The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #36989 Message #514610
Posted By: NH Dave
25-Jul-01 - 07:28 PM
Thread Name: Meaning: Dabtoes (from Chicken on a Raft)
Subject: RE: Help: DABTOES
The entire US military used to call Creamed chipped beef on toast, Shit on a Shingle, until well after the chipped (dried, thinly sliced, and heavily salted) beef gave way to hamburg/mince in a white sauce/gravy, and the name ran afoul of the PC Police. I can't say if the nickname is still in use in the active services, PC and all, but any veteran knows what is meant by SOS.
In the southeastern US a similar dish goes by the name of biscuits 'n' gravy, which grates less harshly on the ear, and differs only in that biscuits - like unsweetened scones - are substituted for toast. ANY mess catering to older service people will have a pot of hamburger and white gravy simmering somewhere on the back burner.
Dave