Winespeak
"Winespeak" is the specialized language used in the wine industry. "Winespeak" can involve a technical term (such as "foxy," from "fox grapes") or a lengthy…
Wing Wednesday
"Wing Wednesday" is when an eating establishment serves chicken wings on Wednesday -- usually at a reduced price. "Wild Wing Wednesday" has been cited in print since at least…
Wish Sandwich
A "wish sandwich" was explained in the song "Rubber Biscuit," originally by The Chips in 1956, but popularized by the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) on the New…
Wishbone (Wish Bone; Wishing Bone)
The "wishbone (also "wish bone" or "wishing bone") is a forked bone, named using the Latin word forcula. The bone has been called "merrythought" in England since…
Wok Chi (wok energy)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Wok heiWok hei (Chinese: 鑊氣; Jyutping: wok6 hei3) literally, the "breath of the wok", a poetic phrase Grace Young first coined in her cookbook,…
Wok Hei (“the breath of a wok”)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Wok heiWok hei (Chinese: 鑊氣; Jyutping: wok6 hei3) literally, the "breath of the wok", a poetic phrase Grace Young first coined in her cookbook,…
Woman’s Vitamin or Women’s Vitamin (Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 nickname)
Vitamin B6 (pyridozine) has been called the "woman's vitamin" (or "women's vitamin") because of its benefits for pregnant women and also for women with premenstrual…
Wonderfilled (filled cookies)
Oreo cream-filled cookies began a "Wonderfilled" advertising campaign in May 2013; "Oreo Wonderfilled" was filed for a trademark on March 15, 2013. The term…
Wonk (“fork” with one prong/tine)
"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…
Wonton Egg Drop Soup
"Wonton egg drop soup" adds together wontons (as in wonton soup) and egg drop soup. It's not known who first thought of the combination, but it began appearing on Chinese-American…
Wrap (sandwich)
"Wraps" became popularized in California in the mid-1990s, with restaurants such as San Francisco's World Wrapps (trademarked July 10, 1994), The Daily Wrap and Wrap Works. A…
Wrappetizer (wrap + appetizer)
A "wrappetizer" (wrap + appetizer) is a wrap sandwich that serves as an appetizer, but not usually a complete meal. Anchor Food Products (owned by McCain USA) trademarked…
WTF (Where’s The Food)
The initials "WTF" usually stand for "What The Fuck." "WTF" (Where's The Food)" is a jocular variation on the letters that has been printed on many gift…
Wyoming Ketchup (liquor)
Broadway columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) used the term "Wyoming ketchup" for "liquor." The term was not explained, but perhaps Winchell felt that liquor was a mere…
Yaka Mein
"Ya-ka-mein" (there are many spellings) is a Chinese dish of noodle soup. Other ingredients are often added, such as beef. "Yei go main" was cited in the New York (NY) World on…
Yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodles)
"Yakisoba" (or "yaki soba") is a Japanese dish of stir-fried wheat-flour noodles, accompanied by vegetables and whatever meat is desired. Many different combinations of yakisoba…
Yakitori (Japanese skewered chicken)
"Yakitori" (or "yaki tori") is a Japanese dish of chicken and vegetables on skewers, heated over a charcoal flame. "Yaki" means "roasted." The skewering…
Yale (cocktail)
The Yale cocktail (a tribute to Yale University in New Haven, CT) has probably been served most at Manhattan's Yale Club, on Vanderbilt Avenue just opposite Grand Central Terminal. The Yale…
Yankee Stadium Big Boy (Mike’s Deli sandwich)
Mike's Deli has been an Arthur Avenue (Italian section of the Bronx) institution since 1951. The Arthur Avenue Cookbook (2004) featured a recipe of Mike Deli's "Yankee Stadium Big…
Yellow Blanket on a Dead Cow (cheeseburger)
"Yellow blanket on a dead cow" is sometimes said to be diner slang for a cheeseburger. The "yellow blanket" is cheese, and the "dead cow" is a hamburger. However,…