Q&A ON THE NEWS

Q: Where is Hoda Kotb on NBC News from and where can I write to her?

DARREN SHAW,

Atlanta

A: Hoda Kotb was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Morgantown, W. Va., and Alexandria, Va. Her parents were born in Egypt, and she has lived overseas, in Egypt and Nigeria.

Kotb began her broadcast career with CBS News as a news assistant in Cairo, Egypt, in 1986. She joined NBC in 1998 as a correspondent on “Dateline NBC.” She was named co-anchor of the fourth hour of “Today” in August 2007.

Kotb has received numerous awards, including the 2008 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the prestigious Peabody in 2006. The four-time Emmy nominee also won the 2004 Headliner Award, 2003 Gracie Award and the 2002 Edward R. Murrow Award.

You can write to her at: Today, NBC News, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.

Q: Where did the name “coleslaw” originate? I know there are a variety of slaws, but I was wondering where did coleslaw get its name?

HELEN FLYNN,

Riverdale

A: Coleslaw, not cold slaw though it is served cold, comes from the Dutch word “koolsla.” “Kool” is Dutch for cabbage and “sla” an abbreviated word meaning salad. Coleslaw is shredded cabbage mixed with mayonnaise and other ingredients. Though there’s no cold slaw, there’s a hot slaw that’s often served on barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs.

Staff researchers Joni Zeccola and Sharon Gaus wrote this column.

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