# When was it that you learned where "Thousand Island" referred to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865 "2014-06-28T15:41:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/61 "2014-06-30T12:43:08Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I think I heard of the Thousand Islands before I heard of the dressing. I grew up on Long Island. > > Thousand Island dressing seems popular enough these days; it’s certainly replaced Russian dressing (essentially the same thing, only without the relish) among commercial dressings. It’s essential for a good roast beef sandwich since Russian is hard to find. Russian is similar to Thousand Island? Not where I come from. Russian = red, vinegary, some spices, some thickeners? I would never put THAT russian dressing on a reuben. Thousand Island and sauerkraut go together perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/62 "2014-06-30T12:50:53Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > Russian is similar to Thousand Island? Not where I come from. Russian = red, vinegary, some spices, some thickeners? > > I would never put THAT russian dressing on a reuben. Thousand Island and sauerkraut go together perfectly. this is ‘Wishbone’ russian dressing…“Ingredients: corn syrup, water, soybean oil, tomato paste, distilled vinegar, sugar, salt.” But, I can see, researching, a wide variety of ‘Russian’ dressing, including ‘Creamy Russian’, that looks a lot like thousand island in color. All different pinkish to orangish shades depending on the recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/63 "2014-06-30T14:47:29Z")
This thread reminded me of [my post over in the trivia game](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17461801#post17461801) about the rules for when an island can be counted as one of the Thousand Islands. There are 1,864 islands. I posted this two weeks before **Zeldar** ’s OP (and **Idle Thoughts** ’s Big Mac vs. Whopper thread): > [@](#): > > The 1,864 islands of “The Thousand Islands” in the St. Lawrence Seaway range in size from over 40 square miles to smaller islands occupied by a single residence, or uninhabited outcroppings of rocks that are only home to migratory waterfowl. > > To count as one of the Thousand Islands these minimum criteria have to be met: > > 1. Above water level year round; > 2. Have an area greater than 1 square foot; and > 3. Support at least one living tree. Trivial. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/64 "2014-06-30T16:13:27Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > this is ‘Wishbone’ russian dressing…“Ingredients: corn syrup, water, soybean oil, tomato paste, distilled vinegar, sugar, salt.” > > But, I can see, researching, a wide variety of ‘Russian’ dressing, including ‘Creamy Russian’, that looks a lot like thousand island in color. All different pinkish to orangish shades depending on the recipe. Yeah, I’ve heard the "Russian is Thousand Island without the relish) a lot, but, growing up, we had Wishbone Thousand Island and Russian around the house, and they were quite different. The Russian dressing was like a redder, sweeter version of Wishbone’s “French” dressing. I would never have made a connection to Thousand Island. I don’t remember there being any mayo-ness at all to their Russian dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/65 "2014-06-30T16:18:27Z")
Learned it as a schoolboy in Texas but couldn’t tell you at exactly what age. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/66 "2014-06-30T16:21:49Z")
I"m 65, and I found out today. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/67 "2014-06-30T16:53:59Z")
I knew the name was a geographic reference, but I didn’t know where the Thousand Islands were. Until now. I think Arthur Godfrey sang a song about losing his love among the Thousand Islands, but that is from the very dawn of my memory, so it might not be right. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/68 "2014-06-30T17:12:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I’ve heard the "Russian is Thousand Island without the relish) a lot, but, growing up, we had Wishbone Thousand Island and Russian around the house, and they were quite different. The Russian dressing was like a redder, sweeter version of Wishbone’s “French” dressing. I would never have made a connection to Thousand Island. I don’t remember there being any mayo-ness at all to their Russian dressing. Wishbone Russian and NYC deli Russian are totally different creatures. Deli Russian is, as noted, pretty much 1000 Island without the relish but _with_ some horseradish. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/69 "2014-06-30T17:28:30Z")
Young adulthood. When I developed an interest in the history of the Great Lakes. I’ve never really liked Thousand Island dressing (or McDonald’s Big Mac sauce…) so I guess I’d never really thought much about where the Thousand Islands were. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/70 "2014-06-30T17:28:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Wishbone Russian and NYC deli Russian are totally different creatures. Deli Russian is, as noted, pretty much 1000 Island without the relish but _with_ some horseradish. Sorry. Should have clarified. Yes, I’ve had NY Russian dressing and it is indeed like Thousand Island without relish. But there is some confusion about the term, and if people don’t understand the Thousand Island without relish description, that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/71 "2014-06-30T17:31:40Z")
I have no idea where Wishbone came up with their formulation of “Russian.” As you noted, it’s more related to French than anything else (or perhaps Catalina.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/72 "2014-06-30T18:01:17Z")
From New York City, and I knew about it quite young. My wife’s family went on vacations there, and when we moved to NJ we took our kids to Thousand Island Park on Wellesley Island (the biggest island on the American side) every summer. Her favorite coffee mugs have images from the islands, including Boldt Castle, both the American and Canadian bridges, and the hotel in TIP which we stayed at one night to get away from the kids and her parents. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/73 "2014-06-30T19:02:16Z")
I always assumed the “Islands” were tropical. Interesting that they are where they are. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/74 "2014-06-30T21:51:04Z")
There is Thousand Island nature center in Kaukauna, WI ([http://www.1000islandsenvironmentalcenter.org/](http://www.1000islandsenvironmentalcenter.org/)) but I knew it had nothing to do with the salad dressing Brian ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/75 "2014-06-30T22:40:49Z")
I think I was in my mid-20’s when I found out it was a sexual thing and I have never been able to look at an eggbeater the same ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/76 "2014-07-01T00:00:38Z")
Huh. I did not know that the Thousand Islands were a real thing. Many of you will doubtless know, however, that Newman’s Own has a version called Two-thousand Island Dressing, obviously better than that of its competitors because, as they proudly (tongue in cheek) advertise, it has twice as many islands as any other brand. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865/77 "2014-07-01T02:21:30Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > The area of Wisconsin in which I grew up has its own “Thousand Islands” area, a bend in the Fox River near Kaukauna. There was (and still is) an “environmental center” in the area that I visited on field trips for school and Cub/Boy Scouts. But I don’t think I ever linked the dressing with the name of the local area in my mind, never mind the name-sake area in New York/Canada. > > I liked Thousand Island dressing as a kid, but I don’t have the first clue if I ever asked my Mom or Dad where the name came from. Didn’t see your post until after I posted mine. Kaukauna folks represent 🙂 Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-that-you-learned-where-thousand-island-referred-to/691865.md?page=3)