Philadelphia Cream Cheese

The first American cream cheese, developed in 1870s by William Lawrence, may have been a failed attempt to make the French cheese, neufchatel. When it came time to market the cheese to the masses, however, Lawrence didn't go for a French name. Instead, Lawrence, a resident of Chester, New York, reached for the next best place known (at least at that time) for tasty food: Philadelphia, 140 miles away. Yes, since 1880, Americans have been asking for Philadelphia Cream Cheese despite the fact that it has no connection with the City of Brotherly Love.