Benedicts

Benedicts is the plural form of Benedict, a given name and surname of Latin origin derived from Benedictus, meaning blessed. The term is used to refer to multiple individuals who bear the surname Benedict as well as to various things named after people with that name.

Eggs Benedict is a well-known dish associated with American breakfast or brunch cuisine. It typically consists of poached eggs and Canadian bacon or ham served on an English muffin and topped with hollandaise sauce. The origin of Eggs Benedict is disputed, with a widely cited account placing its creation in New York in the late 19th century. One version attributes the idea to Lemuel Benedict, who reportedly ordered a breakfast of toast, eggs, bacon, and coffee at the Waldorf Hotel in 1894; according to legend, the dish was later refined by the hotel’s maître d’hôtel, Oscar Tschirky, who substituted ham and an English muffin and added hollandaise. Variations include Eggs Florentine (with spinach) and Eggs Royale (with smoked salmon).

Other uses of the term include people who have Benedict as a surname. In religious or historical contexts, the Benedictine order is the origin of the name Benedict; however, discussions about adherents of the order more commonly use the term Benedictines rather than Benedicts. In sum, Benedicts can refer to individuals bearing the surname, culinary dishes associated with that name, or, less commonly, religious or historical usages related to Benedict.