Talk:Coleslaw

Early edits

Luke Strotz crops up here again. You have to give credit to someone, they have insinuated little references to him into a lot of articles, and it appears to be standing the test of time. Clearly fictional though. 195.149.121.254 (talk) 14:10, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

I question the presented history, which is self-contradictory and inaccurate. "The term (coleslaw) arose in 1794..." but "...is a late 19th century term, which originated in the United States." I can find only secondary sources suggesting that the term in the English-speaking world was always "coleslaw", that "cold slaw" became (and still is) common in the US, while remaining (today at least) unheard of in other English-speaking countries. However, I can't speak for the fashion up to the 1860s. Anyone with a definitive history? 144.213.253.14 01:58, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

I agree - and I seriously doubt that "1794" is an accurate year. If anyone has a reference for this, post it. I am changing it to be a bit more all-encompassing. --Lockefire 18:56, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

I have the 1794 date from a respected date dictionary. I will provide a proper reference when I make the edit. See "Etymology?" question. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 139.68.134.1 (talk) 21:53, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

Intro Paragraph

How can a dish consist both "primarily" and "minimally" of the same ingredient? AustinDefense 15:18, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I believe that, by "minimally", what they mean is "at the very least".. so it isn't just primarily cabbage, but it has to have at least cabbage in it even if it has nothing else in it, to be considered a coleslaw. This is in contrast to a meatloaf, which consists primarily of ground meat but cannot consist solely of said meat. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.72.21.221 (talk) 06:36, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Mayonnaise is NOT a high carbohydrate food, and will not raise the glycemic index of coleslaw. This needs to be removed. ---- Jeremy Milligan

Lot's of problems with this article, beginning with the intro:

I don't see the citation for the assertion that it's "dressed most commonly with a vinaigrette dressing," and lots of people from the Midwest would take issue with such an assertion. Sure, it can be vinaigrette-based, but I need proof that's the "most common" preparation.

Mayonnaise does not "contain" vinaigrette. It has oil and an acidic component, but so do plenty of other preparations. Also, what about buttermilk or sour-cream based slaws? Do those base ingredients "contain vinaigrette?"

Why is the information that it can keep for four weeks in a covered container in the refrigerator in the article at all, much less in the intro? This is an encyclopedia, not a cookbook. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Brondinschlong (talk • contribs) 06:04, 6 December 2014 (UTC)

Variations

Since Coleslaw is a distinctly American food (page 85 of this text: ), I can't understand why there are Italian and German recipes. Those aren't Coleslaw. They have other names and should perhaps get their own pages. The UK variant is acceptable, assuming they call it coleslaw in the UK, since it likely derives from the US version. Brondinschlong (talk) 06:35, 6 December 2014 (UTC)

References

Etymology?

Coleslaw comes from the Anglicization of "Kohlslsau," the German term for Slavic cabbage. Kohl in German means cabbage, and the suffix "slau" implies it is of Slavic origin. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.211.237.73 (talk) 00:39, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

This is wrong. It derives into American English from the Dutch koolsla according to Oxford. Brondinschlong (talk) 06:35, 6 December 2014 (UTC)

Etymology is best left to the professionals; bad info abounds. The article says 20th century, but a reliable dictionary says 1794. I'm going with the professionals. Unless I read some compelling evidence here, I will edit out the myth and replace with professional opinion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 139.68.134.1 (talk) 21:51, 2 March 2010 (UTC)

Cabbage is a kind of food Germans are known for eating ("Kraut", "Sauerkraut") etc. Until World War I German was spoken a lot in USA, not only Englisch. As examples: In the churches the priests preached in German. In the schools teaching was in German. There were 130 newspapers in German as Mr. Heinz was young (the man with the tomato ketchup) and Mr. Heinz spoke German in his family too (he visited Germany and had no problems speaking to people here). The German newspapers were all prohibited as the world war broke out. Also all the German schools in USA were forced to teach in Englisch instead of German. The result is that today nobody speaks German in USA any more. But some words like Kohlsalat have survived till today. The Germans ate a lot of Sauerkraut and "Kohlsalat" which is pronounced "cole-salart" or "cole-slawt" or "cole-salawt". This is the pronunciation used today (I am a German living in Germany). Kohlsalat was as important for American Germans as spaghetti to American Italians. So it's understandable that this dish is still known by its original name Kohlsalat (so it's still called in modern Germany along with "Krautsalat" depending on region) or "Coleslaw" as they write it today. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.202.184.32 (talk) 11:41, 13 January 2011 (UTC)

whatever you guys decided above...

...the joke about it being formed from the Polish "kolesław" is a frigging hoax, or a reverse Polish-English joke, as in a Polish 2000s expat pronunciation of "cole slaw", letter for letter, with the last l slashed, ł. Why? because it homonymically looks right and sounds right when sounded out by a Polish speaker in the ancient lookalike Polish words, such as the name Bolesław (sounds: boh-LESS-wahv). I am removing the "kolesław" forthwith, and someone with bits on Wiktionary needs to remove it from the Wiktionary altogether: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=kolesław&action=history --Mareklug ^talk 05:52, 21 July 2015 (UTC)

I rolled back in essence removing more recent hoaxes. --Mareklug ^talk 06:20, 21 July 2015 (UTC)

With fish and chips

In the article it says Coleslaw is eaten with fish and chips. Where??? The Mayor (talk) 12:54, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

My Kitchen. --11:18 am, Greenwich Mean Time, December 21, 2012 AD. (talk) 03:01, 17 September 2009 (UTC)

Found in Ireland every fast food establishment will serve them, also, curry cheese chips (fries) are available (and amazing). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.203.90.23 (talk) 00:28, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

..and everywhere in the U.S.! Fish, french fries and slaw are quite commonly served together.
⋙–Berean–Hunter—► ((⊕)) 01:54, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

This article is very USA centric. Traditionally, coleslaw in the UK is usually only white cabbage, onion, grated carrot and mayonnaise (some health conscious people may substitute all or some of the mayonnaise with yogurt). It's often served with baked potatoes here, or alongside other salads, or on sandwiches. I have to say, I've never had fish and chips served with coleslaw.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.249.233.80 (talk) 12:01, 26 April 2010‎ (UTC)

Creamy coleslaw

Article currently states that slaw dressing is primarily vegetable oil and vinegar, or vinaigrette. This ignores the fact that 'creamy' coleslaw, a popular variant, generally replaces the vegetable oil with any combination of evaporated milk, cream, sour cream and/or mayonnaise. Article should be expanded to cover the creamy style, barring any objection. Drlegendre (talk) 14:33, 1 January 2009 (UTC)

dutch variaty is with yoghurt and some dutch mayonnaise as a preservative, this is actually what we now call Coleslaw. Markthemac (talk) 07:21, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

This Dutch coleslaw needs to make it into the article since it appears to be derived from a Dutch invention. Brondinschlong (talk) 06:35, 6 December 2014 (UTC)

Recipes

I am a newbie here so I leave this suggestion with the hopes someone else will carry the ball. Here's a good article with tips on making cole slaw and links to recipes for the major types discussed on this page. (retracted) Quedude (talk) 18:24, 4 March 2009 (UTC)

Slawdogs

No mention of slawdogs? 74.190.139.163 (talk) 01:19, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

1890 menu image

By the way, a menu from the Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island) dated Sunday July 6, 1890 File:GHoldmenu.jpg mentions "Cold Slaw" as being one of four types of Salad available that day. 69.126.127.193 (talk) 01:28, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

Vinegar

Someone edited my edit. Not all cole slaw is mayonnaise-based. A google search for vinegar cole slaw comes back with over 1 million hits.

Please quit editing this.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1024&bih=591&q=vinegar+cole+slaw&aq=f&aqi=g5g-m1g-ms2g-m2&aql=&oq= — Preceding unsigned comment added by FreddyPickle (talk • contribs) 23:30, 8 February 2011 (UTC)

My mother's slaw was vinegar based with celery seeds...no mayo in sight. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.158.48.162 (talk) 16:33, 19 July 2018 (UTC)

History

Where did the claim come from that "It is originally from Ireland and was made at the end of the month from leftover vegetables and cream." It cannot be found in the listed references. This statement is generally contraindicated by historical usage of cabbage in Irish cooking, which is cooked, not served as a "koolsalade". Also, the article's emphasis on creamy mayo-based coleslaw is also contrary to Northern European cold salad preparations, which historically were vinegar-based, as correctly stated one of the article references. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rabbitpaws (talk • contribs) 13:15, 30 March 2012 (UTC)

Agreed. It doesn't make sense. It also doesn't mention the fact that Koolsalade and German Kohlsalat are very popular in those countries. I'm happy to believe that it's eaten a lot in Ireland, but that doesn't mean it comes from there. I propose to remove this claim unless it can be substantiated. Groogle (talk) 01:54, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

tumblr

There's a new meme on Tumblr so there is probably going to be an influx of coleslaw-loving individuals. Beware, for they may attempt to edit the article without backed-up citations to justify their irrational love for the Satan's Salad. Ihatecoleslaw (talk) 05:12, 7 June 2015 (UTC)

Popular Culture

Emo Philips. Drsruli (talk) 05:13, 28 May 2023 (UTC)

Louis Jordan Cole Slaw song (Sorghum Switch) Drsruli (talk) 04:06, 7 August 2023 (UTC)