Why A 'Hot Dog' And Other Culinary Words Explained

Another book about food history would have been relatively easy to do, as it's all been done before. Start with the Greeks, tackle the Romans, re-visit the Spice Routes and tell the tale of Marco Polo, introduce the Italians again and end up with the French Revolution that inspired a generation of French Chefs around the turn of the 19th century. There it is: a food history book.

But there is also another way to learn about food history, one that is altogether more rewarding. For example, have you ever wondered what Julius Caesar had to do with your favorite salad? Or, who was Suzette, who lent her name to the best-selling crepe on the planet? Now, that makes for an interesting book about food history doesn't it?

For the answers to these questions and hundreds more join me on a brand new journey through the history of our favorite food in this slideshow. For more, check out my book, "What Caesar Did for My Salad: Not to Mention the Earl's Sandwich, Pavlova's Meringue and Other Curious Stories Behind Our Favourite Food."

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Comments

[Meathead]

04:09 PM on 09/08/2011

Most culinary historians believe that the popular story of the origin of the name hot dog above is incorrect. Of course it is all over the internet, but that doesn't make it factual. Here are the facts:
http://amazingribs.com/recipes/hot_dogs_and_sausages/hot_dog_history.html

[SimonBao]

12:55 AM on 09/08/2011

I'm not sure what the meaning of "popular" is, as it's used in the sentence above, "The most popular stew in America, we are told, was first cooked in that very pot in 1898."

I don't believe there was ever a time in American history when Brunswick stew was the most popular stew in America. It certainly has not been the most popular stew in American at any time in the 20th century, least of all the 21st.

[EarDrummer]

07:56 PM on 09/07/2011

I like the name "waffle"; it fits the food perfectly and it's fun to say. Where did that name come from?

[sabelmouse]

05:59 AM on 09/08/2011

Wafer and waffle share common etymological roots. Wafre ("wafer") occurs in Middle English by 1377, adopted from Middle Low German wâfel, with the l changed to r. Modern Dutch wafel, French gaufre, and German Waffel, all meaning "waffle", share the same origin. The Dutch form, wafel, was adopted into modern American English as waffle in the 18th century.[1][2]

[philszed]

06:53 PM on 09/07/2011

They also named Melbourne after Melba, didn't they?

[bi-poplar]

05:27 PM on 09/07/2011

I guess "liberty pups" isn't any worse than "freedom fries"

[jerryhattrick]

04:42 PM on 09/07/2011

so often w these multi part columns, the dang thing will NOT advance....

[P Markham72]

04:27 PM on 09/07/2011

true Ceaser Dressing has anchovies in it as well, what the heck would possess someone to throw those in there!

[dauphin]

06:04 PM on 09/07/2011

Little salty cured fish have been a staple in dressings and sauces since Egyptian times. Even Green Goddess salad dressing has them. The rest of the world does not view the "choves" as we Americans do. Our only real experience with them is on pizza. I can't tell you how ingrained it is for most Americans when asked about pizza toppings to say they like this or that but "No anchovies." I seriously think that none of us Americans has ever really tried them. They are delicious, but better when fresh, stuffed and grilled or fried.

[WilmaJune]

06:17 PM on 09/07/2011

They taste good!

[spartanmom]

03:19 PM on 09/07/2011

"However, local legend in Brunswick County, in the state of Virginia, insists that "Uncle" Jimmy Mathews, an African American hunting camp cook, created a squirrel stew for his employer Creed Haskins" in 1828.

EMPLOYER !?!?!?!???? REALLY!!! in 1828?

I don't think so.

Are we afraid to use the real word? Owner.

[SimonBao]

12:53 AM on 09/08/2011

You do NOT actually KNOW that Jimmy Matthews was owned by Creed Haskins.

It's possible that even in 1828 in Virginia, the cook Matthews might have been a employee.

The overwhelming majority of African Americans in 1828 in Virginia would have been slaves, BUT, there were also many free African Americans in the Antebellum South -- including in Virginia. Some owned property, most were employees being paid wages.

"Beach to Bluegrass: Places to Brake on Virginia's Longest Road" by Joe Tennis identifies Jimmy Matthews as a slave owned by Creed Haskins, but Tennis isn't a historian and provides no footnotes to substantiate that.

It is POSSIBLE that Matthews really was an employed cook, and not a slave.

[Aardvaark]

03:19 PM on 09/07/2011

Well done.

[Nic the wonder puppy]

02:13 PM on 09/07/2011

Who cares, just give me a dozen