(Barnum’s) Animal Crackers
Everyone knows that "Animal Crackers" were first made by the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) in New York City in 1902. They used to be called "Barnum's Animals." Barnum,…
1904 Sandwich
New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) teamed up with the sandwich shop Alidoro and Katz's Delicatessen in September 2022 to create the "1904 Sandwich." The…
5th Avenue (candy bar)
"5th Avenue" is the mystery candy bar. As the web discussions that follow describe it, the "5th Avenue" candy bar seems like it's been around forever, but no one seems to…
A la Minute
À la minute is a French cooking term meaning "at a minute." Restaurants that prepare food à la minute prepare food when it is ordered, and often such foods are prepared in front of the…
ABC Rule (Anything But Cabernet; Anything But Chardonnay)
Chardonnay became so popular -- to the detriment of other wines -- that some people insisted on ordering "ABC," or "Anything But Chardonnay." "Anything But Cabernet"…
Adam and Eve on a raft (poached eggs on toast)
"Adam and Eve" in diner lingo means an order of two eggs. The term "Adam and Eve" has been cited in print since at least 1891 and might have originated in an eating…
Adirondack Bear Paw or Adirondack Black Bear (ice cream)
Entry in progress -- B.P.The ice cream concept is similar to Alaska's "Moose Tracks" ice cream. Also similar is "Panda Paws" (from Perry Ice Cream of Akron, NY).…
Agent Orange Corn (GE corn)
Dow Chemical manufactured "Agent Orange," a herbicide and defoliant that was widely used for clearing jungles in the Vietnam War. Dow AgroSciences attempted to introduce a genetically…
Agita (Agida; Acida)
"Agita" achieved its greatest fame as a song title in the Woody Allen film Broadway Danny Rose (1984). The movie featured the Carnegie Deli and the "Agita" song mentioned…
Air Conditioning in a Glass (Rickey cocktail nickname)
A drink that is "air conditioning in a glass" is a refreshing summer drink. A grapefruit and basil martini was called "air conditioning in a glass" in 2007. American mixologist…
Airline Food (Airplane Food)
Airline food (also called "airplane food" or "airline meal" or "in-flight meal") was essentially started by United Airlines in late 1936-early 1937, when food…
Airmelon (air + melon; jocular formation after “watermelon”)
Watermelon exists, so many people think there should be firemelon, earthmelon and airmelon (water-fire-earth-air + melon), all called the "elemelons" (elements + melons). "The…
Al Dante (al dente + Dante Alighieri)
"Al dente" cooking should not be written as "al Dante" (as in Dante's Inferno), but there are jokes. "How to cook al-dante pasta?" was posted on the newsgroup…
Alexander/Gin Alexander/Brandy Alexander/Coffee Alexander (cocktail)
New York columnist Walter Winchell explained the origin of the Alexander cocktail in his column on March 21, 1929. Rector's (a famous New York eatery before Prohibition) was having a dinner…
Algonquin Cocktail
The Algonquin Hotel, at 59 West 44th Street in Manhattan, opened in 1902 and has a storied history, although the hotel is not particularly known for its food and drink. The Algonquin cocktail…
All Dressed Bagel
Montreal (Canada) is known for its "all dressed" bagel, "all dressed" hot dog and "all dressed" pizza. Montreal's "all dressed" bagel is similar to New…
All Dressed Hot Dog
Entry in progress -- B.P. Montreal (Canada) is known for its "all dressed" bagel, "all dressed" hot dog and "all dressed" pizza. "All dressed" has been cited…
All Dressed Pizza
Entry in progress -- B.P. Montreal (Canada) is known for its "all dressed" bagel, "all dressed" hot dog and "all dressed" pizza. "All dressed" pizza has been…
Allicin Wonderland (allicin + Alice in Wonderland)
Allicin is an organosulfur compound obtained from garlic. "Allicin Wonderland" is an obvious pun on Alice in Wonderland. "The body is, in fact, a veritable allicin wonderland"…
Almond Boneless Chicken (ABC)
Almond Boneless Chicken (often called "ABC") is a Chinese dish that is popular in Detroit, Michigan. In other cities, it's called, in its various spellings, "war/wor…