What Is Madone?
First things first... it's pronounced Mah-DOHN.
It comes from the Italian word Madonna. (The Holy Mother, not the pop star.)
In Brooklyn, it got shortened in dialect to “Madone,” and that’s the version you still hear in Italian-American kitchens.
But what does it mean?
That depends on the moment. Here are three classics you should know:
The are-you-kidding-me Madone!
When the red wine stains your shirt or the pasta water boils over on the stove for the third time.
The died-and-gone-to-Heaven Madone!
When you take that first bite of a meatball and it's so good you close your eyes and give thanks to a higher power.
The not-this-again Madone!
When Uncle Joe hums that song that's been annoying Aunt Phyllis for fifty years and she's about to pack his bags and call him a taxi.
One word that covers the highs, the lows, and the laugh-out-loud in between.
P.S. You didn't try the sauce yet? Madone...!