KūKri – Albuquerque, New Mexico
In one of the most famous soliloquies ever penned, Juliet Capulet pondered “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” As restaurateurs know, the success or failure of a new restaurant can hinge on many factors, not the least of which is an intriguing name. Great restaurant names can create an aura that elicits salivation even before a guest has stepped through the door. A restaurant’s name should add to its allure not cause potential guests to ponder what the heck it means. That is…unless you’re a logophile (someone who loves words). Those of us with that particular affliction try to figure out a word’s etymology (study of the meanings of words) without consulting a dictionary. Such was the case when I read about a new Duke City eatery called KūKri. My initial assessment that the name was a twist on the city’s name, much like television station KRQE and radio station KRKE. Had the “r” and the “K” been transposed, that assessment would have made sense. I would have to look it up. According to online sources a “kukri” is a type of machete originating used as a handheld…