First the earworm, then the taste– neither welcome. That’s how I’ve always thought about Rice-a-Roni, the few times I have thought about it since becoming an adult. That peppy, peppy jingle– “Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat”– so annoying. The taste… not exactly a treat. Even as kid I wondered why San Francisco didn’t complain about some corporation sullying its good name by affixing this boxed blandness to it. Now, I know.

Rice-a-Roni, treat or not, really was born in San Francisco, the invention of a native son. The man who created it, Vincent DeDomenico, died last Thursday. He was 92.You can read about Mr. DeDomenico long career, including the non-Roni-related parts, here. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Mildred, four children, seven grandchildren, and one very annoying jingle.

Tags: earworms, Food, jingles, Rice-a-Roni, San Francisco, Vincent DeDomenico