Melba

/ˈmɛlbə/ noun

Definition

A type of thin, crisp toast typically served with soup or as a snack; named after an opera singer.

Etymology

Named after Dame Nellie Melba, an Australian opera singer (1861-1931). The toast was created by a French chef Auguste Escoffier in her honor. Several dishes were named after her, including Peach Melba, the dessert.

Kelly Says

Melba toast is one of history's weirdest food etymologies—it's named after an Australian opera singer so famous in the early 1900s that Escoffier created dishes honoring her. When you eat Melba toast, you're eating a tribute to a woman who probably never imagined her name would survive longer on menus than her opera performances did.

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