Fettuccine Alfredo – Alfredo di Lelio, an early-20th century Italian chef invented the dish for his wife in his Rome restaurant. The dish became famous in part because the movie stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks touted it after their 1927 visit to Rome.
Eggs Benedict – There are two claims to this name. (Take your pick!)
1) Lemuel Benedict, a New York stockbroker, claimed to have gone to the Waldorf Hotel for breakfast one day in 1894 while suffering a hangover. He asked for a restorative in the form of toast, bacon, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce on the side. The maître d’hotel of the Waldorf took an interest in Benedict’s order, and adapted it for the Waldorf menu, substituting English muffins and ham and adding truffles.
2) In 1893, the head chef of Delmonico’s restaurant, created the dish for Mr. and Mrs. LeGrand Benedict, New York stockbroker and his socialite wife.
Chateaubriand – both a cut of beef and a recipe for steak named for Vicount Chateaubriand (1768-1848), French writer and diplomat. The dish was created around 1822 while Chateaubriand was ambassador to England.
Coquilles St. Jacques – The French for scallops – Coquilles, this popular scallop dish with butter and garlic, owe their name to St James the first martyred apostle. His shrine in Santiago de Campostela, Spain, draws pilgrims from all over Europe. The scallop’s shell became an emblem of the pilgrimage as it was used as a water cup along the way, and sewn to the pilgrims’ clothes like a badge.
Pavlova – named after the famous Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), Both Australia and New Zealand have claimed to be the source of the meringue (“light as Pavlova”) and fruit dessert.
Beef Wellington – Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), British hero of the battle of Waterloo, has this dish of beef named after him made with mushrooms, truffles and Madeira sauce, all encased in a pastry crust He apparently liked this dish so much it had to be served at every formal dinner, the shape also resembles the famous Wellington boot.
Pizza Margherita – Queen Margherita of Savoy (1851-1926) was presented with this pizza in the colours of the Italian flag on a trip to Naples around. 1889.
Cherry Garcia ice cream –Ben & Jerry’s ice cream homage to American rock band Grateful Dead’s leader Jerry Garcia (1942-1995). (But you knew that one – didn’t you!!)
interesting post. although tongue firmly in cheek and blatant link promotion – you missed the Presley – http://chuckcotton.com/2011/08/16/elvis-presleys-long-lost-smoothie-recipe-aug-16/