Spicedictive (spice + addictive)

Sonic drive-in restaurants introduced spicy chicken sandwiches in October 2013. Sonic's commercials said that the sandwich was "spicedictive" (spice + addictive). Wikipedia: Sonic…

Spit-take

Danny Thomas (of television's Make Room for Daddy, or The Danny Thomas Show, from 1953-1964) is credited for either inventing or popularizing the "spit-take." He would take a drink…

SPK (salt, pepper, ketchup)

"SPK" stands for "salt, pepper and ketchup." The SPK combination is popular at restaurants and delis, where it is served on cheesesteaks and many egg dishes and sandwiches.…

Spokane (pork and beans)

"Spokane" (a city in the state of Washington) has been used in lunch counter slang for "pork and beans" since at least the 1890s and early 1900s. "The Pork and Beans'…

Spoonula (spoon + spatula)

A "spoonula" (spoon + spatula) is one of several food implement portmanteaus, such as the "spork" (spoon + fork). A "spoonula" trademark filed in 1959 claimed a first…

Spring Sphere (Easter egg)

One Seattle, Washington, school supposedly told a student that she could make "spring spheres," but not "Easter eggs." (This April 2011 story has been disputed.) The…

Sprinkles (Jimmies)

New York is a "sprinkle" town. If you call them "jimmies," you're probably the type of person who roots for the Boston Red Sox. I found the earliest citation for…

Spritzer

"Spritzer" is a "splash," from the German word. It is usually a mixture of wine and soda water, but the word can be used for other drink combinations. It was popular among the…

Spucky, Spuckie or Spukie (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, hoagie, Italian,…

Square Meal

"Square meal" is a term that appears to have originated in California by 1856. It is sometimes claimed that "square meal" comes from England's Royal Navy (where meals were…

St. Paul Sandwich

The St. Paul sandwich is a sandwich that contains egg. The original "St. Paul" sandwich dates to the 1890s, and a "St. Paul" sandwich (or "egg foo young" sandwich) has…

Standard American Diet (SAD)

Food authors have discussed the term "standard American diet" in print since at least the 1930s. The name "Standard American Diet" and its acronym "S.A.D." have been…

Star (cocktail)

Entry in progress -- B.P. 21 May 1893, Cleveland (OH) Plain Dealer, pg. 17, col. 2:THE MANHATTAN.The Greatest of American Democratic Clubs.The Manhattan club at Fifth avenue and Thirty-fourth…

Staten Island (cocktail)

The "Manhattan" cocktail has existed since at least the 1880s, but for many years it was noted that the borough of Staten Island did not have a cocktail of its own. There is a…

Staten Island Ferry (cocktail)

A Staten Island Ferry cocktail is cited on Wikipedia/Wikitender as consisting of rum and pineapple -- a piña colada without the coconut cream (that is not native to Staten Island, New York). The…

Steak de Burgo

Steak de Burgo is a steak dish popular in Des Moines, Iowa. It was invented (or popularized) by John Compiano (1920-1984), who served it at his Johnny and Kay's night club that opened in 1946.…