Why is a small fruit dish often referred to as a MONKEY DISH?
It depends on whose story you believe. It may be that no one knows for sure but there are two popular versions of the origin of this term… The first story dates back to the days of the organ grinder. It was believed that a fruit dish was often the small dish used to collect coins from the public by the organ grinder’s monkey on street corners. The second story is based on the belief that the fruit dish is often the item referred to by chefs when they are “monkeying around” in the kitchen, experimenting with new sauces and seasonings.
