Blintze (Blintz; Blin)
The "blintze" (or "blintz," usually plural as "blintzes," a diminutive from the Russian "blin" for pancake or crêpe) was served on the Jewish Lower East…
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Sabich
Sabich came to New York City from Israel, where it is popularly served in falafel restaurants. Sabich contains such ingredients as eggplants, fried eggs, hummus, tahini, and amba sauce (an Iraqi…
Liberty City
Liberty City is the name of a fictional city in the video game Grand Theft Auto series, especially GTA IV. New York City has a Statue of Liberty; Liberty City has a Statue of Happiness. Liberty…
Panini (sandwich)
"Panini" (plural) or "panino" (singular") is Italian for "roll(s)." The sandwich included with that bread roll also began to be called a "panino" or…
Bánh Mì (Vietnamese sandwich)
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich, served in a French baguette and often containing a pork filling. Pickled carrots, daikon, onions, cilantro, and mayonnaise are also usually included in the…
Green Falafel
Taim (222 Waverly Place) opened in 2006 serving falafel -- a red, roasted pepper falafel; a yellow, hariisa-infused falafel; and a green falafel with parsley, cilantro and mint. In the April 30,…
Yankee Stadium Big Boy (Mike’s Deli sandwich)
Mike's Deli has been an Arthur Avenue (Italian section of the Bronx) institution since 1951. The Arthur Avenue Cookbook (2004) featured a recipe of Mike Deli's "Yankee Stadium Big…
Big Scrapple (Philadelphia nickname)
"The Big Scrapple" is sometimes said to be a nickname for Philadelphia, but no one really calls it that. When a Philadelphia newspaper story involves scrapple or New York City (or both),…
Terrace Envy (Terrace Guilt)
Terraces on buildings are expensive luxuries. Do people really have "terrace envy"? (Not yet as famous a psychological term as "penis envy.") Do people who have terraces suffer…
German Belt
German immigration to Texas from the 1830s to the 1890s created a "German belt" in central Texas of German-speaking communities. It is not known who coined the term "German…
Smiley Face
Smiling faces have existed for a very long time, but who invented the "smiley"? In 1962-63, WMCA's 'Good Guys" radio station had a logo of a "smiley" -- a…
Death Belt (death penalty states of the South)
The "death belt" is a term that some have used for the Southern states (especially Texas) that have the death penalty. The term "death belt" appears to have been coined in an…
Old Sparky (electric chair)
"Old Sparky" is the name of the famous electric chair of Texas, where 361 people died by electrocution between 1924 and 1964. Before 1924, hanging was practiced in Texas; in 1964,…
Chicken Chili
In 1977, the Texas legislature made "chili" the official state dish. Chile con carne was intended; one legislator even asked other legislators if they had ever heard of "chicken…
Paleta (Mexican popsicle)
Paletas have been called "Mexican popsicles" or "frozen fruit bars." The name "paleta" itself means "blade" or "stick." Many paleterias (places…
Spaghetti Bowl (Gulf Coast pipeline system)
The petrochemical industry is one of the largest industries in Texas. In 1956-58, the 1,000-mile system of pipelines along the East Texas Gulf Coast was called a "spaghetti bowl." The…
Spaghetti Western (Chili Western; Green Chile Western)
A "spaghetti western" is a western movie that is either filmed in Italy or financed by Italians. The term "spaghetti western" is first cited in print from 1967; many of the…
Texas Hollywood (movie studio/theme park in Spain)
"Texas Hollywood" is a movie studio/theme park that is neither in Texas nor in Hollywood, California. The Tabernas Desert in Spain is similar to North American deserts, and in the…
Peel Noodles or Knife-Cut Noodles or Knife-Sliced Noodles (Dao-xaio-mian)
"Peel noodles" were introduced by the Sheng Wang restaurant on Eldridge Street, and New York's food reviewers in 2006 and 2007 had nothing to compare it to. Also called…
Texas flag only one at same height as U.S. flag (urban legend)
The Texas flag often is placed on a flagpole at the same height as the U.S. flag on its flagpole, and it's sometimes said that Texas is the only state that can do this. The explanation given…