New York City

Metrotard

"Metrotard" is a type of person whose name is derived from transit's "Metrocard." It's a combination of "metro" (from "metropolitan") and…

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 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 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)…

Mexican Polka (Conjunto)

"Mexican Polka" is another name for the accordian-driven music of conjunto. Polka: History of DancePolkaPolka is defined as a vivacious couple dance of Bohemian origin in duple time; was…