Dialects and Beverages

[Susan Fox-Davis]

Mycropht bemoans:

"The one that I will NEVER comprehend is the "egg cream".  There's NO
egg in
it.  Anyone from Brooklyn care to explain?!"

My father was from Brooklyn, and he says that it was a Depression-era
treat.  Mostly "two cents plain" with a dash of chocolate syrup and
about an equal amount of milk -- most moderns put in too much milk.  The
name "egg cream" made it sound more extravagant during these hard times,
despite the complete absence of egg and cream.  Call it early 20th C.
Positive-Thinking Marketing!

Susan Fox-Davis