Tube Steak (Tubesteak)
A "tube steak" is another name for a "hot dog." The origin of the name isn't known, but "tube steak" appears in slang from at least the 1930s. "Tube…
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole (or "tuna and noodle casserole") has been popularly made with canned tuna, cooked noodles and Campbell's cream-of-mushroom soup (first sold in 1934). However,…
Tuna Tetrazzini
Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940) was an Italian lyric coloratura soprano who had an enormous popularity in America from the 1900s-1920s. Several dishes were named after her, including: . Turkey…
Turista (traveler’s diarrhea)
"Montezuma's Revenge" and "Aztec two-step" and "turista" are the colorful names for traveler's diarrhea for visitors to Mexico. The terms have spread…
Turketarian or Turkeytarian (turkey eater)
A "turketarian" or "turkeytarian" is someone who eats turkey. "Turkeytarian" was posted on Twitter on November 26, 2009. "I'm sort of.. a turketarian..? XD I…
Turkey Manhattan & Roast Beef Manhattan
"Turkey Manhattan" and "Roast Beef Manhattan" appear to be primarily Indiana dishes, dating from the 1950s. They are open-faced sandwiches, similar to Kentucky's "Hot…
Turkey Tetrazzini
Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940) was an Italian lyric coloratura soprano who had an enormous popularity in America from the 1900s-1920s. Several dishes were named after her, including: . Turkey…
Twecipe (Twitter recipe)
"Twecipe" is a recipe on Twitter (a social micro-blogging service). Recipes are given in posts of up to 140 characters. A user of the "Twecipe" service can type in several…
Tweezer Food
"Tweezer food" has been cited in print since at least 2000, when a book included, "I've also heard it called tweezer food because it's so artfully arranged on the plate, it…
Twinkies (Twin Donut’s donut holes)
Twin Donut has about 20 stores in the New York City area. The donut holes at Twin Donuts are called "Twinkies." "Twinkies" is also the name of the "Golden Sponge Cake with…
Twisted Tuesday
"Twisted Tuesday" is a drinking slang name for a day of the week. Alcoholic drinks are sold on this day, often at a reduced price. “Twisted Tuesday” has been cited in print since at…
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…