What if we told you that the salads, desserts and snacks you love so much were named after actual people. During the 19th century this was a common practice, foods were named after persons countries and monarchs. It might’ve been the inventor of the dish or the person who enjoyed the dish most.
Where do you think the Caesar salad got its name? Maybe the iconic Julius Caesar or elsewhere. What is the significance of the luxurious “pralines”? You will have to read to find out! Many dishes that we use have a rich and very interesting history behind their names. Check out these delights and see if your favorite is on the list!
Credit: Thedailymeal.com
Pralines
This luxurious chocolate covered nuts are made traditionally in France and Belgium. These delicacies were named after a French diplomat called Marshal du Plessis – Praslin, it is believed that he had his cook create this treat to entice his love interests. Who doesn’t love a good chocolate?
Credit: Thespruceeats.com
Eggs Benedict
This breakfast or brunch staple is a favorite and has two interesting stories of its creation. One legend believes it was created by Lemuel Benedict who created this dish by mistake. The other believes it was created by Delmonico’s restaurant for a pair of regular diners named Mr. and Mrs. LeGrand Benedict. Whichever is correct this tasty sandwich continues to be a hit!
Credit: Oceanspray.com
Nachos
Nachos are crispy corn chips served with jalapenos, sour cream, salsa and guacamole often topped with warm melted cheese. These yummy bites were created in 1943 in Mexico by Ignacio “nacho” Anaya. He invented the snack and served them to ladies who loved them, if you didn’t know this, then now you know, amazing right?
Credit: Verv.com
Clementine
A Clementine is a tangor, a citrus fruit hybrid between a mandarin orange and a sweet orange. The fruit got its name from a monk living in Algeria who grew the hybrid, Clement Rodier. This enjoyable treat is typically sweet, juicy and quite refreshing. The next time you eat one of these tasty citrus fruits remember how it got its name.
Credit: Simplyrecipes.com
Caesar Salad
A Caesar salad contains lettuce, croutons, olive oil, lemon juice topped with shaved parmesan. This delightful creation is credited to restaurateur Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant operating restaurant in Mexico and the United States. The salad was definitely not named after a roman emperor. Now you know.
Credit: Melskitchencafe.com
Cobb Salad
The Cobb salad was named after Robert Howard Cobb, the owner of the Brown Derby in Hollywood. Cobb threw leftover ingredients together and tossed them in French dressing, thus creating the Cobb Salad. The salad has a few variations to accommodate persons who don’t eat bacon. One variation includes lettuce, endives, tomato, turkey bacon, chicken breast, eggs, avocado and Roquefort. Yummy!
Credit: Masterclass.com
Beef Wellington
This dish has a regal name, the large beef filet coated with duxelles and pate is wrapped in Parma covered in pastry then baked. The royal name came from the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley in 1815 in celebration of his victory at the battle of Waterloo. We bet you will think about that the next time this pastry is on the menu.
Credit: Snopes.com
Graham Crackers
The Graham cracker was inspired by Sylvester Graham who started one of the first vegetarian movements in the 19th centuries. The sweet cracker is generally honey or cinnamon flavored and is enjoyed by all ages. Graham flour and bread were also named after him as a result of the movement.
Credit: Challengedairy.com
Fettucine Alfredo
A creamy buttery pasta dish containing, parmesan, butter and pasta which has many varieties and variations. This is often seen on menus around the world and is simple to replicate. This tasty favorite was named after its inventor Alfredo di Lelio who featured this dish at his restaurant in Rome in the early 20th century. Alfredo is still a hit in the 21st century!
Credit: Whenisdinner.com
Salisbury Steak
This dish is made from ground beef and served in a brown sauce with mushrooms. It is commonly referred to as the fancy hamburger and was created and named after James Salisbury, a nutritionist, who promoted the idea of a meat diet for good health. This sounds a lot like the modern keto diet.
Credit: Bettycrocker.com
Bechamel Sauce
A Bechamel sauce is traditionally made from a white roux which is a mixture of butter, flour and milk. This sauce is an important ingredient in several French and Italian recipes, namely lasagna. It was named after a French financier Marquis Louis de Bechamel in the 17th century.
Credit: oetker.co.uk
Victoria Sponge
The royal Victoria Sponge Cake is a simple sponge with a cream and jam filling. The cake was named after Queen Victoria herself who reportedly enjoyed a slice daily with her English afternoon tea. The light delicious cake was prepared as a teatime treat, and it continues to tantalize taste buds to this day!
Did you see any of your favorites amongst the list? How many did you know? We bet you will be thinking about food origins each time you select a meal from a menu or even at home. These interesting historic stories show us the significance behind the dishes we love and enjoy today and that we may continue to enjoy for years to come. I hope you found them as interesting as I did and take a deeper look into how many of the foods we love originated.
