What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a food item? Its flavour? The recipe? How it is served? It's never the backstory of a food item that comes to mind first when discussing it. Few people ponder the origins of a particular item's name. For example, have you ever considered how the sandwich got its name? Isn't that correct? If you're wondering about this detail right now, you've come to the right place.
There are numerous food items that are named after famous people.
1. Margarita- Marjorie King was the inspiration for the name
Its origins are unknown, but most agree that it was invented in the late 1930s in a bar south of Tijuana by a bartender named Carlos "Danny" Herrera. He was said to have made it for Marjorie King, who was allergic to all alcoholic beverages except tequila.
Albert Hernandez, who is known for popularising Margaritas in San Diego after 1947 at the La Plaza restaurant in La Jolla, has also corroborated by stating that Morris Locke, the owner of La Plaza, knew Herrera and visited Mexico frequently.
2. Dongpo Pork- Su Dongpo, a famous Song dynasty poet, inspired the name
Su Dongpo, a famous Song dynasty poet, inspired the dish's name. According to one account, he was cooking pork one day when a friend dropped by. He left the kitchen, switching the fire to low heat, to play chess with the visitor. He was so engrossed in the game that he forgot about the cooking.
It wasn't until the end of the game that he suddenly remembered the pork and dashed to the kitchen. He expected to find the pork burnt to a crisp, but was surprised by the aroma when the pot's lid was lifted. The edible pork had a rich red colour, was tender and crispy but not flaky, and had a glutinous texture without a greasy taste. It became a regular dish for him and his guests from then on.
3. Pizza Margherita- Queen Margherita of Savoy inspired the name
Again, the origin of this famous dish is debated, but legend has it that in 1889, Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples, Italy, and chef Raffaele Esposito of Pizzeria Brandi and his wife created three pizzas for her, one of which had all three colours of the Italian flag: red from tomato, white from mozzarella cheese, and green from basil leaves.
4. Bloody Mary- named after Mary the First of England, who earned the moniker "Bloody Mary" for her cruel actions
Fernand Petiot claimed to have invented the Bloody Mary in Paris in 1921 at Harry's New York Bar. Because it was so harsh, it was dubbed the "Red Snapper" back then. It wasn't until 1933 that he introduced the cocktail's secret ingredient, Tabasco sauce, transforming it into the drink we know today.
Another origin story claims that the cocktail was invented by actor-producer George Jessel and that Petiot simply added the finishing touches in 1939.
5. Kung Pao Chicken- named after Ding Baozhen, a late Qing Dynasty Sichuan governor
It is named after Ding Baozhen, the late Qing Dynasty (late nineteenth century) governor of Sichuan, who is said to have enjoyed eating it a lot — Gong Bao was his official title. This title inspired the name "Kung Pao" chicken.
6. Sandwich- John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an 18th-century English aristocrat, inspired the name
The English word "Sandwich" first appeared in Edward Gibbon's journal, where it was used to refer to "bits of cold meat." It was named after 18th-century English aristocrat John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. As a result, the food has his title rather than his name.
The Earl is said to have requested the specific serving so that he could eat while still playing cards. He requested that the meat be sandwiched between two slices of bread so that he could keep gambling without getting his cards greasy.
7. Caesar Salad- Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who owned restaurants in the United States and Mexico, inspired the name
Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant who owned restaurants in the United States and Mexico, is widely regarded as the inventor of the Caesar salad. According to his daughter, the dish was created during a Fourth of July rush in 1924, when the Tijuana restaurant's few remaining ingredients were thrown together.
8. Egg Kejriwal- Devi Prasad Kejriwal, who liked eggs but grew up in a strictly vegetarian family, inspired the name
Kejriwal was well-liked in the club, and since he couldn't get his favourite eggs at home, he had them his way in the club. As he liked spicy food, it was toast and a fried egg sprinkled with spicy green chillies. This dish is suitable for breakfast, brunch, or evening snacks.
The 'Eggs Kejriwal,' like most classic dishes with cult followings, is as brilliant as it is simple. What could be simpler than eggs, cheese, and bread? And it's perfectly balanced with a healthy dose of crisp green chillies from India.