Interesting Food Origins

(by Lorie Codispoti)

For health reasons, I’ve had to make some radical changes to my diet over the last few years. I’ve learned more about food science than I ever cared to know.

There is something I’ve actually enjoyed learning about food, however, and that is the etymology of some of my favorites. The history behind some of these origins is quite entertaining. I mean, have you ever wondered who put the “marsh” in “mallow” and why there is no “ham” in your “burger”? The research has been fun so I thought I’d share some of my interesting discoveries with you. We all need a bit of comedy these days.

(Before I start, I thought I’d throw in this little, obscure fact about the Food and Drug Administration... Before 1920, the FDA was known as the Food, Drug and Insecticide Administration. Interesting, huh?)

Okay, here we go…

Hamburger - Why all the pigs are safe.

Hamburgers originate from the German city of Hamburg. It’s home to a cut of beef called the Hamburg steak. In 1940 an attempt was made to change the word to “beefburger,” to emphasize the main ingredient, but someone must not have liked the idea because obviously didn't take.

Pizza - Deep dish with lots of mushrooms, olives, and cheese, please.

Though pizza originated in Greece it was the Italian Queen Margherita who made it famous. In 1889, while out inspecting her kingdom she noticed peasants eating large pieces of flat bread. She became so curious that she tried one, and it quickly became one of her favorite foods. To honor his queen, a local chef created a pizza that he topped with tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil – the colors of the Italian flag.

Coconut - Can anything bad come from a coconut?

Interesting tale: During the 16th century Portuguese parents threatened their children with a bogey-man named Coco (derived from a Latin word that means skull). When Portuguese traders visited the Pacific islands and saw the large, brown fruit of the palm trees, with its three black “eyes,” they were reminded of their childhood horror, Coco. The jury is still out on whether Coco is a nut or a fruit, but “coconut” seems to roll off the tongue easier.

Chewing Gum - I always feel for the kids who wear braces and have to give up their gum for a couple years.

It was 1869, and after many failed attempts at turning chicle into synthetic rubber products like boots, bicycle tires, toys, and masks, Thomas Adams decided to pop a piece of the natural gum from the Manilkara chicle tree into his mouth. After enjoying it and chewing for a while he thought of adding flavoring. It wasn’t long before Mr. Adams opened the world’s first chewing gum factory, and we’ve been chewing on his discovery ever since.

Popcorn - One legend talks of a summer so hot that the corn started popping right off the stalks. (I’d like to live next to that field.)

We all know that the Native Americans introduced corn to the colonists, but did you know that the Iroquois used a pottery vessel with heated sand to make popcorn soup, and that the colonial women mixed sugar and cream with popcorn and served the first “puffed” cereal?

During the Great Depression popcorn was one of the few luxuries one could afford, and the popcorn industry thrived while many others failed.

French Fries - No better way to serve potatoes, in my opinion.

The next time you visit your local fast food restaurant try ordering “potatoes fried in the French manner” and see what kind response you get.

Originally from Belgium, French fries gained popularity among American soldiers when they were stationed there during WWI. But, before that, Thomas Jefferson introduced them to the colonies in the late 1700’s. In one of his manuscripts, he talks about a French dish ,where thin, small slices of raw potato are deep-fried and served hot. Some historians have identified a French chef; maybe that’s how they came to be known as French fries.

In 1853 Cornelius Vanderbilt complained that his fries were too thick, so a chef decided to slice the potatoes paper thin and fry them. Hello, potato chips!

Marshmallow - How about a lovely bouquet of marsh mallows?

The marsh mallow is a hardy plant whose blooms are quite lovely. They were considered to be a weed until medieval herbalists made mallow syrup from the roots and used it as a cough suppressant. Gum Arabic was added and it became such a popular confection that it later evolved into the marshmallow. Hot chocolate and sweet potatoes have never been the same.

Avacado - I refuse to let this influence my love for guacamole.

Colorfully known as the fruit of the “Testicle Tree,” the Aztecs named the avocado after the male body part they felt it most resembled. Fully fruited, avacados hang from the trees in twos, and have a longstanding reputation as aphrodisiacs.

Whoopie Pies - Who doesn’t love cake with cream in the middle?

Though there is no proof, some claim that the name actually comes from the Gus Kahn song "Makin' Whoopee."

Nevertheless, these pillowy, cream-filled confections were created to make use of leftover cake batter. One theory links them to the Amish. Another legend describes children opening their lunchboxes, and upon discovering the treat they would shout, "Whoopie!"

Bubble Drink - Because I love the fizz.

(Technically not a food, but I had to include this favorite. My grandchildren call carbonated water, “bubble drink,” so I’m attributing the origin to them. I’ve become so used to calling it by this new name that I actually ordered it with my food one day. The waitress and I laughed after I explained myself. She remembered me on my next visit and asked, “Bubble drink”? I think it’s catching on.)

What about those foods with strange, or even gross stories? None of these would ever reach my pallet, but I thought their origins were interesting enough to include here.

Century Eggs - Uh, no thanks!

While they are not 100 years old, these eggs are aged for a few months in a brine that turns them black. Sound appetizing?

SPAM - A mystery meat for the brave explorer.

The name is said to have originated from “SPiced hAM,” but in 2019 advertisements turned it into the acronym, Sizzle Pork And Mmmm.

Witchetty Grub - Is this the “cream filled kind” that Pumba talked about in Lion King?

The indigenous Australians were the first to discover that the larva of a moth, that feeds on the Witchety Bush, could be tasty. It is eaten raw or cooked, and is said to taste like chicken. I’m thinking I’ll stick to my chocolate protein shake - I’m sure not to taste it twice.

Rocky Mountain Oysters - While from the Rockies, these are not oysters.

In an effort to keep this article disclaimer free, I’m going to let you research this one on your own. All I can say is GROSS.

Every food has an origin, and very likely an interesting story. If you were writing a family cookbook, which of your favorite culinary masterpieces would you include for future generations?