Two Cents Plain
"Two cents plain" in the lower east side of the 1920s and 1930s meant a glass of seltzer water. Harry Golden's 1959 New York memoir of this title helped to popularize the old term.…
Two Face (chocolate and rainbow sprinkles)
Mister Softee ice cream trucks feature “Two Face”—a soft-serve vanilla ice cream cone with half chocolate sprinkles and half rainbow sprinkles. The term "two face" has been cited in…
Two-Napkin, Three-Napkin, Four-Napkin or Five-Napkin Burger
A one napkin/two napkin/three napkin/four napkin/five napkin burger is a hamburger so loaded with natural juices that it requires several napkins to eat it. "Two-napkin hamburger" has…
Twok (“fork” with two prongs/tines)
"Fork" does not have the number "four" in it, but some people believe that a "fork" with three prongs/tines should be called a "threek." It then follows that…
Ugly Sticks or Ugli Sticks (breadsticks)
"Prices range from $3.95 for ugly sticks (bread sticks)" was printed in the South Bend (IN) Tribune on October 3, 2005, in a review of Bob's 19th Hole (South Bend, IN). "Visit…
Unicorn Wine
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wine SpectatorWhat's a Unicorn Wine?Parsing sommelier speakPosted: Oct 24, 2013 10:30am ET By Jennifer Fiedler(...)On March 1, Michael Mina wine director Rajat Parr…
Unidentified Frying Object (UFO)
An "Unidentified Flying Object" (UFO) has the food equivalent in "Unidentified Frying Object." "Some restaurants serve what can only be called Unidentified Frying…
Uniscuit or Monoscuit (similar to “biscuit” and “Triscuit”)
"Biscuit" and "Triscuit" exist, but there is no "uniscuit" (or "monoscuit"). "Quadscuit" (or "Quadriscuit") has been suggested to follow…
Vanilla (plain or ordinary)
Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream, so lots of people must like it. "Plain vanilla," however, is something that is basic, standard, and perhaps also drab and dull. As late as…
Variety Meats
"Variety meats" (almost always in the plural, but sometimes written as "variety meat") are also known as 'offal" -- parts of slaughtered animals that are often thrown…
Veducation (vegetables + education)
"Veducation" (vegetables + education) means to educate someone to eat more vegetables. "You mean Baby Carrot and Broccoli School of Veducation?" was cited on Twitter on November…
Veganuary (vegan + January)
"Veganuary" (vegan + January), pronounced "vee-gan-uary," is a pledge to eat vegan for the month of January. "Veganuary" was posted on Twitter on November 22, 2009.…
Vegducken or Veggieducken (veggie + turducken)
Turducken (turkey + duck + chicken) is a popular Thanksgiving meal. There have been many imitations made without meat. "What next, vegetarian Turducken?" was a newspaper headline in…
Veggie Burger
A "vegetable burger" or "veggie burger" usually describes a hamburger-type sandwich without meat. In 1954 and 1955, drive-ins offered a "vegetable burger" -- a regular…
Vegucate (vegan/vegetarian + educate); Vegucation
To "vegucate" someone is to educate a person about veganism/vegetarianism. "A Good Vegucation" is the title of a song that was copyrighted in 1997. Paul Dickson's 1998 book…
Vendy Awards
Street food vendors are finally getting their due with the "Vendy Awards." How about "negative" Vendy Awards for the really bad ones?…
Very Overpowering Drink, Killing Agony (“vodka” backronym)
"Very Overpowering Drink, Killing Agony" is a jocular backronym (back acronym) for the word "vodka." "VODKA - Very Overpowering Drink, Killing Agony" was cited on…
Very Vanilla (very + vanilla)
"Vanilla" is a flavor; "vanilla" is also a slang term for something that is plain and drab. "Very Vanilla" (usually capitalized) is a flavor that seemingly promises…
Vichyssoise
"Vichyssoise" was allegedly invented by Louis Diat, chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in 1917. The problem is, I can't find a single citation before the 1930s. "Vichyssoise"…
Vincent’s Sauce
The Original Vincent's restaurant is in Little Italy at 199 Mott Street. Vincent's proudly declares that it's been around for a century, since 1904. I don't particularly care…