Monte Cristo (sandwich)
The Count of Monte Cristo is a famous adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas. Hollywood filmed it many times; on stage, playwright Eugene O'Neill's father, James O'Neill, made the role…
Montezuma’s Revenge or Moctezuma’s Revenge (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…
Montgomery Pie
Entry in progress -- B.P. Dictionary of American Regional EnglishMontgomery pie n [Montgomery Co, Pennsylvania] sPA Cf shoofly pieA pie made with a filling (as molasses, lemon custard) and with a…
Moo Goo Gai Pan (Chinese chicken with mushrooms)
"Moo Goo Gai Pan" is a Chinese dish of chicken with mushrooms. It was one of the first dishes to become popular in New York's Chinatown and in Americanized Chinese menus, cited with…
Moodle (moo/beef + noodle)
"Moodle" is a portmanteau word from "moo" (beef) and "noodle." "'Moodle' sounds like what someone might call beef-flavored noodles. 'Mmmm ... just…
Moonshine Monday
"Moonshine Monday" is a drinking slang name for a day of the week. "Moonshine" often refers to any alcoholic drink, and on this day it's usually served at reduced prices.…
Moose Tracks (ice cream)
Moose Tracks ice cream is vanilla ice cream with fudge and chocolate peanut butter cups. "Moose Tracke" was trademarked by Denali Flavors, with a claimed first use of November 2, 1992.…
Mooshine (moo + moonshine)
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized; the product is illegal in many states. "Moonshine" is the term for alcohol produced illicitly, and raw milk has been…
Morale Vitamin (Thiamine or Thiamin or Vitamin B1 nickname)
Thiamine or thiamin (vitamin B1) has been nicknamed the "morale vitamin" since at least 1939. Vitamin B1 is the "morale vitamin" because it improves mental attitudes and energy…
Moresoupial (“more soup” pun on “marsupial”)
"Marsupial" has nothing to do with soup, but there are "more-soup-ial" jokes. Some jokes connect to the Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist and musical Oliver! (1960,…
Morir Soñando (“To die dreaming” Dominican drink)
Morir Soñando is Spanish for "to die dreaming," a Creamsicle-like drink popular at Dominican restaurants in New York City (such as the Caridad restaurants in Washington Heights). The…
Moroccan Cigar (meat/vegetable-filled crispy wrapper)
"Moroccan cigars" are appetizers of (usually) ground beef wrapped up in phyllo dough; the dish looks like a cigar (or a flute). Although the dish is called "Moroccan cigar," it…
Moscow Mule (cocktail)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Moscow muleMoscow mule is a cocktail made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime. It is a type of buck and…
Moses’ Law: Don’t eat in park concessions!
John Hess developed "Moses' Law" (after Robert Moses, the Parks Commissioner) in his New York Times column in August 1973. Actually, the food at some places (such as the Tennis…
Mother-in-Law Sandwich (tongue on rye; cold shoulder and lots of tongue)
A "mother-in-law sandwich" -- yet another mother-in-law joke -- usually contains the jocular ingredients of "tongue on rye" or "cold shoulder and tongue.' The sandwich…
Motherless Greens (greens without meat)
Collard greens and pork are typical parts of Southern cuisine and "soul food." When people couldn't afford meat, the greens served by themselves were dubbed "motherless."…
Mouthfeel
"Mouthfeel" (also "mouth-feel" or "mouth feel") describes the texture and sensation of food or drink in the mouth. The term "mouthfeel" has been used by food…
Moxie (carbonated beverage)
Moxie is a trademarked beverage that was originally bottled in 1884 and sold as "nerve food." Moxie advertising in 1940 contained the line "He's got Moxie!" -- defined in…
Mozzarepa (mozzarella + arepa)
"Mozzarepa" (or "MozzArepa") is a commercial product that was trademarked in 1996 and combines "mozzarella" (cheese) sandwiched inside an "arepa" (corn-based…
Muddy Buddies (cereal snack)
"Puppy chow" is a snack where Chex or Crispix cereal is coated with melted chocolate and peanut butter, and then dusted with powdered sugar. The name comes from when the Ralston Purina…