This page is organic, it will grow with the blog as we find new words that might interest everyone. No excessive fancy words, just enough useful information to navigate the NY dining scene.
~A~
Amuse Bouche
A complimentary, bite sized snack offered at many restaurants to start off the dinner.
~B~
Black Centurion (aka Black Card)
American Express card for people who spend over $250,000 a year. Frequently spotted at upscale restaurants.
~C~
Celebrity Chef
Household names created by the onslaught of food related television shows since the 1990s.
Crudo
In Italian cuisine, raw fish served with olive oil, designed to showcase the natural flavors of the seafood.
~E~
Eataly
Mario Batali’s massive Italian grocery in Manhattan, opened in 2010.
Eat Big Apple
A great blog, a great book.
~F~
The French Laundry
The best restaurant, at least in terms of critical acclaim, in the United States. Located near Napa Valley, in California.
~M~
Maitre d’
The really hot looking guy/girl at the front door taking reservations.
Michelin Guide
A food review guide published by Michelin, the tire company. Originally written to highlight dining destinations worth driving to.
~O~
Omakase
“I leave myself in your hands”, or a really fancy way of saying “Feed me, anything you got”
~T~
Tamale
A traditional Latin American dish similar to salsa.
Thomas Keller
Some say he’s the best American born chef? The executive chef of Per Se and The French Laundry.
Tiramisu
Italian for “Pick me up”, made with Mascarpone Cheese and sometimes include raw eggs. Bet you didn’t want to know that.
Truffles
Comes in white or black, a dried fungus served over Italian food to enhance flavor of dishes.
~U~
Uni
Sea urchin roe, popular in Japanese and Italian restaurants.
~W~
Wasabi
A root, usually ground and served with Sushi. Cheap sushi places uses a horseradish paste dyed green.
~Y~
Yakitori
Japanese BBQ skewers.
~Z~
Zabaglione
An Italian custard like dessert made with eggs, it is light, fluffy, and quite sweet.
Zagat
Pronounced Za-Gat. A restaurant review guide where scores are compiled via diner surveys.
