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…
Mulligan Stew
Entry in progress -- B,P,[This entry was prepared with research assistance of Sam Clements of the American Dialect Society listserv and the Early Sports and Pop Culture History Blog.] Wikipedia:…
Mumbo Sauce
"Mumbo sauce," "mambo sauce" and "mombo sauce" are three different spellings for perhaps the same sauce, served as a barbecue sauce on fried chicken wings, fired jumbo…
Murder Burger
"Murder Burger" is sold at the First Way Deli ("Home of the Murder Burger") in the Bronx, at 1030 East Tremont Avenue and West Farms. The deli's "Murder Burger"…
Mush (sauerkraut & roll)
No one seems to know much about "mush." The Brooklyn Historical Society Library will re-open in 2005. The Brooklyn Public Library will perhaps continue its digitization of the Brooklyn…
Mustard Pie (mustard on pizza)
Schuster's Tomato Pies on Whittaker Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey, had a banner, "The Home of the Mustard Pie." Supposedly, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, a drunk customer came in…
Mustard Pizza (mustard on pizza)
Schuster's Tomato Pies on Whittaker Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey, had a banner, "The Home of the Mustard Pie." Supposedly, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, a drunk customer came in…
Mutton-chop Whiskers
"Mutton-chop whiskers" are sideburns (extending into a bead) that look like a pair of mutton chops on the side of a man's face. The term "mutton-chop whiskers" was printed…
Naked Cake (cake without outer icing)
A "naked cake" is a caked with unfrosted sides. Wedding cakes are popular versions of the naked cake. "Naked cake" has been cited on Twitter since 2009 and became popular by…