Staples of American cuisine

Was ketchup a fish sauce? Discover the origin of 12 ingredients!

Credit: Sergio Arreola

Did you know that the word food comes from the Old English foda, meaning "nourishment or fuel"? Many of American signature dishes and ingredients are borrowed from other cultures, while others are an inescapable part of our idiosyncrasy. The names of the foods we eat the most in the United States have their origins in different parts of the world. In this article, we have selected 12 popular ingredients to find out how and where they got their names. Explore this list of delicious word histories and see if you can spot your favorite foods!

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The thought of a slice of bacon sizzling on a hot skillet makes anyone's mouth water. Bacon is a key ingredient of American cuisine, present in many recipes, from breakfast to dinner. But you probably never stopped to think about where this word we use so often comes from. Today we're going to fix that.

The word bacon was adopted from French in the 14th century and can be traced back to the ancient German term bakkon meaning "back meat." In its early use, the word could refer to fresh or cured pork and was also used to describe a pig's carcass.

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Mayonnaise is probably the most popular condiment in the United States. Whether as a sandwich spread or as a salad dressing, mayonnaise is present in many of our traditional dishes. Yet, it is not our own invention: we imported it from Europe.

The origin of the term mayonnaise isn’t very clear. It may have been named after a battle at the city of Mahón, Spain, or it may come from moyeu, an older French word for "egg yolk." Other spellings throughout history include bayonnaise, in reference to the French port of Bayonne. Another theory states that the term may have come from the name of Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne, who, according to legend, took the time to finish a dish of saucy chicken before a battle.

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A popular camping tradition and an ingredient in popular snacks, desserts, and cereal, marshmallows are quintessential to American cuisine. So much so that we even have a special day to honor them: 30th August is marked as National Toasted Marshmallow Day.

The word marshmallow comes from the Old English mersc-mealwe, the name of a plant that grows near salt marshes. Back in the 19th century, when was first named, the roots of this plant were used to make early versions of this amazing and versatile confection.

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Broccoli and cauliflower are two controversial vegetables: you either love them or hate them. Yet, according to a survey from Green Giant in 2022, broccoli was voted Americans' favorite vegetable.

Since it’s one of the most consumed vegetables in our country, let us tell you the origin of its name. The word broccoli was adopted from the Italian term broccolo, meaning "sprout". Cauliflower, the least favorite sibling of the Brassica oleracea family, was originally spelled cole florye in English. The term comes from the Italian cavoli fiori, meaning "flowered cabbage".

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Burritos may be a Mexican dish but in America we absolutely adore them. You probably know that the Spanish word burrito means "little donkey" in English. But where does this name come from?

According to legend, a vendor named Juan Mendez roamed the streets of Ciudad Juarez with his donkey during the Mexican Revolution selling a unique concoction of beans and other fillings wrapped in a huge flour tortilla. By all accounts, people began to call them "burritos". Another theory states that they were named after the animal because they contain many different ingredients, and a donkey can carry big packs filled with many things. Whatever its origin, over the years the burrito has become a favorite lunchtime meal both in northern Mexico and the southern United States.

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Oatmeal, chocolate chip, shortbread, or snickerdoodles? Which ones are your favorites? In America, we have an infinite —and delicious— range of cookies. But while these sweet baked snacks are an undeniable part of our cuisine, we have to look for the origin of their name on the other side of the Atlantic.

The word cookie comes from the Dutch koekje, meaning "little cake." Dutch has made significant contributions to English vocabulary, especially in the food and drink department. Since many of the Anglo-Saxons who settled in Britain came from the area now known as the Netherlands, it is not surprising that Old English vocabulary has many parallels in modern Dutch vocabulary. And cookies are no exception!

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Succulent, creamy, and popular, Mac & Cheese are as rich as they are legendary. While it is one of America's iconic dishes, the origin of the pasta, as we know, is Italian.

What we refer to as macaroni comes from the southern Italian dialectal maccaroni, a word for a pasty food made of flour, cheese, and butter. In turn, maccaroni goes back to Greek makaria, meaning "food made from barley".

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A beignet is a sweet deep-fried pastry served under a cloud of powdered sugar that tastes similar to doughnuts. Although they have their origin in French cuisine, beignets are a staple of Southern food culture. They were introduced to New Orleans by French immigrants in the 18th century and to this day are a favorite treat among locals and tourists alike.

As you can imagine, the origin of the word beignet —pronounced "bayne-yay"— is French and its literal translation is "fritter". It comes from the Old French buigne, meaning "bump" or "lump", which in turn might have roots in the Celtic term bigne, meaning "to raise".

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One out of every two Americans starts their day with a bowl of cereal. In fact, Americans consume roughly 2.7 billion boxes every year. Although cereal has been around since the advent of agriculture about 10,000 years ago, breakfast cereal is a decidedly American staple food.

The word cereal, used to refer both to the breakfast food and grains in general, derives from the Roman goddess Ceres, who represented agriculture, crops, fertility, and motherhood. Her name, in turn, comes from Proto-Indo-European ḱerēs, meaning "to satiate, feed," also the source of "create" and "increase."

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Whether as a breakfast meal or grilled for 4th of July celebrations, sausage is one of our most versatile foods and can be eaten alone or used as an ingredient in other dishes.

This type of preparation has been popular throughout Western cuisine for centuries. Before refrigerators and big supermarkets, people needed to preserve foods to eat during long winters. One way to save meat was to salt it and make it into a sausage. For this reason, the origin of this word is easily found in the Latin salsus, meaning "salted".

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Tomato ketchup became popular in the United States in the mid-19th century. Since then it has seasoned our most famous dishes, from hamburgers to french fries. But did you know that in the old days, there were many other flavors of ketchup?

In fact, it is believed it was a word coined in English to refer to various condiments imported from the East. One theory states that the term ketchup comes from a Chinese word for fish sauce which takes various forms in different dialects including kê-chiap and kôe-tsap. Another version says it derives from the name of a Malaysian sauce called kichap, which was made with pickled fish and mushrooms. In any case, it’s a sauce that always makes us happy!

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Our breakfasts would be a lot more dull if we didn't have this golden delicacy to sweeten our pancakes. Syrup is an excellent healthy source of sugar, and we love it! Although the United States is a major producer of syrup, the origin of the word goes back hundreds of years.

The term syrup comes in part from the Old French sirop, meaning "sugared drink" and the Italian siroppo. But these words, in turn, derive originally from the Arabic sharab, which means "to drink".

Engineering masterpieces you’ll want to visit

Man-made wonders: 10 of the world’s most unusual bridges

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Humans have found ingenious ways to cross large bodies of water since the dawn of time. Bridges are synonymous with communication, and thanks to them, mankind has been able to develop cities, entire societies, and booming economies. From suspension to stone bridges, in this article, we have selected 10 remarkable structures that you may not know about but are worth acknowledging for their high cultural and architectural value. Are you up for the challenge?

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In the heart of Singapore, there is a pedestrian bridge called Henderson Waves. This structure, inaugurated in May 2008, was named for its wave-like shape. The total length of the bridge is 899 feet, with 7 semi-curves alternating above and below its deck. It is 26 feet wide and rises 118 feet above the Henderson Road Expressway, making it the highest pedestrian bridge in the country.

Henderson Waves is a very popular walking route among tourists; from its platform, you can get different views of the city and landscapes. It is also part of the Southern Ridges Walk, famous for crossing three parks that offer 6 miles of beautiful gardens.

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At almost 8,070 ft long and 1,104 ft high, the Millau Viaduct is a true engineering marvel. This multi-span cable-stayed bridge over the spectacular Tarn Valley in Aveyron, Southern France, is the highest in the world and is considered one of the greatest engineering achievements of modern times.

Its construction in an area with winds that can reach 80 miles per hour required several years of studies and seven 285 ft high masts weighing 700 tons each. Millau Viaduct was finally inaugurated in December 2004, after 36 months of work, and is expected to have a lifespan of more than 120 years.

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You probably don't walk across the Golden Gate or Brooklyn Bridge expecting to find a market or a shopping center. But centuries ago, it was common for stores —and even houses— to be built on the second floor of a bridge. The most prominent example that still exists today is located in Italy: Ponte Vecchio ("old bridge" in English).

Rebuilt over the Arno River after a flood in 1345, it is said to be the oldest stone bridge in Europe. It was also the only bridge in Florence that wasn't destroyed by bombs during World War II. Nowadays, you can still visit the workshops and jewelry stores that characterize this medieval arch bridge.

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Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, commonly called Ponte JK, crosses Lake Paranoá and was completed in 2002. This spectacular architectural marvel -with a beauty that matches the monumental scale of the Brazilian capital- was named after the president who decided to move the seat of government from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia.

Ponte JK's steel and concrete structure consists of three asymmetrical arches. The design was inspired by the movement of a stone skipping over water. It has a total length of 3,900 ft and a width of 79 ft, divided into six dual traffic lanes, plus special pedestrian and bicycle paths. Together with the stunning modern buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer, this impressive bridge is an integral staple of the city.

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If Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, The Helix, with a length of 920 ft, is the longest in the South Asian country. Located in the ultra-modern Marina Bay area, it is named after the two steel spirals that structure it, resembling the double helix of DNA.

The Helix, made of fritted glass and perforated steel mesh, was inaugurated in 2010 and has won several awards for its great architectural value. It offers four viewing platforms from where you can contemplate the stunning city skyline. As a curiosity, the bridge is lit at night with LED lights forming the letters C, G, A, and T, representing the four bases of DNA: cytosine and guanine, adenine and thymine.

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The Capilano Suspension Bridge is 230 ft above the Capilano River in British Columbia, Canada. The 450-foot-long suspension bridge welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is one of Vancouver's main attractions. The original bridge, made of hemp ropes and cedar planks, was built in 1889. However, after several renovations, it was completely rebuilt in 1956.

Capilano Bridge is currently privately owned but can be accessed by paying an entrance fee. In the park, you can enjoy different features such as Treetops Adventures, a group of towering platforms and suspension bridges, and Cliffwalk, a cantilevered walkway clinging to the cliff above the canyon. If you want to enjoy the temperate West Coast rainforest ecosystem from a privileged high view, visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is the way to go.

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Opened in 2018, Cầu Vàng ("golden bridge" in English) in the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang has already become a global phenomenon, an internet sensation, and an eye-catching attraction for visitors from all over the world.

This ingenious structure is 490 ft long and stands 4,500 ft above sea level. Its impressive design evokes the image of the hands of god pulling a golden thread from the mountains. The pedestrian bridge, which sits proudly against the lush greenery, is now one of Vietnam's most recognizable landmarks and a global icon that has elevated Da Nang as a "must-visit" destination.

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This multi-span road bridge won many awards after its inauguration in 199, thanks to its elegant design. Sunniberg Bridge spans the Landquart River near the village of Klosters in eastern Switzerland. With a length of 1,726 ft, it curves through the valley with a unique Y-shaped support structure that blends seamlessly with the surrounding alpine landscape.

Sunniberg Bridge has become a landmark in the area and a true icon of Swiss engineering. It's especially beautiful during the winter when the tops of the Alps are snow-capped. So, if you're thinking of a skiing getaway, this is a great option!

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Just 25 miles from Dresden, Germany, you can find the Saxon Switzerland National Park. The major landmark of this park is Bastei ("bastion" or "fortification" in English), a majestic rock formation rising 636 ft above the Elbe River, connected by an impressive sandstone bridge built in 1851.

Since then, this 250 ft long bridge has been the main tourist attraction of the area and an inspiration for many artists due to its stunning panoramic views. In fact, Bastien has been the birthplace of the first German landscape photographers.

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Located in the northwest of Vietnam, Bach Long ("white dragon" in English) is the longest glass bridge in the world. Standing 492 feet high, this construction was inaugurated in 2022. Throughout its 2,073 feet long, it offers a panoramic view of the sublime natural landscape of the rural region of Son La.

Seen from a distance, Bach Long Bridge looks like a long strip of white silk, contrasting with the jungle-like mountains. Constructed of huge 40-millimeter-thick glass panels, the bridge is completely see-through and can support up to 450 people at a time. At sunset, it’s lit by a system of multicolored lamps that lead into a cave filled with natural stalactites and stalagmites. The Bach Long glass bridge has become the pride and joy of the locals and is admired by visitors from all over the world. That said, it’s not recommended for people who suffer from vertigo!