recipes differ. The exact origin of the dish is unknown, but it was…
Mexiaite (inhabitant of Mexia)
"Mexiaite” is the name of an inhabitant of Mexia, Texas. The name “Mexiaite” has been cited in print since at least 1899. Wikipedia: Mexia, TexasMexia ( /məˈheɪ.ə/ mə-hay-ə or…
Mexicali (Mexicalli)
"Mexicali" (much less frequently spelled "Mexicalli") is from the names "Mexico" and "California." There is a town in Baja California (Mexico) called…
Mexican Banana Split
A "Mexican banana split" is a traditional banana split with Mexican elements added, such as Kahlua sauce and cajeta. "Mexican Banana Split" is on the menu of the Adobo Grill…
Mexican Brownie
A "Mexican brownie" is a chocolate brownie. There is no standard recipe for a "Mexican brownie" and some food authors (see the 1997 citation below) question if there really is…
Mexican Caviar (ant larvae or escamoles)
Caviar is the processed, salted roe of fish (usually sturgeon). "Mexican caviar" is a nickname that has been applied to insect eggs in Mexico that resemble and that eaten similar to…
Mexican Caviar (huitlacoche or corn smut)
Huitlacoche (also spelled "cuitlacoche") is a corn fungus (corn smut) that has long been popular in Mexican cuisine. In the 1980s, huitlacoche began to be introduced into American…
Mexican Chocolate or Mexican Hot Chocolate (and “molinillo” or “little mill”)
Mexican chocolate (or "Mexican hot chocolate") has been served in the Americas since before Europeans arrived. Mexican hot chocolate is a popular treat in Texas (especially San Antonio…
Mexican Combination Plate
Miguel Martinez supposedly invented the "Mexican combination plate" at his Dallas "El Fenix" restaurant, some time in the 1920s or 1930s. A combination plate might feature…
Mexican Cranberries (cranberries + jalapeños)
"Mexican Cranberries" is a name given to a dish of cranberry sauce, with jalapeño pepper jelly and cilantro. The recipe appears to have originated in Southern Living magazine in the…
Mexican Day Parade
The Mexican Day Parade (or Mexican Independence Parade) celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain. The parade began in the 1990s. New York City has seen a large increase in immigrants from…
Mexican Eggs Benedict
"Mexican Eggs Benedict" is a popular dish at Trudy's (Austin, TX) and Dos Caminos (New York, NY). "Eggs Benedict" is a classic dish of poached eggs placed on a slice of ham…
Mexican Food Shit (Mexican Shits; Taco Shits; Screamers)
Mexican food has resulted in some scatalogical language, such as "Mexican food shit" or "Mexican shits," "Mexican food poop," "Mexican food poo," "taco…
Mexican Pizza
Italian pizza became a popular American dish following World War II. By the 1950s, several restaurants began to serve "Mexican pizza." Matt's El Rancho (established 1952 in Austin)…