Pass the Pasta!
Anelli- Ring shaped
Bacatini- Long strands, name means “small cave”
Capelli d’Angelo- Thin delicate strands, name means “angel’s hair”
Conchiglie- Shell shaped
Ditalini- Small tubes, name means “little thimbles”
Farfalle- Bow tie shaped, name means “butterflies”
Fettuccine- Ribbon shaped
Fusilli- Spiral corkscrews
Gemelli- Short pieces of twisted spaghetti, name means “twins”
Linguini- Short thin strands, name means “little tongues”
Manicotti- Tube shaped
Mostaccioli- Small tubes, name means “little moustaches”
Penne- Small thin tubes, name means “quills”
Radiatore- Ridged shaped, name means “radiators”
Rotini- Spirals, name means “twists”
Ruote- Wheel shaped, name means “wheels”
Spaghetti- Long strings, name means “length of cord”
Vermicelli- Slightly thinner than spaghetti, name means “little worms”
Ziti- Tube shaped, name means “bridegrooms”
Say Cheese
Cheeses and their countries of origin
Asadero- USA
Blue castello- Denmark
Brie- France
Camembert- France
Cheshire- England
Edam- Netherlands
Emmanthal- Switzerland
Feta- Greece
Gorgonzola- Italy
Gouda- Netherlands
Halloumi- Cyprus
Havarti- Denmark
Kasseri- Greece
Lappi- Finland
Limburger- Germany
Manchengo- Spain
Nokkelost- Norway
Parmesan- Italy
Postel- Belgium
Stilton- England
According to the Menu
Culinary terms and their translations
A la carte- According to the menu
Balti- Bucket
Burrito- Little donkey
Chop suey- Bits and pieces
Coq au vin- Chicken with wine
Curry- From the Tamil word “kari” meaning sauce
Dopiaza- Double onion
Fajita- Spanish for “girdle”
Farci- French for “stuffed”
Halal- Lawful
Hors d’oeuvre- French for “outside the main work”
Kebab- On a skewer
Mulligatawny- Tamil for “pepper water”
Pizza- Italian for “pie”
Plat du jour- Dish of the day
Rogan josh- red juice
Salsa- Spanish for “sauce”
Smorgasbord- Swedish for “bread and butter table”
Taco- Spanish for “plug”
Tiramisu- Italian for “pick me up”
Vindaloo- Portuguese for “wine and garlic”
The Cocktail Menu
B & B- Brandy and Benedictine
Belfast Bomber- Brandy and Bailey’s
Between the Sheets- Cointreau, rum, brandy, lemon juice
Black Russian- Vodka, kahlua, coke
Black Velvet- Stout and champagne
Bloody Maria- Tequila and tomato juice
Bloody Mary- Vodka and tomato juice
Blue Lagoon- Vodka, Malibu, Curacao, lemonade
Blue Hawaii- White rum, Curacao, pineapple juice, coconut cream
BMW- Bailey’s, Malibu, whisky
Bronx- Gin and vermouth
Bucks Fizz- Champagne and orange
Cosmopolitan- Vodka, triple sec, cranberry and lime
Geisha- Bourbon, sake, lemon and sugar
Gibson- Gin, vermouth and a cocktail onion
Gimlet- Gin and lime
Green Dragon- Champagne and midori
Harvey Wallbanger- Vodka, galliano, orange
Horse’s Neck- Whisky and ginger ale
Kamikaze- Vodka, triple sec, lime
Long Island Iced Tea- Vodka, gin, Cointreau, white rum, lemon juice, cola
Macaroni- Gin and vermouth
Manhattan- Bourbon and vermouth
Margarita- Tequila, Cointreau, lime
Moscow Mule- Vodka, ginger beer and lime
Pina Colada- White rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice
Pink gin- Gin and angostura bitters
Rossini- Sparkling wine and pureed strawberries
Rusty Nail- Whisky and drambuie
Screwdriver- Vodka and orange juice
Sex on the Beach- Vodka, peach schnapps, orange and cranberry
Sidecar- Brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice
Tequila sunrise- Tequila, grenadine, orange
TNT- Tequila and Tabasco sauce
Tombstone- Barley wine and cider
Tom Collins- Gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda
White Lady- Gin, vermouth and lemonade
White Russian- Vodka, kahlua and lemonade
Zombie- White rum, dark rum, grenadine, pineapple juice
Favourite Food & Drink of Fictional Characters
Arthur Daley- Vodka and tonic
Bridget Jones- Chardonnay
Bugs Bunny- Carrots
Desperate Dan- Cow pie
Dougal in The Magic Roundabout- Sugar lumps
Ena Sharples- Milk stout
The Famous Five- Ginger beer
Garfield- Lasagne
Homer Simpson- Duff beer
Hopalong Cassidy- Milk
Inspector Morse- Real ale
James Bond- Vodka martini, shaken not stirred
JR Ewing- Scotch
Paddington Bear- Marmalade sandwiches
Popeye- Spinach
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle- Pizza
Wimpy, companion of Popeye- Hamburgers
Winnie the Pooh- Honey
Worzel Gummidge- Cup of tea and a slice of cake
Yogi Bear- Blueberry pie
Added Good Friday, 2006
Ten People who died of Alcohol related Deaths
Edgar Allan Poe
John Barrymore
Brendan Behan
George Best
Truman Capote
F Scott Fitzgerald
Billie Holliday
Grace Metalious
Jackson Pollock
Bon Scott
Ten State Drinks of the USA
Alabama- Conecuh Ridge whiskey
Florida- Orange juice
Hawaii- Tang soft drink
Louisiana- Milk
Massachusetts- Cranberry juice
Missouri- Budweiser
Ohio- Tomato juice
Rhode Island- Coffee milk
Texas- Dr Pepper
Washington- Water
National Dishes
Austria- Wiener schnitzel, breaded veal cutlet
Belgium- Mussels and fries
Denmark- Roast pork
Ethiopia- Doro wat, a chicken stew
Finland- Hernekeitto, a pea soup
Greece- Moussaka, aubergine and minced lamb dish
Hungary- Goulash
Israel- Colcannon, mashed potatoes cabbage and butter
Japan- Sushi
Korea- Bulgogi, marinated thin strips of grilled steak
Malaysia- Nasi lemak, rice soaked in coconut cream
Peru- Ceviche, raw fish marinated in lime
Russia- Borscht, beetroot soup
Singapore- Chicken rice
Spain- Paella
Switzerland- Rosti, grated potatoes mixed with oil
Ukraine- Pierogi, stuffed dumplings
Added May 8th, 2006
Foods Named after People
Apple Charlotte- Wife of King George III
Bartlett pear-Enoch Bartlett
Bath Oliver biscuits- William Oliver of Bath a 18th century doctor
Béchamel sauce- Louise de Béchamel. a maitre d'Hotel to Louis XVI
Beef Stroganoff- Russian count Pavel Stroganoff
Beef Wellington- Duke of Wellington
Boysenberry- Botanist Rudolf Boysen
Caesar salad- Italian born restaurateur Caesar Cardini
Chateaubriand- Cut of steak named after French diplomat Vicomte Francois Rene de Chateaubriand
Clementine- Pierre Clement, a 20th century French monk
Dr Pepper- Dr Charles Pepper, a Virginia pharmacist
Eggs Berlioz- French composer Hector Berlioz
Frangipane- Muzio Frangipani, a 16th century Italian marquis
Garibaldi biscuits- Giuseppe Garibaldi
Granny Smith apples- Maria Anne Smith
Greengage plum- Botanist Sir William Gage
Harvey Wallbanger- Californian surfer Tom Harvey
Melba toast and peach melba- Dame Nellie Melba
Pavlova- Anna Pavlova
Pizza Margherita- Queen Margherita of Savoy
Sandwich- John Montagu, the 7th Earl of Sandwich
Tournedos Rossini- Italian composer, Gioacchino Rossini
Victoria plum- Queen Victoria
Added May 14th, 2006
TV Pubs, Clubs and Restaurants
Blackadder- Mrs Miggins Coffee House
Brookside- Bar Brookie and the Millennium Club
Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Double Meat Palace
Chef- Le Chateau Anglais
Cheers- The Hungry Heifer
Coronation Street- Rover's Return
Deadwood- No. 10 Saloon
Early Doors- The Grapes
Eastenders- Queen Vic
Emmerdale- Woolpack and Malt Shovel
Family Affairs- Black Swan
Family Guy- Drunken Clam
Frasier- Cafe Nervosa
Friends- Central Perk coffee house
Golden Girls- The Rusty Anchor
Goodnight Sweetheart- Royal Oak
Happy Days- Arnold's Diner
Heartbeat- Aidensfield Arms
Hollyoaks- Dog in the Pond
Last of the Summer Wine- Sid's Cafe
Minder- Winchester Club
Neighbours- Grease Monkeys cafe and Hemisphere nightclub
Only Fools and Horses- Nag's Head
The Royle Family- The Feathers
Rumpole of the Bailey- Pomeroy's Wine Bar
The Simpson's- Moe's Tavern, Frying Dutchman (sea food), Happy Sumo (sushi), Singing Sirloin restaurant
Sopranos- Bada Bing nightclub
Star Trek: The Next Generation- Ten Forward Lounge bar
Where the Heart Is- Skelthwaite Arms
Added Friday , May 26, 2006
20 Famous People that have suffered from Eating Disorders
Paula Abdul- Bulimia
Karen Carpenter- Anorexia nervosa
Nadia Comaneci- Anorexia and bulimia
Sandra Dee- Anorexia
Susan Dey- Anorexia
Princess Diana- Bulimia
Sally Field- Anorexia and bulimia
Jane Fonda- Bulimia
Geri Halliwell- Anorexia
Audrey Hepburn- Anorexia
Alfred Hitchcock- Compulsive eating disorder
Janet Jackson- Disorganised eating disorder
Elton John- Bulimia
Alanis Morissette- Disorganised eating disorder
Marie Osmond- Bulimia
Christina Ricci- Anorexia
Joan Rivers- Bulimia
Ally Sheedy- Anorexia and bulimia
Billy Bob Thornton- Anorexia
Lena Zavaroni- Anorexia
Added June 7, 2006
The Wine List
A Wine Glossary
Angel's share- Quantity of wine in a barrel lost through evaporation
Aroma- Smell of a younger wine
Balthazar- 16 size bottle
Bouquet- Aroma given off by aged wines
Brut- Dry
Cuvee- Blending of several wines
Hogshead- Barrel holding 63 gallons
Jeroboam- 4 size bottle
Magnum- 2 size bottle
Melchior- 24 size bottle
Methuselah- 8 size bottle
Nebuchadnezzar- 20 size bottle
Oenology- The study of wine
Pomace- Seeds, stalks and skins that remain after preparation
Punt- Dent at the base of a wine bottle
Rehoboam- 6 size bottle
Salmanazar- 12 size bottle
Sovereign- 67 size bottle
Split- Quarter bottle
Ullage- Gap in a bottle between the cork and the wine
Added July 2nd, 2006
Former Names
Bovril- Johnston's Fluid Beef
Curly Wurly- Sold in Canada as Wig Wag
Gordon's Gin- Special London Dry Gin, renamed after the Scottish distiller Alexander Gordon
Hovis- Smith's Patent Germ Bread
Jelly Babies- Originally called Peace Babies to mark the end of World War I
Kit Kat- Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp
Maltesers- Energy Balls
Minstrels- Treets
Ovaltine- Ovomaltine
Pacers- Opal Mints
Pepsi Cola- Brad's Drink after North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham
PG Tips- Digestive
Pringles- Pringles New Fangled Potato Chips
7 Up- Bib Label Lithiated Lemon Lime Soda
Smarties- Chocolate Niblet Beans
Snickers- Marathon
Sprite- Clear Lemon Fanta
Starburst- Opal Fruits
Added July 21, 2006
More Commonly Known as...
Acetic acid- Vinegar
Albumen- Egg white
Allium satvium- Garlic
Anise, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, fennel- Five Spice powder
Ascorbic acid- Vitamin C
Brassica rapa- Turnip
Bummalo fish, dried and salted- Bombay duck
Emulsified pig fat- Lard
Eleocharis dulchis- Water chestnuts
Glycyrrhiza glabra- Liquorice
Grenadilla- Passion fruit
Magnesium sulphate- Epsom salts
Petroselinum crispum, Salvia officinalis, Thymus and Rosimarinus officinalis- Parsley, sage , rosemary and thyme
Pith of a palm tree- Sago (obtained from)
Root of the cassava plant- Tapioca (obtained from)
Sodium bicarbonate- Baking soda
Sodium chloride- Salt
Sturgeon or beluga roe- Caviar
Trimethylxanthine- Caffeine
Vicia faba- Broad bean
Added August 25, 2006
Fictional Food and Drink
Alamo Beer drunk in the cartoon series King of the Hill
Bongo Flakes, breakfast cereal in Hollyoaks
Butterbeer in the Harry Potter tales
Buzz Cola in The Simpson's, advertised with the slogan Twice The Sugar Twice The Caffeine
Duff Beer, the favoured tipple of Homer Simpson
Gagh, a worm soup -favourite dish of the Klingons
Honeydukes sweet shop in the Potter novels sells a variety of confectionary including Bertie Bolt's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Cockroach Clusters, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and Fizzing Wizzbees (made from dried billywig stings)
Kelp Nougat Crunch in Spongebob Squarepants
Lembas also known as waybread ,a source of nourishment for Middle Earth elves in the Lord of the Rings
Leopard Lager in Red Dwarf
Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, a potent cocktail in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy invented by Zaphod Beeblebrox
Rocka Cola in The Flintstones
Romulan ale, an illegal blue beverage in Star Trek
Stay Puft Marshmallows in Ghostbusters
Wonka Bars in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory including the flavours of Whipple Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight and Triple Dazzle Caramel