Buzz
The first documented appearance of the phrase 'kiss the cook' is found in an Italian-English dictionary by Giuseppe Marco Antonio Baretti, published posthumously in 1813. He interprets the Italian saying Chi tardi arriva male alloggia as, 'those who arrive too late must kiss the cook.'
But how did this phrase evolve from a dictionary entry to a novelty apron slogan?
In 1817, William Beloes’ The Sexagenarian; or, the Recollections of a Literary Life in Two Volumes was reviewed and excerpts were published in a prestigious literary journal that wielded substantial influence from the 1820s to the 1840s. One such excerpt reads, 'At a dinner where great satisfaction was expressed, it was facetiously proposed that the president should proceed to the kitchen, and kiss the cook.'
Following this, and throughout the 1800s, the phrase 'kiss the cook' was featured in poems, witty remarks, and newspaper articles. In a 1897 New York Tribune article titled 'How She Got It,' a man explains how his wife ended up with a beautiful bonnet he had originally intended for the cook with whom he was having an affair. After walking into the kitchen with the bonnet, he was surprised to find his wife, not the cook, there. He had no choice but to give his wife the gift and 'kiss the cook' instead.
The 1897 poem 'I Kissed the Cook' by James Courtney Challiss leads readers to believe the speaker is being unfaithful, but in the final lines, reveals, 'The cook’s my wife, is she, So I’d a right, you see, to kiss the cook.' After its initial publication, numerous stories inspired by this poem emerged, including the 1908 micro-fiction piece 'Everybody is Happy,' printed in The Boston Daily Globe:
Smith - Excuse me, Jones, but may I ask how you manage to have such delicious things to eat? Jones - It’s quite simple. I always kiss the cook before dinner, and hold her on my knee after dinner. Smith - But what does your wife think? 'O. she doesn’t mind—she’s the cook!' - Stray Stories.
The phrase 'Kiss the Cook' first appeared on apparel in the 1950s. A 1955 ad in Women’s Wear Daily showcased matching 'Kiss the Cook' pajamas, slippers, and apron made by Kaylon, Inc.
In the 1980s, two department stores—Woodward’s in Canada and Bullocks in California, Arizona, and Nevada—started offering their own 'Kiss the Cook' merchandise for sale.
One of the most significant moments came in 1989, when Al Bundy—played by Ed O’Neill—wore an apron reading, 'Kiss the Cook - Kill the Wife' during the season four premiere of the popular FOX sitcom Married...With Children.
After that, 'Kiss the Cook' became the go-to BBQ apron for dads across the country, though it eventually reached a point of overuse. Even Al Roker criticized the cliché. In his 2002 BBQ book, he advises, 'Do not wear an apron that says ‘Kiss the Cook.’'
So, when you're looking for last-minute Father’s Day gifts, remember that all that discounted 'Kiss the Cook' merchandise carries a bit of history with it.
