I first became aware of the phrase “Quid Pro Quo” from the 1991 psychological thriller The Silence of The Lambs. The cannibalistic serial killer and brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecter wanted to trade information with Clarice Starling, the FBI trainee investigating a string of murders. So Hannibal, eager to learn more personal information about dear Clarice, offered her a Quid Pro Quo– you tell me things and I tell you things in return. So based on this, I’ve identified a new term for dining out– Squid Pro Quo. This means “You share half of your crispy, light Fried Calamari with me, and I’ll share half of my not salty enough still not room temperature Burrata appetizer with you.” (All is fair in love and dining, no?) Sharing is really only fun when the other person has something you want, and you’re happy to give up half of your whole that wasn’t so fantastic to start with. (I know you sharers can relate!)
I’ll never forget a trip I made to EJ’s Luncheonette on the Upper East Side with my son. Matty was about 10 and he was eager for a burger. I of course had to have their famous Chicken Reuben sandwich on challah. (Photo courtesy of EJ’s.) It was my staple order from the early 90s and still is a big winner. They take fabulously fresh challah bread and add tender grilled chicken, Swiss cheese, and creamy cole slaw and then griddle the whole sammie until the cheese melts and the layers blend together. It’s served with a garlicky pickle and a side ramekin of Russian dressing so you can dip as you go. This meal is serious lunchtime perfection. So Matty’s burger arrives, but I see him eyeing my Reuben. He politely asks for a taste… and yep, that’s the beginning of the end. His face lights up with a WOW and of course we end up switching plates so he can house my whole meal. (Oh, the sacrifices we Moms make for our youngsters– if they only knew.) In this case the term would be Quid No Rue, also from the Latin meaning, “No Reuben for you.”
I know a couple that was once on a road trip and they had been driving for quite some time and were beyond hungry. They passed a fancy roadside food truck with a sign that said “Salamecheez.” The wife, a gluten-free no beef lover, thought it sounded fantastic. Perhaps a grilled piece of fish with fresh veggies? A carbless salad with extra roasted red peppers, avocado, and herbaceous dressing? When they parked and got closer, they saw it was a sign for a salami and cheese hero with several typos! (They still laugh about it.) We call this Quid Pro No, as in, “What for nothing” or “Keep driving cause there’s no way I’m eating that.”
Eighty percent of the entries in an English dictionary have Latin roots, so I’m always curious to look up words where inevitably Latin comes into play. When dining out though, I’m very happy to stick with the tried-and-true Quid Pro Quo, meaning “I share with you, and you share with me”… especially if the combo is terrific or yours is better!
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