The room smelled like stale smoke and Italian salad dressing.

Italian salad (italiensk salat), a mixture of vegetables in a mayonnaise dressing, served on ham and other cold cuts.

His favorite: "Marinate in Italian salad dressing in the refrigerator all day and then broil, bake or fry it."

Russians call this same dish Olivier Salad, and Germans call it Italian salad.

Some families like to use Italian salad dressing or ketchup, or a mixture of both.

For years, a typical lunch has been the Muffaletta sandwich, made with Italian olive salad.

"We poured on a bottle of store-bought Italian salad dressing," Mr. Scott said.

It is served with a cup of our homemade soup or a guest's choice of a House, Italian or Caesar salad.

The most familiar mixture of two immiscible liquids in everyday life is the vegetable oil and water in Italian salad dressing.

Italian giant-white-bean salad, $12 a pound, Grace's Marketplace, 1237 Third Avenue (71st Street).