Morrie Yohai, 1920-2010

“They were looking for a new salty snack and became aware of a machine that processed corn meal under high pressure into a long tube shape. They also discovered that if they used a high-speed blade, similar to a propeller, they could cut three-inch-long tubes, which then could be flavored with orange cheddar cheese and seasonings.”
–Robbie Yohai, speaking of his father, Morrie Yohai, and colleagues at his Old London Foods company, who, in the late 1950s, invented Cheez Doodles. Former braces wearers everywhere would be excused for feeling that a sort of justice has been done, but also, surely, a pang of remorse and great respect, upon learning that the elder Yohai died of cancer last week at his Long Island home at the age of 90. He was also a Jewish mystic and published two books of poetry.