Do Italians Dip Bread in Olive Oil?

In two of the Italian chain restaurants I sometimes visit, they always give you seasoned olive oil in a small bowl to go along with your complementary bread. You are supposed to dip your bread in the olive oil. It’s delicious. One of the restaurants calls it “Italian butter.” And, I’ve also heard of people … Read more

Yes, We Have No Bananas! The Most Popular Catchphrase of the 1920s

yes, we have no bananas sheet music covers and news story

This is a tribute to the best song ever written, itself, a tribute to humorously bad English. It’s called Yes, We Have No Bananas. Perhaps I exaggerate, but there was a time in the 1920s when people thought this phrase, and the song it came from, was the best thing since Eskimo Pies. In fact, … Read more

imarku 7-Inch Santoku Chef Knife: Broken Blades, Broken Promises

Like many kitchen knives on Amazon, the imarku 7-Inch Santoku Chef Knife promises the world for a very low price. You get a perfectly balanced, ultra-sharp, highly polished knife with pretty pakkawood handle. The blade is hollow-edged, meaning it’s scalloped so food won’t stick to it. It’s made of some kind of very hard steel. … Read more

What’s the Difference Between Sprinkles and Jimmies on Ice Cream?

ice cream topped with sprinkles or jimmies

I don’t go in for topping my ice cream with candy. It’s sweet enough for me as it is. But, I’m the exception. You can’t have an ice-cream shop without an assortment of sprinkles or jimmies, those little sweet candy pieces that ice cream lovers use to adorn their scoop or cone. But, what’s the … Read more

What is a Two-Top in a Restaurant?

two-top in a restaurant with a couple reading menus

In the restaurant business, the suffix -top refers to a table or a group of customers at a table. A number is used before -top to refer to how many covers, or place-settings, the table accommodates. Thus, a two-top is a table that seats two guests and accommodates two covers. And once you know what … Read more