PCA Food & Beverage Encyclopedia     A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

M   M&B Mild is a reddish, full-bodied cask mild from Mitchells & Butlers brewery in, Birmingham. Mabby is a spirituous liquour distilled from potatoes in Barbados. Macadamia Nut - A small, round, brown nut with a buttery, slightly sweet flavor and a high fat content. Used in a variety of dishes. Also known as "bush nut." Macaroni - A noodle made from semolina and water. Most are tube-shaped, but twists and ribbons are available too. Popular tube shapes are: elbow (short, curved), mostaccioli (large, diagonally cut), rigatoni (short, grooved), ziti (long, thin). Macaroon is a cake or bicuit consisting chiefly of ground almonds, egg white and sugar, baked. Mace is a kind of spice extracted from the covering of the nutmeg. There are two types: Red mace is the aril of Myristica tingens. White mace that of Myristica Otoba. Both East Indian trees of the same genus as the nutmeg tree. Mackerel - A long, slender saltwater fish. The flesh is firm and fatty, with a distinctive savory flavor. The most popular mackerel is the king mackerel, also known as the "kingfish." Mackerel, King - Also called the "kingfish," this is the most popular variety of mackerel. This fish has a firm, high-fat flesh with a savory flavor. Mackerel, Pacific - Also called the "chub," this species of Pacific mackerel is also found in the Mediterranean. Like other mackerels, this fish is fatty and has a strong flavor. Mackeson's Stout is England's best-known bottled sweet stout. It is made by Whitbread and is a blackish colour with a sugary, fruity taste. It was originally brewed by the firm of Mackeson in Hythe, Kent, in 1907. At that time it was claimed to be a tonic for invalids because it contained milk sugar or lactose. The sugar does not ferment, so the beer is low in alcohol. Mackeson's was called milk stout until the British Government banned the term in 1946. However, Whitbread continues the connection through a milk churn on the label. It is still the leading brand in a declining sweet stout market and was once exported to 60 countries, and was brewed under licence in Belgium, Jamaica, New Zealand and Singapore. Madiera Wine - A fortified wine named after the Portuguese island of Madiera. Its color ranges from pale blond to tawny; its flavor from very dry to very sweet. Magnet is a nutty-tasting premium bitter from the John Smith's brewery, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. Magnum is a large bottle containing the equivalent of two ordinary (75 or 80 centilitres) bottles. Mahi Mahi - Also called "dolphin fish." Although this fish is a dolphin, it is not a mammal. To avoid this confusion, the Hawaiian name "Mahi Mahi" is becoming prevalent. This fish is moderately fat with firm, flavorful flesh. Mai Tai - An alcoholic beverage made from light and dark rums, orgeat syrup, curacao, and orange and lime juices. In Tahitian, "Mai Tai" means "out of this world." Maitre d'Hotel, a la: (French) A yellow butter sauce consisting of lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper, and drawn butter. Butter: Same as theother but with whole butter. Maitre d'Hotel: (French) The head of the catering department. Malaga is a sweet fortified dessert wine from Malaga, in Spain. Malmsey is a strong, sweet wine with a strong flavour. It was originally made in Greece, but now most of it is made in Madeira. Malt - A powder made by germinating, drying, and grinding grains. Enzymes are added during the process to partially convert the starch to sugar. This creates the sweet-tasting malt used in brewing, distilling, yeast-making, and vinegar. Malt and Hops is a lively, seasonal ale made by Wadworth's, in Devizes, Wiltshire. It is one of a range of seasonal brews made using the new season' s unkilned fresh hops. Malt is derived from grain, usually barley, which is steeped in water and made to germinate which causes the grain's starch to convert into saccharine matter, it is then dried in a kiln and used in the brewing of beer, distilling of whisky and other culinary uses. Mamaliga is a type of corn meal mush popular in Romania. It is used to make bread and cooked in various other ways including being used to make fried dumplings. Mame-Kogi - Miso made from soy beans. Mandarin - A cooking style which, in Chinese, means "Chinese official." Mandarin cooking is an aristocratic cuisine that takes the very finest elements from all the Chinese regions. Mandarin Orange - A category of thin-skinned citrus fruit that includes several varieties. The most common variety sold in the U.S. is the "tangerine." It has a delicate, somewhat spicy tart. Mango - The fruit of the tropical mango tree. The flesh is very juicy and pleasantly acid. Used in snacks, jams, jellies, and desserts. Green mangos are used to make pickles and chutney. Manhattan - An alcoholic beverage made with bourbon or blended whiskey mixed with sweet vermouth and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Manhattan Clam Chowder: Made with quahog clams, tomatoes, onions, celery, and potatoes. Manicotti - A tube-shaped pasta noodle approximately 4 inches long by 1 inch in diameter. Normally stuffed with a cheese or meat mixture, covered with a sauce, then baked before serving. Manioc - A root with a crisp white flesh. There are two main categories of manioc: sweet and bitter. Bitter maniocs are toxic until cooked. Manioc is used to make "cassreep" and "tapioca." Also called "cassava." Mann's Original is England's best-known bottled, sweet brown ale. It has a sticky, sugary texture and a fruity taste, and is now brewed by Ushers in Wiltshire. Mansfield Bitter is a refreshing, sweetish bitter brewed using traditional Yorkshire squares by the Mansfield brewery, Nottinghamshire. Mao-tai is a strong liquor based upon sorghum distilled in south-west China. Maple Syrup - A syrup made by boiling the sap of the maple tree until it has the consistency of syrup. Boiled longer, it becomes "maple honey." Longer still, and it becomes maple cream or butter. When cooked long enough, it becomes maple sugar. Maraschino is a white liqueur distilled from a cherry grown in Dalmatia. Margarine - A vegetable oil butter substitute. Cream or milk is often added to make it taste more like butter. Regular margarine contains at least 80% fat. Diet margarines contain about 40% fat. Whipped margarine has up to 50% air beaten into it. Margarita - An alcoholic beverage containing tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. A frozen margarita is blended with ice cubes. Marinade - A highly seasoned liquid in which foods are soaked. Marinating foods permits them to absorb the flavor of the marinade. Most marinades contain a acid of some sort (lemon juice, vinegar, wine) which aid in tenderizing meats. Marinara - A highly seasoned Italian tomato sauce used with pasta and some meats. Marinara is made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and oregano. Marjoram - A culinary herb from the mint family with a mild, sweet sagelike flavor. Used to flavor meats and stews. Marmalade is a kind of jam usually made from oranges or lemons, but also made from ginger and other fruits. Marmalade Plum - Fruit of a tree, native to Mexico and Central America, also called the "marmalade tree" or "sapote." It offers a sweet, edible fruit. Marrow Bean - A type of white bean that is generally dried before use. Marrow Squash - Also known as "vegetable marrow," this oval squash-like gourd, which is related to the zucchini, has a bland flavor and is often stuffed with a meat filling. Marsala is a dry or sweet Sicilian dessert wine, with a dark amber colour and a caramel flavour. It is fortified with grape juice that has been cooked and reduced to one-third of its original volume. Marshmallow - An American confection made from sugar gelatin, corn syrup, gum arabic, and flavoring. Some add egg whites for additional fluffiness. Marshmallows used to be made from the sweetened extract of the roots of the marshmallow plant. Marston's Sundance is a strong golden pale ale characterised by a crisp bitterness derived from golden hops. Martini - An alcoholic beverage made with gin and vermouth, then garnished with a green olive or a lemon twist. A "dry" martini contains less vermouth. A "vodka martini" uses vodka instead of gin. Mascarpone Cheese - Soft and delicate Italian cream-enriched cow's milk cheese with a high butter fat content. Sometimes blended with other flavors or sweetened with fruit. Matai - The nut-like kernel of a water plant that grows in southeast Asia. The flesh is white, crunchy, crisp, juicy and a somewhat sweet nutty flavor. More commonly known as "water chestnut." Mate tea or Paraguay tea is a beverage prepared from the Brazilian holly, infused in water and sweetened with burnt sugar and often flavoured with lemon juice. Matzo - A thin, crisp, unleavened bread that is traditionally eaten during the Jewish Passover. Tradition dictates that matzos be made only with water and flour, but moderns include certain flavors, such as onion. Mauldon Special is a very hoppy cask beer from the Mauldon brewery in Suffolk. Mayonnaise - A thick, creamy emulsion of vegetable oil, egg yolks, and seasonings. This product is called "salad dressing" if no eggs are used. Commercial mayonnaise must contain at least 65% oil by weight. Mayonnaise is of French origin. Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey. Meat Tenderizer - Most chemical meat tenderizers are a powder composed chiefly of "papain," an enzyme extracted from papayas. This enzyme is effective in breaking down the meat fibers. Meatball - Chopped meat formed into balls and cooked. Additional ingredients are sometimes added to the meat. Melba Toast - This accompaniment to soups and salads is a very thin, dry toast. Created by Auguste Escoffier for opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. Menthe: (French) Mint. Meringue - A mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and granulated sugar. Merlin Stout is a medium strength stout brewed by the Tomos Watkins brewery of Llandeilo, Wales. Merlot is a type of grape used to produce red wine. It is one of the major components of most French Bordeaux, and possess less tannin than some other varieties making for a smoother characteristic in the wine. Merman XXX is a Scottish ale brewed with a mix of roast and crystal malts to a 19th century recipe by the Caledonian Brewing Company of Edinburgh. Mesquite - A hardwood tree indigenous to the American Southwest. Mesquite it used in barbecuing and smoking foods. It imparts a slightly sweet flavor to the meats. Metheglin was a peculiar form of spiced or medicated mead produced in Wales. Mexican Potato - Large bulbous root vegetable with a thin brown skin and a white crunchy flesh with a texture similar to water chestnut. It has a sweet, nutty flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. Mild is a low-gravity malty beer. Milk Stout is a type of stout with added lactose (milk sugar). The term was banned in Britain in 1946 because of the implication that milk was added to the brew. Milkfish - An important food fish of the Indo-Pacific region that offers a tender, white flesh. Hawaiians use milkfish for making fish cakes and sashimi. Also called "awa." Milkshake - An American beverage consisting blended milk, ice cream, and flavorings. Millennium Gold is a fruity, amber, cask beer produced by Crouch Vale brewery, Essex. Millet - A bland flavored cereal grass used chiefly for forage in the U.S., but as a staple for one-third of the world's population. Millet can be boiled and used to make a hot cereal pilaf or ground and used as flour. Minced: Ground or chopped fine. Ministerley Ale is a complex, pale, cask bitter from the Salopian brewery, Shrewsbury. Mint - The two most popular types of the over 30 varieties of mint are peppermint and spearmint. Peppermint is more pungent. Mint is used in both savory and sweet dishes. Mint Julep - A cocktail composed of fresh mint, bourbon, and crushed ice. Traditionally served in an iced pewter or silver mug at the running of the Kentucky Derby. Mishla is a ferment liquor made from plantain, cassava, maize etc. produced in eastern Central America. Miso - A paste of fermented soybeans used as a flavoring agent in much of Japanese cuisine. Generally, the lighter the color, the milder the flavor. Miso is easy to digest and is extremely nutritious. Mitchell's bitter is an amber-coloured, mild-tasting, hoppy bitter from Mitchell's of Lancaster. Mocha - A strong, slightly bitter coffee that originally referred only to a very fine coffee grown in Arabia and shipped from Yemen's port of Mocha. Mocha also refers, nowadays, to a hot coffee-and-chocolate beverage. Mochi - A sweet, short-grained, Glutinous rice with a very high starch content that is used to make rice cakes. Molass was a Scottish liquor distilled from mollasses. Molasses - A thick brown syrup that is separated from raw sugar during the refinement process. Mole - A rich, dark reddish-brown Mexican sauce that is often served over poultry. Mole contains onion, garlic, chili peppers, ground seeds, and a small amount of Mexican chocolate. Moles best is a fruity cask bitter, the leading beer from the Moles brewery, Wiltshire. Mondongo is a Puerto Rican tripe stew flavoured with bitter orange and annatto. Monkey Wrench is a smooth, dark, sweetish, potent beer which is produced by the Daleside brewery in the spa town of Harrogate, Yorkshire. Monkfish - This large low-fat, firm-textured salt-water fish has a mild, sweet flavor similar to lobster. Sometimes referred to as "poor man's lobster." Also called "Angler," "Lotte," "Belly-Fish," "frogfish," "Sea Devil," and "Goosefish." Monosodium Glutamate - Known as "MSG," this natural white flavor-enhancing amino acid was isolated from seaweed in 1908. Some people experience allergic reactions to MSG, producing dizziness, headache, facial pressure, etc. Monterey Jack Cheese - This semi-soft buttery ivory cheese is made from whole, partly skim, and skim milk. It hails from Monterey, California and is also called "California Jack" or "Jack." Somes contain jalapeños and other flavorings. Moochim - A Korean-style dried fish with soy sauce. Moonraker is a rich, strong, orangey ale from the J.W. Lees brewery, Manchester. Moose - A large member of the deer family with enormous palmate antlers. Moose meat is called "venison." Antelope, caribou, elk, deer, and reindeer meat is also classified as venison, the most popular large animal game meat in the U.S. Mornay Sauce - A Béchamel sauce to which cheese has been added. Parmesan and Swiss are two popular choices for the cheese. Morocco ale is a dark, rich, spicy bottled ale said to be based on a 300- year-old recipe. It is produced by the Daleside brewery, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Morrells bitter is a golden-brown cask bitter from the Morrells brewery in Oxford. Mortadella - A smoked sausage from Bologna, Italy, the city that brought us "bologna" sausage. Made from finely ground beef, pork, cubes of pork fat, and seasonings. Mostaccioli - A large, 2-inch macaroni tube cut on the diagonal. This noodle is available with both a ridged or a plain surface. Moth Bean - A low, trailing Indian plant of the legume family. The edible beans are mottled grayish-yellow. Mousse - A rich, airy dish that can be sweet or savory and served hot or cold. The fluffiness comes from whipped cream or beaten egg whites. Mousses are made with meat, fish, vegetables, cheese, chocolate, and fruit purees. Mozzarella Cheese - A soft white cheese with a mild flavor. Used on pizzas because of its excellent melting properties. In southern Italy where it originated, it is still made from water-buffalo's milk. The rest of the world uses cow's milk. Muenster Cheese - The American of this has a light yellow interior and a bland taste that is different from the European originals, which are yellow, semi-soft and have flavors ranging from mild (when young) to very assertive (when aged). Muesli - The German word for "mixture." Muesli was developed as a health food by a Swiss nutritionist near the end of the 19th century. Now a popular type of cereal. Often labeled "granola." Mugi-Kogi - Miso made from wheat. Mugwort - A dried green herb that rich in iron and calcium. Mulberry - A berry resembling a blackberry that comes in white, red and black varieties. Their flavor is sweet and somewhat bland. The leaves of the white mulberry are used in silkworm cultivation. Mullagatawny is a soup made with meat cut into small pieces and mixed with rice and curry-powder. Mullangi - A type of radish with a sweet flavor and a crisp, juicy white flesh. Used raw, in salads, in stir-fries, and as a garnish. Also called "Oriental radish." Mullet - This term is used to describe several families of important food fish. In general, they are saltwater fish with a moderate to high fat content and flesh that is tender, white, and firm textured. They have a sweet, nut-like flavor. Mum is a malt liquor made of malt wheat, oats and bean meal. It was brewed extensively in Brunswick at the start of the 20th century. Mung Bean - A small bean with yellow flesh that is most commonly used to grow bean sprouts. They can also be cooked and eaten or ground into a flour to make noodles. Murphy's is a relatively low strength Irish stout. Muscatel - A strong sweet wine made from the muscat grape. It is a rich, sweet dessert wine. Muscatel can be amber, golden, red, white. It is sometimes sparkling. Mushroom - There are thousands of varieties of this fleshy fungus. The cultivated mushroom is commonly available, but other wild varieties include cepe, chanterelle, enokitake, morel, puffball, and shiitake. Many wild mushrooms are poisonous. Mushroom, Hiritake - This fan-shaped mushroom is often grows on rotting tree trunks. This fungus is fairly robust and slightly peppery when raw, but is becomes much milder when cooked. Also known as "oyster mushroom." Mushroom, Oyster - This fan-shaped mushroom is also known as "oyster caps" and "tree mushrooms" because it often grows on rotting tree trunks. This fungus is fairly robust and slightly peppery when raw, but is becomes much milder when cooked. Mushroom, Shiitake - An expensive mushroom that originated in Japan, but is now grown in the U.S. Sometimes called "golden oak," this tasty, dark brown mushroom has a meaty flesh and a full-bodied flavor. Mushroom, Shimeji - This fan-shaped mushroom often grows on rotting tree trunks. This fungus is fairly robust and slightly peppery when raw, but is becomes much milder when cooked. Also called "oyster mushroom." Muskellunge - A freshwater pike that averages between 10 and 30 pounds. Some specimens, however have reached 60 pounds and up to six feet in length. Muskellunge offers a lean, firm, low-fat flesh. Muskmelon - Muskmelons are called "cantaloupes" in North America, but they are not actually cantaloupes. True cantaloupes are European and are not exported to the U.S. The light orange flesh is mild, sweet, and very juicy. Muskmelon - Muskmelons are called "cantaloupes" in North America, but they are not actually cantaloupes. True cantaloupes are European and are not exported to the U.S. The light orange flesh is mild, sweet, and very juicy. Muskrat - Also known as a "marsh rabbit" and "musquash," this animal is a large, aquatic, North American rodent with a red, gamey flesh. Muskrat has a lot of bones, but it makes a good stew. Mussel - A bivalve mollusk with worldwide distribution. There are salt and freshwater varieties. The thin shell means there is more meat compared to the same weight of clams or oysters. The yellow meat has a sweet and delicate flavor. Mustard - Any of several culinary herbs grown for its acrid seeds. Mustard seeds can be ground into a powder that can be prepared into a table condiment containing mustard, sugar, vinegar and turmeric (which gives it its bright yellow color). Mustard Greens - The peppery leaves of the mustard plant. Mustard greens can be steamed, sautéed, or simmered. Mustard Spinach - An herb of the mustard family whose leaves are cooked and eaten like spinach. Americans cultivate this plant for its leaves; Asians cultivate it also for its thick, tuberous crown, which they pickle. Also called "tendergreens." Mutiny is a reddish, full-bodied cask ale from the Rebellion brewery, Buckinghamshire. Muttonfish - A marine fish of the eelpout family found mainly in the Pacific. The flesh is sweet and white and contains very few bones. Also called "ocean pout."