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Egg cream

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused withCadbury Creme Egg.
Egg cream
TypeFountain beverage
Country of originUnited States
FlavorVarious; primarilychocolate,but can be any flavored syrup
IngredientsFlavored syrup,milk,soda water

Anegg cream[1]is a coldbeverageconsisting ofmilk,carbonated water,andflavored syrup(typicallychocolateorvanilla), as a substitute for anice cream float.[2]Ideally, the glass is left with2⁄3liquid and1⁄3foamyhead.[3]Despite the name, the drink contains neither eggs nor cream.[4]

The egg cream is almost exclusively afountaindrink. Although there have been several attempts to bottle it, none have been wholly successful, as its refreshing taste and characteristicheadrequire mi xing of the ingredients just before drinking.

Etymology theories and speculations

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The ingredients of an egg cream:Fox's U-Betchocolate syrup,[5]seltzer, and whole milk

The peculiarity that an egg cream contains neither eggs nor cream has been explained in various ways. Stanley Auster, who claims that his grandfather invented the beverage, has said that the origins of the name are "lost in time."[6]

The egg cream originated amongYiddish-speakingEastern European Jewishimmigrants in New York City, so one explanation claims thateggis a corruption of the Yiddishecht'genuine or real', making an egg cream a "good cream".[7]

Food historian Andrew Smith writes: "During the 1880s, a popular specialty was made with chocolate syrup, cream, and raw eggs mixed into soda water. In poorer neighborhoods, a less expensive version of this treat was created, called the Egg Cream (made without the eggs or cream)."[8]

Another explanation comes from reports that it grew out of a request forchocolat et crèmefrom someone, possibly the actorBoris Thomashefsky[9]who had experienced a similar drink in Paris.[10][11]His heavy accent altered the name into something like "egg cream," which then developed into the current term.

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  • "Egg Cream", song by Lou Reed (Set The Twilight Realingalbum, 1996)
  • Mentioned in the novel Marathon Man by William Goldman, 1974
  • Discussed in "The West Wing" TV series (s2, e3 "The Midterms" )

See also

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References

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  1. ^"The New York Egg Cream".ArcGIS StoryMaps.19 December 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 27 November 2023.Retrieved12 March2022.
  2. ^Stuart, Marcia."The New York Egg Cream".EGO.Epicurus. Archived fromthe originalon 31 March 2015.Retrieved12 March2022.
  3. ^Stern, Michael; Stern, Jane (Jul 10, 1985)."Egg Cream is a delicacy at candy store in Bronx".The Evening Independent.p. 3B.Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2016.Retrieved29 March2015.
  4. ^Arenstein, Noah (2014-11-19)."12 things you didn't know about NYC egg creams".Thrillist.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-05-17.Retrieved12 March2022.
  5. ^Mead, Rebecca (8 August 2011)."Proustian".The New Yorker.Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2021.Retrieved12 March2022.
  6. ^Mariani, John F. (1999).Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink.Lebhar-Friedman:New York.
  7. ^Ringler, Rachel (16 June 2021)."What is an egg cream and why is it so Jewish?".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021.Retrieved12 March2022.
  8. ^Smith, Andrew F. (2014).New York City: A Food Biography.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 111.
  9. ^Gould, Jillian (2002). "Candy Stores and Egg Creams".Jews of Brooklyn.UPNE. p. 203.
  10. ^Stradley, Linda (17 April 2015)."New York Egg Cream Recipe and History".What's Cooking America.Archivedfrom the original on 20 March 2022.Retrieved12 March2022.
  11. ^Lee, Jennifer (5 August 2008)."Can the Egg Cream Make a Comeback?".City Room.The New York Times Company.Archivedfrom the original on 28 January 2022.Retrieved12 March2022.
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Look upegg creamin Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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