The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary gives the origin of the noun “roll” as:
“Middle English rolle, from Anglo-French roule, rolle, from Medieval Latin rolla, alteration of rotula, from Latin, diminutive of rota wheel; akin to Old High German rad wheel, Welsh rhod, Sanskrit ratha wagon. First Known Use: 13th century”
The Dictionary gives many definitions of “roll” as a noun. Most of them relate to objects that can be rolled up. These include various food preparations rolled up for cooking or serving, e.g. cabbage rolls. Other definitions relate to rolling, swaying or side-to-side movements.
The verb “to roll” is sometimes followed by a preposition: roll down, roll under, roll over.
The expression “California Roll” has two distinct meanings, each deriving from one of the definitions above:
1. A maki-sushi (roll), a kind of sushi roll, usually made inside-out, containing cucumber, imitation crab stick, and avocado. In some countries it is made with mango instead of avocado. Sometimes crab salad is substituted for the crab stick, and often the outer layer of rice (in an inside-out roll) is sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds or tobiko.
The California roll has been influential in sushi's global popularity and in inspiring sushi chefs around the world in creating their non-traditional fusion cuisine (Wikipedia).
For a recipe on California Roll and how to make it, see:
2. The movement of a car that slows down at a stop sign and “rolls” across the white line, without coming to a full stop. This traffic infringement, said to be frequent in California, is well illustrated in the following video clip:
Here in France we call them "maki californien" - and they are well-known in the Japanese restaurants that are starting to pop up all over, especially in big cities, though far from being as popular as Chinese restaurants.
RépondreSupprimerAs for the second California roll - back in my days, we called it the California stop!