Heavenly Hash
Entry in progress -- B.P. 17 February 1882, Wheeling (WV)
Hebrew Enemies (pork chops)
Jewish law does not permit eating pork. This fact found its way into restaurant slang, where "Hebrew enemies" became the slang for an order of pork chops. "Couple of Hebrew enemies…
Hechsher
A "hechsher" (also sometimes spelled "hechscher," but seldom "hecksher") is a certification marking on products (usually foods, but also kitchen cleansers, soaps and…
Hen Fruit (eggs)
"Hen fruit" is a jocular way to say "eggs." "Hen fruit" has been cited in print since at least 1844; "henfruit" has been cited since 1864. "'Hen…
Hero Sandwich
Hoagie, Sub, Grinder -- there are many regional sandwich names. New Yorkers have a "hero." The Italian sandwich -- before it was called a "hero" -- was popularized in the 1890s…
Hippie Roll or Hippy Roll (Eppie Roll or Eppy Roll)
The origin or the "hippie roll" (or "hippy roll") in uncertain, but it was served in some Italian restaurants in New York City in the 1960s-1970s. The term "hippie" is…
Hoagie (sandwich)
Entry in progress -- B.P. The long list of the names of sandwiches served on long rolls includes blimpie, bomber, Cuban (medianoche), Dagwood, garibaldi, gondola, grinder, hero, Italian,…
HOBO (ham on bagel omelet)
HOBO (ham on bagel omelet, BOBO (bacon), SOBO (sausage) and TOBO or TURBO (turkey) are breakfast sandwiches that are served with cheese and potatoes; a roll or a wrap often replaces the bagel. The…
Hoboken Special (pineapple soda and chocolate ice cream)
A "Hoboken Special" is old restaurant slang for an order of pineapple soda and chocolate ice cream. Columbia University's Harold W. Bentley first recorded the term in…
Hockey Puck (a burger, especially a hamburger cooked “well done”)
A round burger (such as a hamburger or a turkey burger or a veggie burger) can resemble a hockey puck. A burger cooked "well done" is often blackened and tough as a hockey puck to eat.…
Hocto Dog or Hoctodog (octopus hot dog)
A "hocto dog" or "hoctodog" is an octopus hot dog. "Hoctodog" has been cited in print since at least 2007, when it described a hot dog cut into strips to resemble an…
Hodger
A "hodger" is a guest who eats most of the host's food and drinks most of the host's drinks. "Hodger" has been listed in The Online Slang Dictionary since 2002 and is…
Hoffman House (cocktail)
The Hoffman House Hotel (located near Madison Square Park at Broadway and Twenty-second Street) had a celebrated bar in the 1880s and 1890s; the structure was destroyed in 1915 (just before…
Hokey Pokey (ice cream)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Hokey pokey (ice cream)Hokey pokey is a flavour of ice cream in New Zealand, consisting of plain vanilla ice cream with small, solid lumps of honeycomb toffee.…
Holiday Pounds
"Holiday pounds" are the extra weight gained from eating too well on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. The term "holiday pounds" is used most often in advertisements…
Hollar-peño (holler + jalapeño)
Jalapeño peppers are hot, and some have called them "holler-peño" or "hollar-peño." "jack house in the box with curley fries and some hollarpeno popperz" was posted…
Holler-peño (holler + jalapeño)
Jalapeño peppers are hot, and some have called them "holler-peño" or "hollar-peño." "jack house in the box with curley fries and some hollarpeno popperz" was posted…
Honeymoon Salad (lettuce alone and no dressing)
A 'honeymoon salad," as the old joke has it, is "lettuce alone" ("let us alone"). "Honeymoon salad" ("lettuce alone") is cited in print since 1925.…
Horseshoe Sandwich
The "horseshoe" sandwich consists of Welsh rarebit (or Welsh rabbit) cheese sauce over an open-faced sandwich, such as ham or hamburger on toasted bread. The dish is then covered with…
Hot and Sour Soup
"Hot and sour soup" is a popular Chinese restaurant menu item that's been cited in print since at least 1961. Joyce Chen (1917-1994) is often given credit for popularizing hot and…