Roof-to-Table (Rooftop-to-Table)

"Roof-to table" (sometimes written without hyphens as "roof to table" and less-frequently written as "rooftop-to-table") indicates that the food comes from a rooftop…

Root Beer

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Root beerRoot beer, also known as sarsaparilla, is a carbonated beverage (or possibly a type of beer) originally created from sassafras. Root beer, popularized…

Root Beer Float or Ice Cream Float

It has been said that the "root beer float" or "ice cream float" (ice cream plus root beer or cola or other soda) was invented in New York City. This cannot be verified, but…

Rubber Chicken

The 1940s term "rubber chicken circuit" described the poor food at banquets, but when an actual rubber chicken was made and sold by novelty stores is not exactly known. Loftus…

Rubber Chicken Circuit

The "rubber chicken circuit" is the lecture circuit, where banquets are held that serve frequently unappetizing food. "The rubber chicken at hotel banquets" was cited in print…

Rugelach

I found one of the first citations (1941) for "rugelach." This is a difficult food to trace because the names and spelling vary widely.…

Rum Raisin

"Rum Raisin" is a flavor most often used in ice cream; the raisins are soaked in rum. It's not known who invented "rum raisin," but it was listed in several ice cream shops…

Rum Rita or Rumrita (cocktail)

A "Rum Rita" (or "Rumrita") is a "Margarita" cocktail, with rum included instead of tequila. In 2000, there was a tequila shortage and restaurants were facing…

Runway Food

"Down With Runway Food" by Drew Magary was published on Deadspin -- The Concourse on May 2, 2014. Magary referred to food at restaurants so expensive that only the very rich and a few…

Rushing/Working the Growler

The "growler" was a pail that men would send down to the local bar for more beer. In the 1880s. this was called "rushing the growler" or "working the growler." A…

S’more (Some-more)

"S'more" (or "some-more") is a popular Girl Scout dish of toasted marshmallows and chocolate sandwiches between two graham crackers. "Kabobs and Some-more, two…

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…

Sailgating (sail + tailgating)

"Sailgating" (sail + tailgating) is when a tailgate picnic is held from a boat instead of a car, van, or pickup truck. Sailgating can involve any boat -- not just sailboats. The tradition…

Sailor Sandwich

The "sailor sandwich" began in 1943 at the New York Deli in Richmond, Virginia, where it was served to the many sailors who were customers during World War II. According to the New York…

Salad Astoria

Waldorf Salad is a famous salad of the old Waldorf-Astoria hotel (1893-1929) at Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street. Swiss-American restaurateur Oscar Tschirky (1866-1950) -- called "Oscar of the…

Salad Bar

The "salad bar" was announced in April 1937 newspaper articles -- the "bar" being a glorified tea wagon on which salad ingredients were placed. The Boston Oyster House of the…