Guest Jesse Tyler Ferguson from 'Modern Family' shares amusing stories from his culinary adventures, including dining with Joan Rivers. The podcast also explores the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra's unique music, Yucatecan Citrus-Marinated Pork Tacos recipe, and the linguistic origins of grilling terms.
The term 'grill' has origins in woven reeds structures for cooking over fire before metal platforms, connecting to Latin word 'kratis'.
'Grid' and 'griddle' share linguistic ties with 'grill', while 'gridlock' originates from New York City traffic jams.
The word 'barbecue' stems from Caribbean 'barbacoa', evolving into English term, notably used in 'jerk chicken' Jamaican preparation.
Deep dives
Origin of the Word 'Grill'
The term 'grill' originates from the Latin word 'kratis', meaning 'wickerwork'. Before cooking on metal over fire, people used structures made of woven reeds. The word 'grille' evolved from 'kratis' through various languages and means, in essence, a platform for cooking over fire.
Relating the Word 'Grid'
The term 'grid' is also connected to 'grill' and 'griddle', belonging to the same linguistic family. A griddle is a piece of metal used for heating food with parallel lines, while 'grid' refers to an arrangement of intersecting lines. 'Gridlock' originated in New York City and is a traffic jam term.
The Evolution of 'Barbecue'
The word 'barbecue' comes from the Caribbean term 'barbacoa', adopted by the Spanish as 'barbacoa'. The meaning transferred to 'barbecue' in English. The term is particularly relevant in the Jamaican 'jerk chicken' preparation, cooked over pimento wood.
The Transformation of 'Charcoal Briquette'
The term 'charcoal briquette' is a compound word conveying transformation and coal. 'Char' stems from an old English word meaning 'to turn', while 'coal' remains unchanged in its meaning. 'Briquette' is a French word for 'little brick'. The term 'giro' means 'turning' in Greek, reflecting the rotating cooking method of this dish.
Culinary Transformation and 'Shish Kebab'
The word 'shish kebab' incorporates Turkish and Armenian terms, with 'shish' referring to a skewer and 'kebab' symbolizing roasted meat. 'Suvlaki', a Greek dish, derives its name from a Latin term meaning a pointed leatherworking tool used for making holes, related etymologically to 'suture'. The 'giro' or Greek 'jero' dish also emphasizes the aspect of turning.
Language of Grilling and Culinary Transference
Grilling and culinary terminology hold intricate linguistic connections stemming from Latin, Greek, Turkish, and French origins. Words like 'grill', 'grid', 'barbecue', 'charcoal briquette', 'giro', and 'shish kebab' reflect the cultural evolution of culinary techniques and ingredients across regions and languages.
This week, we’re sitting down with “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who once scored an invite to Passover at Joan Rivers’ house and can’t stop eavesdropping at restaurants. Plus, we hear the music of the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra; A Way With Words teaches us the language of the grill; and we prepare Yucatecan Citrus-Marinated Pork Tacos, just in time for summer.
Get this week’s recipe for Yucatecan Citrus-Marinated Pork Tacos here.
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