Once, I ordered Chicken Pot Pie at a restaurant while traveling; except wasn't a literal pot pie. Turns out it was a thick chicken and dumpling soup, and I got really confused when they delivered this weird soup stuff instead of a nice pot pie in a crust. I had pot pies many times growing up, and up until that point, I had never seen anything like this by that name.
Cashew Chicken is different. You order it in Texas you get a vegtable medley with chicken bits, and some cashew nuts bits. From southern Missouri it is deep fried chicken chunks, a basic soy, chicken broth, spices sauce, sprinkled WHOLE cashews and chopped green onions served over white rice. The guy who supposedly invented it is from there. I have YET to find a place that does it that way in Texas.
As for the Pot pie problem. There is a Pot pie that is done by making the pot pie filling stuff then you pour that over southern biscuits. Ideally you would have your mix down, then put a can of biscuits over the top, and bake.
In Southwestern PA we keep our ketchup in the refridgerator. Ketchup does not have to be kept cold. I thought everyone had cold ketchup until just a few years ago. So I started keeping mine in the pantry, I like it better that way!
Gina
Growing up in Texas:
If you wanted an ice cold soft drink..............you wanted a Coke.
When you got specific, you might want a Pepsi, a Dr Pepper, Orange Crush, Root Beer, etc. But in general terms they were all a Coke. And if someone asked for a "soda", well you just knew that they weren't from around here.
Same went for athletic shoes or what we called tennis shoes. Never called them sneakers. Once again, if someone said sneakers............"where you from" was a very common response.
This reminds me of watching the "King of the Hill" TV show. Lots of regional Texas stuff in that show. I always wondered if the guy watching that show that lives up in the far North East caught/understood any of that stuff. Or, most likely, he just didn't watch it cause he just didn't understand it.
Anyways.........
Texas is even more specific than you think.
Coke is for city folks. Sody water is what you asked for in rural central Texas, then they ask if you want Coke or Dr. Pepper.(Unless you were in Dublin then it was only Dr. Pepper)
Tater Salad means mustard potato salad, the other type is called German Tater salad.
Chili means chuck roast cooked down with beer, sugar and spices not the runny stuff with beans and tomato chunks they call chili in San Francisco.
Chili with beans is what you do to make leftover beans palatable.
Chicken Fried steak comes with cream gravy on the side.
First time we heard of pulled pork in Texas, we thought that was how you got the pig out from under the tractor.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
First time we heard of pulled pork in Texas, we thought that was how you got the pig out from under the tractor.
LOL.....In So Cal we grew up thinking BBQ was always made from ground beef, like a Manwich.
Don't ever recall seeing it made from pork until I moved to the Midwest.
We used to call then thongs when I was a kid, but when we moved everyone called them flip-flops. Now thongs just seem to refer to the underwear.
We called flip flops 'zories' don't know where the name came from, but everybody I knew called them that.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
Chicken Fried steak comes with cream gravy on the side.
Never saw chicken fried steak in Texas where it wasn't covered in so much cream gravy that I could see more than a square inch of uncovered breading (and never saw a chicken fried steak there that wasn't big enough to cover all but about a square inch of the plate it was on - most of them lapped over the side). "On the side" never happened. ;)
It was Hard when I was in New Zealand. I wanted a pair of flip flops/thongs to wear in the shower. They thought I was nuts what I was asking for underwear for my feet. Until I finally saw someone wearing a pair. They called them "Jan-dels". It means "Japanees Sandles". ::)
Quote from: LadyStitch on August 16, 2010, 04:37:38 PM
It was Hard when I was in New Zealand. I wanted a pair of flip flops/thongs to wear in the shower. They thought I was nuts what I was asking for underwear for my feet. Until I finally saw someone wearing a pair. They called them "Jan-dels". It means "Japanees Sandles". ::)
I'll bet trying to find a fanny pack was even more embarrassing :D
Quote from: RenStarr on August 16, 2010, 02:58:30 PM
Growing up in Texas:
If you wanted an ice cold soft drink..............you wanted a Coke.
When you got specific, you might want a Pepsi, a Dr Pepper, Orange Crush, Root Beer, etc. But in general terms they were all a Coke. And if someone asked for a "soda", well you just knew that they weren't from around here.
LOL! I remember going with my family to visit Michigan (from Austin, TX) when I was a kid. One time I asked for a coke, and before I could say what "kind" I wanted...they took off and came back with, you guessed it. A Coke!
Quote from: Molden on August 16, 2010, 06:05:05 PM
LOL! I remember going with my family to visit Michigan (from Austin, TX) when I was a kid. One time I asked for a coke, and before I could say what "kind" I wanted...they took off and came back with, you guessed it. A Coke!
In Michigan, you have to ask for a pop.
There's definitely the Wisconsin Bubbler instead of a drinking fountain/water fountain.
Plus then there's the question, "Where's the Tyme machine?" when you're looking for the ATM.
Yeah there's a small portion of Minnesota where bubbler is the term, but then we in Minn-a-sota also have "hot dish" for casserole and "bars" for a kind of a cookie baked altogether in a cake pan and cut into squares.
RF.com veterans will have seen the link in the past, but I have a collection of terms used by historical hobbyists of various kinds where I've tried to indicate the source and/or part of the country it comes from http://historicgames.com/glossary.html
Quote from: will paisley on August 16, 2010, 05:19:35 PMI'll bet trying to find a fanny pack was even more embarrassing :D
Yeah they have them. They are called "Bumm bags" ;D Seriously the most embarrasing thing was trying to borrow a "cooler" from some one. After 5 minutes of frustration I finally said ' I need a small retangular container with a lid that I can fill with ice and keep my food cool, when I am on a picnic or something'. Then their light bulb went on , "Oh you mean a CHILLY BIN! Sure we have several you can borrow."
As a Canadian chef, I am always interested in food from different areas. I have a great time on the chat with several people from many different areas of the states when we get talking about food.
Dustin mentioned "Canadian bacon" on his pizza the other night....we just call it what it is...peameal bacon. We were then talking about steaks and he mentioned that what we call a New York strip steak isn't called that in New York. I am trying to track down a reference I saw to a steak cooked "Phillidelphia"...anyone know what that is?
and yeah...they're called flip-flops here and it is pop, not soda...we know it is an American if they ask for a soda
chilly-bin.... :D LOL
I have to say the funniest food confusion i have had since I came back to the states was when we asked for "Sweet Chili sause" and was given a tomato based spicy cup of stuff we would put on hot dogs. What we wanted was a orange almost smooth jelly that was sweet asian chili's in it. We love it on french fries, and chicken tenders/nuggests.
We were able to get it for a while at McDonalds during the winter olympics, but they stopped because people were saying "That aint no Chili sauce!"
In NZ the only real food off up happened on our first trip. We were making a pasta dinner and gave our host a grocery list. We put "a jar of pasta sause" and "a can of tomato sause" on it. When we were making the pasta sause we had it simmering, but just as we were about to dump in the can of tomato sauce a friend grabbed my DH's arm, and asked "Did you mean 'tomato sause' or 'a very fine puree of tomato's'. Giving her a funny look, she took the can from our hand , and gave us another one that said 'Tomato puree' on it. Turns out we were about to dump 16oz of very bland KETCUP into our spagetti sauce! Regardless we ended up using the 'tomato sauce' the next night when we had a family style meal of REAL fish and chips :: goes off with her mouth drooling remembering::
Just discovered one that I *think* might be regional, but I'm not sure.
Clinking silverware on glasses at a wedding reception until the bride and groom kiss. Is this a mid-west/Michigan thing only, or have people from other parts of the country heard of this?
At every wedding in Michigan I've ever been to, this has been done, but my friend from the West Coast hadn't heard of it, and it didn't happen at the wedding somewhere down South my mom just went to, so now I'm trying to figure out if this is just a regional thing.
Quote from: Elennare on August 17, 2010, 12:26:38 PM
Just discovered one that I *think* might be regional, but I'm not sure.
Clinking silverware on glasses at a wedding reception until the bride and groom kiss. Is this a mid-west/Michigan thing only, or have people from other parts of the country heard of this?
At every wedding in Michigan I've ever been to, this has been done, but my friend from the West Coast hadn't heard of it, and it didn't happen at the wedding somewhere down South my mom just went to, so now I'm trying to figure out if this is just a regional thing.
I've seen this done weddings before, but usually it's for a speech, not a kiss.
Quote from: Hausfrau Monica on August 17, 2010, 11:41:39 AM
Dustin mentioned "Canadian bacon" on his pizza the other night....we just call it what it is...peameal bacon. We were then talking about steaks and he mentioned that what we call a New York strip steak isn't called that in New York. I am trying to track down a reference I saw to a steak cooked "Phillidelphia"...anyone know what that is?
Are you referring to Philly cheesesteak, or something else? That's the only association of steak in reference to Philadelphia I've ever heard of (and Google agrees with me). If so, this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheesesteak) should answer all your questions (including the Great Pat's vs Geno's Debate).
Here in Oklahoma I grew up mixing peanut butter with maple syrup to spread on crackers for a snack, but it seems most people I've come across in my travels have never heard of it.
Then there's cornbread and milk. Large tea glass filled with cornbread pieces, then covered with milk, heated in the microwave, or fresh out of the oven, and eaten with a spoon.
And what about eating black eyed peas for good luck on New Years Day? I thought everyone, everywhere did that, but I guess it's just down here in what was the "dustbowl" region, and I've been told that it started during the Depression, when people had to eat whatever they could find, and "cow peas" became people food instead of livestock feed, then when things started getting better people just kept eating them because they were good! Now every year we eat them with ham, fried potatoes and cornbread on NYD to remind us that things can always be worse than they are... and to be grateful for the things we have. And to ensure that we'll have good luck in the coming year...
Lets see,
in the region of Italy my grandmother (Veneto- general region of Northern Italy near Venice) is from you are supposed to eat Lentils on new year's eve.
I didn't realize sweet tea was a southern thing until I went up to Massachusets and West Virginia and the waiters looked at me like I had 3 heads when I asked for sweet tea. They brought me iced tea and a bunch of sugar packets.
Hehe speaking of language mis communication.
When I went to England a few years back I went to my first English grocery store (that is my favorite thing to do in a new country/ area). Went looking for a shopping cart to put my purchases in and couldn't find it. Asked 3 people for a "cart" and they all said they didn't know what I meant until an employee asked me if I wanted a trolley.
I was so embarrassed. I now call it a trolley or a cart- depends the mood I'm in.
Oh, the iced tea thing is different everywhere, it seems!!! In British Colombia they bring you brewed iced tea flavored with juice of one sort or another, orange or berry, but not sweetened, and in other places they bring it either with lemon already in it, or a wedge on the side of the glass.
Quote from: Valiss on August 17, 2010, 12:36:24 PM
Quote from: Elennare on August 17, 2010, 12:26:38 PM
Just discovered one that I *think* might be regional, but I'm not sure.
Clinking silverware on glasses at a wedding reception until the bride and groom kiss. Is this a mid-west/Michigan thing only, or have people from other parts of the country heard of this?
At every wedding in Michigan I've ever been to, this has been done, but my friend from the West Coast hadn't heard of it, and it didn't happen at the wedding somewhere down South my mom just went to, so now I'm trying to figure out if this is just a regional thing.
I've seen this done weddings before, but usually it's for a speech, not a kiss.
I think it might qualify as regional...
In So. California until the later part of the last century, I had never attended a wedding where 'clinking' was done at all, for speeches
or kisses.
The best man, bridesmaid, etc. just stood and raised their glass to get everybody's attention, then made an announcement. The married couple would kiss whenever ceremony called for it.
Now that I live in the Midwest-I have seen it at every wedding.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on August 16, 2010, 03:35:04 PM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
First time we heard of pulled pork in Texas, we thought that was how you got the pig out from under the tractor.
LOL.....In So Cal we grew up thinking BBQ was always made from ground beef, like a Manwich.
Don't ever recall seeing it made from pork until I moved to the Midwest.
BBQ is beef brisket slow smoked in a pit. What is this other stuff you are refering to?
Zaubon
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on August 17, 2010, 12:49:43 PM
Then there's cornbread and milk. Large tea glass filled with cornbread pieces, then covered with milk, heated in the microwave, or fresh out of the oven, and eaten with a spoon.
And what about eating black eyed peas for good luck on New Years Day? I thought everyone, everywhere did that, but I guess it's just down here in what was the "dustbowl" region, and I've been told that it started during the Depression, when people had to eat whatever they could find, and "cow peas" became people food instead of livestock feed, then when things started getting better people just kept eating them because they were good!
My Alabama grandmother liked cornbread with cold buttermilk, in a bowl, along with turnip greens.
The black eyed peas tradition has been alive and well in the Deep South for decades, if not centuries, usually accompanied by hog jowls. Upon investigation, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-eyed_pea#Lucky_New_Year_food) it seems to date back to 500AD or so, as recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, and was brought to Georgia by Spanish Jews in the 1730s.
Quote from: Zaubon on August 17, 2010, 01:35:36 PM
Quote from: Rowen MacD on August 16, 2010, 03:35:04 PM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
First time we heard of pulled pork in Texas, we thought that was how you got the pig out from under the tractor.
LOL.....In So Cal we grew up thinking BBQ was always made from ground beef, like a Manwich.
Don't ever recall seeing it made from pork until I moved to the Midwest.
BBQ is beef brisket slow smoked in a pit. What is this other stuff you are refering to?
Zaubon
BBQ is a cooking method and has nothing to do with that type of meat you cook, specifically. It simply refers to a 'low and slow' style of cooking, as opposed to 'grilling' which is what most people are doing when they say they are BBQing. :)
Quote from: Valiss on August 17, 2010, 12:36:24 PM
Quote from: Elennare on August 17, 2010, 12:26:38 PM
Just discovered one that I *think* might be regional, but I'm not sure.
Clinking silverware on glasses at a wedding reception until the bride and groom kiss. Is this a mid-west/Michigan thing only, or have people from other parts of the country heard of this?
At every wedding in Michigan I've ever been to, this has been done, but my friend from the West Coast hadn't heard of it, and it didn't happen at the wedding somewhere down South my mom just went to, so now I'm trying to figure out if this is just a regional thing.
In Minnesota it's usually for a kiss, although some couples are rebelling against it these days.
Speaking of weddings... how common is the "Dollar Dance" you pay a dollar (or more if you want) to dance with the bride or groom as a way to give them some extra cash for the honeymoon.
Something I had never seen before is a couple who auctioned off the bride's garter in stead of having a dollar dance, but I think they both had small town origins so it might be a rural thing.
Quote from: will paisley on August 17, 2010, 01:48:50 PM
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on August 17, 2010, 12:49:43 PM
Then there's cornbread and milk. Large tea glass filled with cornbread pieces, then covered with milk, heated in the microwave, or fresh out of the oven, and eaten with a spoon.
And what about eating black eyed peas for good luck on New Years Day? I thought everyone, everywhere did that, but I guess it's just down here in what was the "dustbowl" region, and I've been told that it started during the Depression, when people had to eat whatever they could find, and "cow peas" became people food instead of livestock feed, then when things started getting better people just kept eating them because they were good!
My Alabama grandmother liked cornbread with cold buttermilk, in a bowl, along with turnip greens.
The black eyed peas tradition has been alive and well in the Deep South for decades, if not centuries, usually accompanied by hog jowls. Upon investigation, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-eyed_pea#Lucky_New_Year_food) it seems to date back to 500AD or so, as recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, and was brought to Georgia by Spanish Jews in the 1730s.
Oh, that's some great info, Will! Thanks, I think I'll print some of that and read it to my grandpa next Sunday! He's the one who told me about the Depression stuff, and he lived through it, but I'm guessing there are lots of stories about why they're eaten, although I think most good-luck symbols have ancient roots...
Sort of a reverse of the topic, but when I went to visit a friend in northern california, I noticed everyone there says "hella" all teh time. "That movie was hella awesome!" or "Those guys are hella stupid and should be avoided." It's like 'wicked' on the east coast.
In the 80's out there everyone said things were "da kine", meaning "the kind", or they would just say it was TK... a total pot reference, but then in the 80's it seemed like everyone who lived at the beach was into the culture, and the phrase originated in Hawaii and migrated over with the surfers.
Now the buzzword is... Awesome! Back then "totally tubular" preceded Bill and Ted's "awesome, dude" by just a bit, but not much. LOL
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on August 17, 2010, 04:54:06 PM
Oh, that's some great info, Will! Thanks, I think I'll print some of that and read it to my grandpa next Sunday! He's the one who told me about the Depression stuff, and he lived through it, but I'm guessing there are lots of stories about why they're eaten, although I think most good-luck symbols have ancient roots...
Yep, according to the article, Southerners are telling the story that black eyed peas was all the Union army left them (as they considered it animal fodder), but I suspect that tale evolved from a series of "We was so poor .." stories swapped back and forth. ;)
Well, I grew up eating grits for breakfast with salt and pepper and butter ...yum :)...then one day I met a man from up nawth (note pronunciation) and he actually put sugar on his grits!! Y'all are nuts up in Washington. Just because it's a hot cereal don't mean you have to go and ruin perfectly good grits that way!
Quote from: will paisley on August 17, 2010, 05:10:01 PM
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on August 17, 2010, 04:54:06 PM
Oh, that's some great info, Will! Thanks, I think I'll print some of that and read it to my grandpa next Sunday! He's the one who told me about the Depression stuff, and he lived through it, but I'm guessing there are lots of stories about why they're eaten, although I think most good-luck symbols have ancient roots...
Yep, according to the article, Southerners are telling the story that black eyed peas was all the Union army left them (as they considered it animal fodder), but I suspect that tale evolved from a series of "We was so poor .." stories swapped back and forth. ;)
Well, I do know that they used to be called "cow peas" here, and that they were fed to the livestock, but that could be because they're so easy to grow, and you can get lots of beans from a small amount of vines, so who knows...
Anna, I like my grits with sugar, butter and milk... but as a kid we never had them. Instead we had Cream of Wheat, and we always had that with sugar, butter and milk, as well... same as the rice "pudding" my grandma used to make for us.
Then I can add crazy Oklahomians to my grits rant too! :D
Quote from: Valiss on August 17, 2010, 04:58:18 PM
Sort of a reverse of the topic, but when I went to visit a friend in northern california, I noticed everyone there says "hella" all teh time. "That movie was hella awesome!" or "Those guys are hella stupid and should be avoided." It's like 'wicked' on the east coast.
;D...I resemble that remark, 'cept we always said 'Bitchin' (I'm dating myself again)
Urban Dictionary-
A word that means "awesome" "sweet" "badical"...etc.
It is used as an adjective.
"This pie is bitchin'" OR "That's a really bitchin' shade of blue on your sweater there, Sally."
other meainings: awesome, sweet, badical, radical, hella nice
hmmm, Badical?
Quote from: will paisley on August 16, 2010, 04:24:20 PM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
Chicken Fried steak comes with cream gravy on the side.
Never saw chicken fried steak in Texas where it wasn't covered in so much cream gravy that I could see more than a square inch of uncovered breading (and never saw a chicken fried steak there that wasn't big enough to cover all but about a square inch of the plate it was on - most of them lapped over the side). "On the side" never happened. ;)
O.M.G. that sounds SO GOOD!!!! Drool, drool, drool!!!!
Here in St. Louis, we have some local foods that confuse people....mainly Toasted Ravioli. It's ravioli, breaded and then deep fried (or baked). Delicious and found in darn near every bar and semi-italian restaurant as an appetizer. My Boyfriend's niece from Boston thought we were NUTS when we ordered it, but she liked it. We also have Goey Butter Cake, which is a butter cake without baking (soda?) to make it fluffy...so it's goey and almost like it's not totally cooked...and it's topped with powdered sugar...sinfully delicious!!!
I'm curious on the sweet tea front....are the fast food (namely McDonalds) places in the north pushing sweet tea to the point that you have to argue to get PLAIN, UNSWEETENED ice tea??? Here in Missouri it's starting to tee me off (pun intended)! ;D
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 17, 2010, 07:05:30 PM
Then I can add crazy Oklahomians to my grits rant too! :D
What about this Alabama native who eats his butter and sugar with a little bit of grits?
Quote from: Amyj on August 17, 2010, 07:21:17 PM
Quote from: will paisley on August 16, 2010, 04:24:20 PM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
Chicken Fried steak comes with cream gravy on the side.
Never saw chicken fried steak in Texas where it wasn't covered in so much cream gravy that I could see more than a square inch of uncovered breading (and never saw a chicken fried steak there that wasn't big enough to cover all but about a square inch of the plate it was on - most of them lapped over the side). "On the side" never happened. ;)
O.M.G. that sounds SO GOOD!!!! Drool, drool, drool!!!!
Here in St. Louis, we have some local foods that confuse people....mainly Toasted Ravioli. It's ravioli, breaded and then deep fried (or baked). Delicious and found in darn near every bar and semi-italian restaurant as an appetizer. My Boyfriend's niece from Boston thought we were NUTS when we ordered it, but she liked it. We also have Goey Butter Cake, which is a butter cake without baking (soda?) to make it fluffy...so it's goey and almost like it's not totally cooked...and it's topped with powdered sugar...sinfully delicious!!!
I'm curious on the sweet tea front....are the fast food (namely McDonalds) places in the north pushing sweet tea to the point that you have to argue to get PLAIN, UNSWEETENED ice tea??? Here in Missouri it's starting to tee me off (pun intended)! ;D
As an Alabama native living in Iowa, I 'm grateful that some fast food places now have real tea.
Northern Virginia, but rural
We eat black eyed peas on new years along with cabbage and shrimp..
As for the steak thing, Pittsburg Rare is so rare you might as well not have cooked it, it's seared on both sides and put on a plate still kicking.
Wreck- I was talking to a friend of mine from new jersey explaining part of why the drinking age was 21 "the kids would go to dc and get hard liquor and get in a wreck" he thought this was another word for getting drunk, not a car accident.
Quote from: Elennare on August 17, 2010, 12:26:38 PM
Just discovered one that I *think* might be regional, but I'm not sure.
Clinking silverware on glasses at a wedding reception until the bride and groom kiss. Is this a mid-west/Michigan thing only, or have people from other parts of the country heard of this?
At every wedding in Michigan I've ever been to, this has been done, but my friend from the West Coast hadn't heard of it, and it didn't happen at the wedding somewhere down South my mom just went to, so now I'm trying to figure out if this is just a regional thing.
And here this was one of those things I thought was universal. They even sell little bells here for people to use instead because some reception halls have bans on this due to their stemwear getting broke.
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 17, 2010, 07:05:30 PM
Then I can add crazy Oklahomians to my grits rant too! :D
Bwwwaaaaaahahahahahaha!!! "Oklahomians"?!? Ok, I'll give you the crazy part... and it's true, I did grow up here, and have also spent the last 9 years here, but I don't actually consider myself to be an OklahoMAN, and haven't since I left here the first time, when I was just 14... and I never even HAD grits until I was already fully grown, and they were served in the Denny's where I had them (in the south) with no seasoning at all, so I got to add whatever I wanted! :P People looked at me like I was crazy, but they reminded me of Cream of Wheat, so that's the way I ate them! I still like CoW better...
Quote from: Valiss on August 17, 2010, 03:32:32 PM
Quote from: Zaubon on August 17, 2010, 01:35:36 PM
Quote from: Rowen MacD on August 16, 2010, 03:35:04 PM
Quote from: DonaCatalina on August 16, 2010, 03:12:54 PM
First time we heard of pulled pork in Texas, we thought that was how you got the pig out from under the tractor.
LOL.....In So Cal we grew up thinking BBQ was always made from ground beef, like a Manwich.
Don't ever recall seeing it made from pork until I moved to the Midwest.
BBQ is beef brisket slow smoked in a pit. What is this other stuff you are refering to?
Zaubon
BBQ is a cooking method and has nothing to do with that type of meat you cook, specifically. It simply refers to a 'low and slow' style of cooking, as opposed to 'grilling' which is what most people are doing when they say they are BBQing. :)
While this is true Valiss - in moving from Texas to North Carolina I already understood that BBQ is different things in different regions - pork out here with a vinegar based sauce - brisket in Texas, often heresy to add any sauce, tomato based if it is added.
But what I learned here is - though smoked brisket may be on the menu, it ain't even close to what's served in Texas. I find it interesting that a pig will be cooked low and slow over many hours...but a brisket seems to get the "speedy" version here - making it only good for replacing the soles on your boots. We have some friends who hated brisket - until I smoked one for 18 hours in my cajun cooker...then it was another story entirely! lol! 8)
I moved to NC in 1995, and lived in a verrrrry small town in the Piedmont. BBQ does indeed mean drastically different things. Since Florida doesn't really have it's own BBQ history like Texas, NC, Memphis or St Louis, we have a hybrid of all of them. It mostly revolves around pork, with ribs dry smoked, and a sweet tomato based sauce on the side. Brisket is done poorly, if at all.
NC is a very different animal. Pork butt is smoked till it falls apart, then shredded, and placed on a hamburger bun. It is topped with cole slaw. The slaw is mostly there for texture. Then the sauce....it is very different than your typical BBQ sauce, rather thin and vinegar, rather than tomato based. When it's done right, Carolina BBQ is unbelievably good. Unfortunately, it usually is not, and actually makes one long for franchise BBQ.
Another curious thing about NC is their attitude about ribs. With all that porky goodness going on, you would think they would learn to BBQ ribs. Not a chance. Gotta be different, I suppose.
There is a restaurant in Pittsburgh PA called "Pittsburgh Rare". It specializes in the above mentioned steak. Seared on both sides, raw AND cold in the middle. I personally don't like it.
We clink glasses with silverware at weddings to get the bride and groom to kiss. The bride often dances with guests for the bridal dance. She wears an apron and expects one to put cash in it.
Grits are cream of wheat and I hate both. Our iced tea comes plain with a slice of lemon. New Year's Eve dinner is kolbassi with sauerkraut. I like black eyed peas, but you can't get them near here.
Oh and we have Pittsburgh-eze. No place else talks like us....an at.
Gina
Another kinda of food that is very regional besides BBQ, and that's Mexican food. I guess we all are products of what we're used to, so for me good Tex-Mex is hard to beat in the Mexican food dept. I've been from one coast to the other, and everyone has a different take on good Mexican food.
So for me...........
> West Coast - too bland. At least at the places I've been which were mainly SC area. Went to a place once with some of the wife's family and they all talked about how the food was very spicy. ::)
> New Mexico/Arizona - lots of green chili's with not much cheese and no sour cream. Actually pretty tasty with some fair heat.
> Deep South - Not many options in the places I've been. I've got relatives in Ala., Tenn., Carolina's, and most of them didn't grow up eating any type of Mex food, therefore they don't.
> North East - Mexican food up there is Taco Bell................please.
> Midwest - about the same as the Deep South. Wife's relatives are scared of any type of peppers. :o
Even within Texas there are differences. And much like BBQ, everyone has their own opinion on what they think is best. Hint Hint........if you like fajitas, shrimp fajitas are fabulous!!
Don't know where this came from
my biologic family puts salt on watermelon-
anyone else do this?
Quote from: arbcoind on August 18, 2010, 08:20:19 AM
We clink glasses with silverware at weddings to get the bride and groom to kiss. The bride often dances with guests for the bridal dance. She wears an apron and expects one to put cash in it.
Grits are cream of wheat and I hate both. Our iced tea comes plain with a slice of lemon. New Year's Eve dinner is kolbassi with sauerkraut. I like black eyed peas, but you can't get them near here.
Oh and we have Pittsburgh-eze. No place else talks like us....an at.
Gina
Strange. After moving here from Europe we lived near Pittsburgh for a long time, since we have quite a bit of family there I never noticed any of that.
Quote from: crazyrennie on August 18, 2010, 10:15:03 AM
Don't know where this came from
my biologic family puts salt on watermelon-
anyone else do this?
We did it in Alabama. I still salt my watermelon, and cantaloupe and honeydew, as well.
I've lived in PA, NC, IL, ID, and TX and spent nearly 12 years in the Army. Aside form a few regional nuances with food and language, I never really noticed anything THAT different between states.
I guess it is different being from Europe, as all we have to do is cross a border and things can drastically change.
I believe in the great state of BBQ and Tex-Mex. I believe in the Taco Stand outside of the club when you're wasted. I believe in roadside tamales. I believe in Luby's Cafeteria and their LuAnn Platters. I believe in buffalo burgers, and steaks that are hot off the prairie. I believe in Certified Angus Beef, and Blue Bell Ice Cream.
I believe in TEXAS! WEWT!
*oh, and Rani, I also eat peanut butter and syrup on toast*
Taco stands outside of the club are one of the reasons I still live in Texas.
Quote from: blue66669 on August 18, 2010, 11:32:43 AM
I believe in the great state of BBQ and Tex-Mex. I believe in the Taco Stand outside of the club when you're wasted. I believe in roadside tamales. I believe in Luby's Cafeteria and their LuAnn Platters. I believe in buffalo burgers, and steaks that are hot off the prairie. I believe in Certified Angus Beef, and Blue Bell Ice Cream.
I believe in TEXAS! WEWT!
One thing I definitely miss about Texas is the food. Don't think I ever had bad Mexican or barbecue the entire time I lived in San Antonio. And boy could that town throw a street party. I honestly think NIOSA puts more food on a stick than any faire. Even the chain restaurants were magnificent - Bill Millers had better barbecue than nearly anything I can get around here, and I still prefer Taco Cabana fajitas to any other I've ever had anywhere. Since I moved away, I've become an Indian and Thai food addict, since that's the only authentic spicy food I can find up here.
(As an aside, I'm puzzled by the general disdain held for "Tex-Mex", which I consider to be a misnomer anyways. I've been to plenty of Mexican restaraunts in San Antonio which most people would dub "Tex-Mex". The thing is, all the staff are Mexican, most of the people eating there are Mexican, if you can't speak Spanish you can only order by pointing at the menu (which is in Spanish), the bloody cash register reciept's in Spanish, and saying you're from INS will empty the place out quicker than a bomb threat. Granted, they're not serving Yucatan peninsula-style moles, but how could that "Tex-Mex" food possibly be any more Mexican?)
Yep, the food here is great. I suppose this is why we have quite the pleasantly plump population! I think there are a few places in the country where the food is usually always very good. Texas, the Old South, parts of New England, Northern California, and parts of the Midwest. Everything else pretty much sucks. :P
Tex-Mex is just Mexican food with a different influence. Just like all "American" food isn't the same.
Mexican and Tex-Mex are different. If you go to most Mexican restaurants outside of Texas, you won't be getting the same food as you would at a Tex-Mex restaurant. Mexican Texans love Tex-Mex too, but you go to Cali or Florida and it's a different world in Mexican foods. Maybe to some the difference is subtle enough not to notice, but to this Texan it's enough I don't like Mexican that isn't Tex-Mex. But we don't call it that just because we're full of ourselves (which we are, Texas is awesome.)
And I've always eaten my grits with milk, sugar, and butter.
By the way, this thread isnt limited to food. Feel free to post about words/phrases, items, customs etc. that are specific to your area.
I was told by someone from the south that Malt O Meal = grits. When I was a kid it was called Malt O Meal. To this day I dont know anyone who call it "grits". It was served for breakfast in the exact same way are Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, or any other hot cereal. As such, it was/is served with milk, sugar, syrup, butter, fruit, etc. So when I went to a 'southern' style restaurant later in life and thought I'd try this "grits" I heard about, I was surprised that they brought me what essentially is like oatmeal to me. I'm sitting there thinking, why would anyone want oatmeal/malt o meal/etc along side some BBQ? To this day is still sounds odd and I'll only eat "grits" as breakfast.
I'm in the same boat with the whole 'chicken and waffles' fad that came through here a couple of years ago. I mean, I like chicken and I like waffles, but togehter? Uh, no thanks. For me it's like ordering bbq ribs and getting pancakes with it. But that probably explains why those places closed down around here.
Grits is not malt o'meal.
Grits is ground hominy.
Malt O'meal is a combination of malted and Farnia wheat.
Phrases:
If you are indeed a Yankee, please don't say "That dog is not right for that"
when you are trying to remember to say "That dog just won't hunt"
Salt on watermelon and cantaloupe, unless it's really sweet, but never on honeydew or apples.
You haven't had bland Mexican food until you've tried it in Maine. Maybe not in the larger cities, but what I've had in the smaller towns around the ski resorts was merely tomato sauce without the heat.
I think of Tex Mex as being very Americanized Mexican. To American tastes and a style you probably wouldn't find in Mexico itself, but has become common here. Like the combo platter with melty cheese all over the top. I might be way off base here.
Most of my relatives are die hard sweet tea drinkers. It's what's on the table at most gatherings. I prefer regular non sweetened Iced Tea. Sweet tea to me is a whole 'nother thing.
Grits are corn based. like hominey. * Ha. Thankyou Dona! Just saw your above post.*Seriously, I'm just teasing you all about how you eat your grits. I just do think it's odd. Like putting sugar on your corn on the cobb. :) A side note, in Lousianna that serve grits and shrimp as one dish. It's an odd thing.
Speaking of phrases, when I lived up in Maine, everyone said "wicked good". :) Is thst just a Maine thing? I never heard it when I lived in the NYC area.
Words commom to The "Burgh:
chipped ham...thinly sliced ham
dippy...as in you can dip something into it
grinnie...chipmunk
gumband...rubber band
jumbo...lbologna lunch meat
nebby...prying into affairs of others
redd up...clean up
slippy...slippery
city chicken...baked pork on a stick
jagger...thorn or biars
yinz...plural for you
and we have the Picksburg Stillers...
Gina
I recognize some of those words, but they are common all over western PA, at least the 50 or 60 miles to the north where we lived.
I guess living in the big cities, I am missing something. Must be that most of these places are full of "non natives", so its just a homogeneous blob of everyman/everywoman. I mean, I hear the same slang all over the place, just with different accents and I can get sweet or unsweet tea anywhere Ive been.
I really only notice differences in cuisine, but not things like salt on watermelon, I've seen people do that all over the US.
Now, from my home town of Crossmaglen Ireland, I travel east 480 miles and a lorry is a camion and a bit further is a lastwagen ;D
Quote(As an aside, I'm puzzled by the general disdain held for "Tex-Mex", which I consider to be a misnomer anyways. I've been to plenty of Mexican restaraunts in San Antonio which most people would dub "Tex-Mex". The thing is, all the staff are Mexican, most of the people eating there are Mexican, if you can't speak Spanish you can only order by pointing at the menu (which is in Spanish), the bloody cash register reciept's in Spanish, and saying you're from INS will empty the place out quicker than a bomb threat. Granted, they're not serving Yucatan peninsula-style moles, but how could that "Tex-Mex" food possibly be any more Mexican?)
We must have gone to the worst mexican restaurants in all of Texas(Boston's was way worse as far as taste though).
They mispronounced EVERYTHING (we couldnt figure out what she was saying when she said chile rellenos for a good 5 minutes) the "tacky-tues" had lettuce in them, IN them, and like nothing had any seasoning. It was awful but fun lol.It was in the Longview area.
I live in SoCal near LA and the Mexican food here is really great! Anyone who says otherwise has gone to a really bad place or has really bad taste! I've had it both at restaurants and traditional made by my friends families and at some places it tastes so authentic. A good 1/3 of the local stores are Mexican stores and everything is in spanish, usually they have like a little food court inside and they always have the best tamales. One of the main reasons i love it here.
So here in SoCal it seems the first thing you do at a red light is look at everyone in the car next to you till they turn and look back at you. As odd as that sound i thought it was fairly normal but my sisters boyfriend from Virginia swears no other state does this and it really freaked him out. Does any other state do that?
QuoteI believe in the great state of BBQ and Tex-Mex. I believe in the Taco Stand outside of the club when you're wasted. I believe in roadside tamales. I believe in Luby's Cafeteria and their LuAnn Platters. I believe in buffalo burgers, and steaks that are hot off the prairie. I believe in Certified Angus Beef, and Blue Bell Ice Cream.
I believe in TEXAS! WEWT!
*oh, and Rani, I also eat peanut butter and syrup on toast*
Amen Amen Amen. Another believer in the promised land!!
And I've been know to eat a peanut butter and honey sandwhich. Good stuff!!
QuoteIf you are indeed a Yankee, please don't say "That dog is not right for that"
when you are trying to remember to say "That dog just won't hunt"
Good One!!
Lots of regional stuff in regards to language.
Such as.........."I'm fixing to eat me some Tex-Mex with lots of hot sauce on it".
Fixing to = you are about to do something
Hot Sauce: if you say Salsa, you ain't from around here and that proves it.
Ok, I had to go back two pages to read everything I missed, and the grits/Cream of Wheat/Malt-o-Meal debate was driving me nuts!!! They're all made of different things, but they are made basically in the same way, and they do have similar textures, so it would be easy to confuse them if they were all served on the same plate... But I see that all that has been dealt with, so I can move on now! LOLOL
Blue, I'm glad I'm not the only one who knows about the yummy goodness of peanut butter and syrup! It's just too delicious to describe, but only in small amounts, or it gets a bit overwhelming... and I do know people who eat it with honey, as well.
The salt on melons, apples or other sweet things I never understood, but some of my family does it, also, and so do some people almost everywhere I've been, so that's not really very regional, I guess.
I've been to every state in the Union except Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Hawaii, at least traveling through, and most of the differences I've noticed are in the accents, phrases and word choices. The way people say things can tell a lot about where they're from, and picking up on the differences and using them can help a newcomer fit in faster... Of course, it's easier if you've got an ear for accents, as well!
Fun thread, btw!!!
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 18, 2010, 01:14:57 PM
I think of Tex Mex as being very Americanized Mexican. To American tastes and a style you probably wouldn't find in Mexico itself, but has become common here. Like the combo platter with melty cheese all over the top. I might be way off base here.
Thing is, you can get a combo plate like that in San Antonio (enchiladas and tacos with refried beans and Spanish rice) that was made by Mexicans, for Mexicans. I thoroughly get that there's all kinds of Mexican food that doesn't fit that description, but I guess my pet peeve is that they're perceived as being totally separate, rather than one being a subset of the other. If they referred to the Mexican made-and-consumed food items that have names identical to some of the stuff served at the likes of Taco Hell or ChiChis (enchiladas, tamales, tacos, etc) as "Northern Mexican" or something, my inner pedant wouldn't complain. ;)
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 18, 2010, 01:14:57 PM
Speaking of phrases, when I lived up in Maine, everyone said "wicked good". :) Is thst just a Maine thing? I never heard it when I lived in the NYC area.
New England thing (meaning it's not a New York thing ;) Especially popular/prevalent around Boston.
Yup...had to catch up reading two pages to enjoy everything...excellent thread.
It is indeed a "Pitttsburg" rare steak that I saw the reference for not Phillidelphia. We would call it "blue" here.
I am sure that our "BBQ" and "Mexican" are so wishy washy compared to the real thing.
Yes, they do clink glasses here for the bride and groom to kiss..or some other combination of the wedding party.
Apple pie with cheddar cheese anyone?
Quote from: arbcoind on August 18, 2010, 01:19:18 PM
Words commom to The "Burgh:
chipped ham...thinly sliced ham
dippy...as in you can dip something into it
grinnie...chipmunk
gumband...rubber band
jumbo...lbologna lunch meat
nebby...prying into affairs of others
redd up...clean up
slippy...slippery
city chicken...baked pork on a stick
jagger...thorn or biars
yinz...plural for you
and we have the Picksburg Stillers...
The most memorable from the 'Burgh is "yinz" or "youns". It still makes me cringe after all these years! I had to run away from Pittsburgh at a young age to get away from it, LOL!
My cousin always called me "his cousint". Drove me batty!
As a kid, in the Pittsburgh area, we always had a pork roast, sauerkraut and dumplings for NYD. When we moved south, it really freaked a lot of friends and neighbors out!
I remember weddings have the money dance for the bride, and clinking glasses. And I swear every wedding I went to as a child had Hava Nagila on the dance list. No one outside of Pgh. has EVER heard of that (I keep asking!), and no one we knew was Jewish or Hebrew, it was just "that song" that was always played at a wedding reception!
Quote from: Lady Kett on August 18, 2010, 07:48:14 PM
I remember weddings have the money dance for the bride, and clinking glasses. And I swear every wedding I went to as a child had Hava Nagila on the dance list. No one outside of Pgh. has EVER heard of that (I keep asking!), and no one we knew was Jewish or Hebrew, it was just "that song" that was always played at a wedding reception!
In San Antonio it was La Bamba - long before the movie came out, regardless of the ethnicity of the couple.
BLUE STEAK?!?!?!? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!
Lady Kett, you crack me up! I've lived 20 miles east of Pittsburgh all my life, yoi and double yoi!
I thought of a phrase:
Question: Jeet yet?
Answer: No, jew?
Translation...did you eat yet? No, did you?
In a very small area growing up, we lived on a road called Hogsback....to the locals anyway. It wasnt until I was a little older that I found out to everyone else it was Wells Creek Trail. ::)
Also, growing up in this area, I took the bluffs for granted. I laughed and laughed when my flatlander cousins arrived and considered them mountains. :)
Arbcoind - We're from 30 mi north of Pgh. how about local directions which are the equivalent of "go up to the big oak tree and take a left". Outside the cities (or "downtown" of the small town) there are NO road signs. If you don't know where "Sunflower Corners" is, because 40 years ago there was a Sunflowers something or other there that has long been replaced by a Shell station, you'll never know where you're going! Even trying to find something as large as the airport can be challenging. Of course, they moved the airport in Pgh what, like 15 years ago or more? My in-laws still call it the new airport.
When I first moved to Texas, I was late to work one day because of a railroad train crossing. I arrived, and said to my boss and co-workers, "Sorry I'm late, I hit a train." Imagine my surprise when the REALLY thought I'd HIT a train in my car and wondered why I didn't go to the emergency room right away...
I'm not sure if that's just a Yankee thing, a Pgh thing or what, but "hit a light" "hit a traffic jam" and "hit a train" all just sort of mean you came across it, not actually HIT it. Not so in the South!
Quote from: Lady Kett on August 19, 2010, 08:00:24 PM
I'm not sure if that's just a Yankee thing, a Pgh thing or what, but "hit a light" "hit a traffic jam" and "hit a train" all just sort of mean you came across it, not actually HIT it. Not so in the South!
Nah, my wife was born and raised in Dallas as says that all the time.
If you want to see if a guy is really a native of Pittsburgh, tell him "Kennywood is open" and watch what he does. ;D
I grew up in California, and now live in Florida. So when I heard from a friend that another guy I know here is from the West Coast, I thought I had found a kindred spirit, a Westerner like me, someone who would understand me. At least a little. I asked him where on the West Coast he was from. He said ...
"Tampa."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
Hehe
sorry Ian, yes we Floridians have a different definition for the 'west coast'.
California is "the other west coast" ;)
Where in Florida are you?
In south Florida we have "snow birds" yes they are migratory but they are not fowl, although generally they are foul.
Here "snow birds" are the older generation that live every where else in the US during the summer but invade south Florida, generally from September till right after Easter/ passover.
Its a love hate relationship because they clog up the roads (especially during the early bird special window), make illegal left/right turns from the middle lane, drive 10 miles below the speed limit and are mean and cantankerous
Yep, we're bi coastal and proud of it. :) No other state get's to boast of having two coasts. :)
Quote from: Auryn on August 20, 2010, 08:38:34 AM
Hehe
sorry Ian, yes we Floridians have a different definition for the 'west coast'.
California is "the other west coast" ;)
Where in Florida are you?
Central Florida ... Sanford to be exact. On I-4, "up" from Orlando, down from Daytona ...
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 20, 2010, 08:45:03 AM
Yep, we're bi coastal and proud of it. :) No other state get's to boast of having two coasts. :)
Not true! Michigan has 2 coasts as well. :)
Quote from: Auryn on August 20, 2010, 08:38:34 AM
In south Florida we have "snow birds" yes they are migratory but they are not fowl, although generally they are foul.
Here "snow birds" are the older generation that live every where else in the US during the summer but invade south Florida, generally from September till right after Easter/ passover.
Its a love hate relationship because they clog up the roads (especially during the early bird special window), make illegal left/right turns from the middle lane, drive 10 miles below the speed limit and are mean and cantankerous
Hmmm, the Floridian snow birds I'm familiar with are usually Canadian (then again, I'm from LA - Lower Alabama - and only a Canadian would find winter temperatures in the 40s "comfortable" enough to forego driving to the peninsula for shirtsleeve weather).
In addition to the slow driving, Canadians are also disliked by the service community because they're not used to tipping in restaurants (leading to the old joke about the difference between a Canadian and a canoe :D).
Quote from: Auryn on August 20, 2010, 08:38:34 AM
Hehe
sorry Ian, yes we Floridians have a different definition for the 'west coast'.
California is "the other west coast" ;)
Where in Florida are you?
In south Florida we have "snow birds" yes they are migratory but they are not fowl, although generally they are foul.
Here "snow birds" are the older generation that live every where else in the US during the summer but invade south Florida, generally from September till right after Easter/ passover.
Its a love hate relationship because they clog up the roads (especially during the early bird special window), make illegal left/right turns from the middle lane, drive 10 miles below the speed limit and are mean and cantankerous
There are snow birds in TX, NM and AZ, as well. They get around a bit, I guess... heheh
Quote from: Elennare on August 20, 2010, 10:42:00 AM
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 20, 2010, 08:45:03 AM
Yep, we're bi coastal and proud of it. :) No other state get's to boast of having two coasts. :)
Not true! Michigan has 2 coasts as well. :)
Well, if you count the upper peninsula, don't you have a north coast and a south coast too?
And an archipelago, to boot! You got the water thing covered, anyway!
Quote from: will paisley on August 20, 2010, 10:55:07 AM
Hmmm, the Floridian snow birds I'm familiar with are usually Canadian (then again, I'm from LA - Lower Alabama - and only a Canadian would find winter temperatures in the 40s "comfortable" enough to forego driving to the peninsula for shirtsleeve weather).
In addition to the slow driving, Canadians are also disliked by the service community because they're not used to tipping in restaurants (leading to the old joke about the difference between a Canadian and a canoe :D).
Well, someone is being bamboozled, then. We do tip in Canada- 15% gratuity is the usual amount. Up here, minimum wage is actually lower for servers than for other jobs because it's expected they'll get tips. I'm guessing you're getting people playing the "dumb foreigner" card.
And I'm quite curious as to what this Canadian and canoe joke is, actually.
Quote from: iain robb on August 20, 2010, 06:23:43 AM
I grew up in California, and now live in Florida. So when I heard from a friend that another guy I know here is from the West Coast, I thought I had found a kindred spirit, a Westerner like me, someone who would understand me. At least a little. I asked him where on the West Coast he was from. He said ...
"Tampa."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
Yeah, and they think Tampa is the Bay Area, too. How sad.
If it's any consolation, I'm from CA and I also live in FL right now. I'm in Orlando.
Ten years ago almost no one outside Texas had heard the phrase "All hat and no cattle".
But I think it became a lot more widely known after GW Bush was President.
These may be old Midwest sayings...or it's entirely possible my Mom made them up...
Being "Fair to Middlin'" meaning you are doing ok
Being "Glunky", "Dawdling" or "Lollygagging" meaning you are being slow.
These are terms my friend (and some family) have used that got them a lot of ribbing, mostly for the old-fashionedness of them:
"Icebox" for fridge, "Davenport" for couch", "clothes WARSHer"
Many years ago as a very naïve 20-something, I traveled to England to visit my RAF boyfriend. The first couple of nights he stayed with me at a bed and breakfast just off base. The third night I stopped to let the (very young and handsome male) proprietor know there would be only one for breakfast as Mal would be staying on base that night, to which he replied "Oh right then – would you care to be knocked up in the morning?"
The next day, between bouts of hysterical laughter, Mal explained he was only asking if I needed a wake up in an establishment that didn't have phones in the room...
Quote from: iain robb on August 20, 2010, 03:45:26 PM
Quote from: Elennare on August 20, 2010, 10:42:00 AM
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 20, 2010, 08:45:03 AM
Yep, we're bi coastal and proud of it. :) No other state get's to boast of having two coasts. :)
Not true! Michigan has 2 coasts as well. :)
Well, if you count the upper peninsula, don't you have a north coast and a south coast too?
All right..all right...geesh! I was TRYING to make a proud point here.... ;D
Dona, "all hat no cattle". ;D I LOVE that. Very Texas. Don't recall ever having heard it...haha or is that HERD it? Anyway..I'm gonna have to work that into a conversation soon. I like the way it rolls.
When I first moved to Tennessee, the only Faires I'd ever been to were California Faires. I thought most people dressed in garb at Faires. Not true! It's gotten a bit better here over the years, but I still find it disconcerting that there are more people not wearing garb when I go to a faire. The percentage is better many other places, but it really varies quite a lot from Faire to Faire.
Dona C, that.. is.. AWESOME!!! OMG, I just doused my monitor AND my keyboard!!! As I was choking on my drink, mind you... ;D
Amy, I've heard all of those except "glunky", so your mom wasn't just making things up... heheh I was constantly accused of lollygagging when I was a kid, and I still have to tell my daughter to "quit dawdlin' and get your shoes on!". I've heard davenport used for sofa, but my grandparents always called it the "divan".
Mehan, that's just too funny! :D
Quote from: mehan on August 21, 2010, 09:17:01 AM
Many years ago as a very naïve 20-something, I traveled to England to visit my RAF boyfriend. The first couple of nights he stayed with me at a bed and breakfast just off base. The third night I stopped to let the (very young and handsome male) proprietor know there would be only one for breakfast as Mal would be staying on base that night, to which he replied "Oh right then – would you care to be knocked up in the morning?"
The next day, between bouts of hysterical laughter, Mal explained he was only asking if I needed a wake up in an establishment that didn't have phones in the room...
That is absolutely priceless! I love it!
I use Irish slang sometimes, which means nothing to most Americans and doesnt sound near as cool now that pretty much any trace of my fine accent has been lost.
I cant even do a good fake one, which is pretty funny. My wife says she can hear it if I get mad or drunk or both.
Quote from: Amyj on August 21, 2010, 09:12:53 AM
These may be old Midwest sayings...or it's entirely possible my Mom made them up...
Being "Fair to Middlin'" meaning you are doing ok
Being "Glunky", "Dawdling" or "Lollygagging" meaning you are being slow.
These are terms my friend (and some family) have used that got them a lot of ribbing, mostly for the old-fashionedness of them:
"Icebox" for fridge, "Davenport" for couch", "clothes WARSHer"
I can shed some light on the "Fair to Middlin" phrase, it's in reference to the method in which they used to grade raw cotton just picked from the fields. The grade was based upon the amount of trash(sticks, stems, leaves dirt,etc.) was in each bail.
Prime, good, fair, middling,poor. (It's a Southern thang.)
Quote from: crashbot on August 22, 2010, 12:33:43 AM
I use Irish slang sometimes, which means nothing to most Americans and doesnt sound near as cool now that pretty much any trace of my fine accent has been lost.
I cant even do a good fake one, which is pretty funny. My wife says she can hear it if I get mad or drunk or both.
When I was much younger I dated a girl who was just visiting from Ireland and understandably, she used alot of words which at the time I didn't understand. Well one night while walking her home after spending a great evening with some friends of mine, she said with excitement "What great craic we had!" Needless to say that made me stop in my tracks absolutely dumbfounded, and when I asked her to repeat what she just said in case I misheard her, she again said aloud "What great craic!" At this point she obviously noticed the stunned look on my face and realizing what was going on, proceeded to explain to me that craic was a term to describe fun, entertainment and a lively conversation. Well you could have seen the look of relief on my face at that point as we both broke into hysterical laughter.
Quote from: GirlChris on August 20, 2010, 06:25:58 PM
Quote from: will paisley on August 20, 2010, 10:55:07 AM
Hmmm, the Floridian snow birds I'm familiar with are usually Canadian (then again, I'm from LA - Lower Alabama - and only a Canadian would find winter temperatures in the 40s "comfortable" enough to forego driving to the peninsula for shirtsleeve weather).
In addition to the slow driving, Canadians are also disliked by the service community because they're not used to tipping in restaurants (leading to the old joke about the difference between a Canadian and a canoe :D).
Well, someone is being bamboozled, then. We do tip in Canada- 15% gratuity is the usual amount. Up here, minimum wage is actually lower for servers than for other jobs because it's expected they'll get tips. I'm guessing you're getting people playing the "dumb foreigner" card.
And I'm quite curious as to what this Canadian and canoe joke is, actually.
Q: What's the difference between a Canadian and a canoe?
A: Canoes TIP! (I'll be here all week, try the veal)
Another factor might be the age. Florida snowbirds are invariably retirees. Besides being on fixed incomes, a majority of them might be giving adequate tips, circa 1950 or so.
Look out, I'm a future snow bird...We leave the northern states and fly further south for the winter. I never knew I'd be such a pain in the butt during retirement!
Gina
At least in south Florida the issues with snow birds go far beyond tipping.
Its like they think that because we are closer to the equator than they normally are that business works differently.
I once actually had a canadian customer throw a fit because I was actually going to charge him for a repair. He damaged his pos boat and expected us to fix it for free.
I know they are not the majority, but they give the rest of the canadians a bad name and a bad rep.
Down here you can always tell who is a tourist and who is a local (local meaning they have lived in florida at least 10 years and don't still consider themselves something else).
Locals go to the beach early in the morning and leave by 11 am- tourist don't show up till noon.
Locals will go to the beach on Christmas generally wearing jeans, sweaters, coats, a hat etc.Everyone else will be in shorts and t-shirts.
If you see someone that has lobster red skin- they are definitely not from around here.
Oh and yes in Florida we do wear sunglasses 12 months out of the year.
I was in West Virginia for thanksgiving a couple of years ago and we got so many strange looks because we wore sunglasses and it wasnt summer.
Quote from: Auryn on August 23, 2010, 10:15:24 AM
Oh and yes in Florida we do wear sunglasses 12 months out of the year.
How do you manage that? I was wearing them up until about a month and a half ago. Then, whenever I would get outside in sunglasses, they would fog up and I wouldn't be able to see. So I've pretty much given them up...
well i know the dunkin donuts commercials that says america runs on dunkin i just assumed that they ment north america as in the usa
i found out that applies to south america as well. imagine my suprise when i passed a dunkin donuts in Lima
ofcourse i shouldn't have been suprised there is a pizza hut an applebees and a chillis' within walking distant
QuoteHow do you manage that? I was wearing them up until about a month and a half ago. Then, whenever I would get outside in sunglasses, they would fog up and I wouldn't be able to see. So I've pretty much given them up...
lady rebecca, when they fog up from walking into the heat from the ac- just wait about 15-20 seconds, wipe them down with your shirt/sleeve and your good to go.
Quote from: Lady Christina de Pond on August 23, 2010, 10:51:36 AM
well i know the dunkin donuts commercials that says america runs on dunkin i just assumed that they ment north america as in the usa
i found out that applies to south america as well. imagine my suprise when i passed a dunkin donuts in Lima
ofcourse i shouldn't have been suprised there is a pizza hut an applebees and a chillis' within walking distant
You have to be careful overseas. A friend of mine got an "American Pizza" in Brazil. He was told it had "American Sausage" on it...balogna.
He couldn't eat it.
Quote from: Auryn on August 23, 2010, 11:02:27 AM
QuoteHow do you manage that? I was wearing them up until about a month and a half ago. Then, whenever I would get outside in sunglasses, they would fog up and I wouldn't be able to see. So I've pretty much given them up...
lady rebecca, when they fog up from walking into the heat from the ac- just wait about 15-20 seconds, wipe them down with your shirt/sleeve and your good to go.
yeah i sometimes have that issue with sunglasses that were in my purse and i either walk out into the heat with them on or i get in the truck i just give them a few minutes to unfog and put them back on
Quote from: KeeperoftheBar on August 24, 2010, 07:29:03 AM
You have to be careful overseas. A friend of mine got an "American Pizza" in Brazil. He was told it had "American Sausage" on it...balogna.
He couldn't eat it.
I have heard, though I have no first-hand accounts to verify, that in Japan an "American Pizza" comes with corn and mayo on it. Because apparently we put corn and mayo on everything.
..bleh! :)
My wife is from Iowa. When we met, we were both living in Tennessee (long story) and working at Wal-Mart. One time, she had someone ask her for a toboggan. She told them they'd probably be in toys, and got a funny look. Later, talking to some co-workers, she told the story of getting the funny look, and wondered why. They told her that toboggans wouldn't be in toys, but in clothing. She said, "But a toboggan is a sled!" They said, "No, a toboggan is a hat."
I, being from Alabama, agree that a tobbogan is that hat you wear in the winter time, sometimes with a little pouf ball on top. She still says it's a sled.
Growing up in Maryland, they have 'submarine' sandwiches. Living in Louisiana, they are called 'po-boys'. Now in Massachusetts they're called 'grinders'. Somewhere I think I've heard them called 'hoagees' (if I spelled that right?)
My mom would have apple pie with some cheddar cheese. Celery with cream cheese and green olives. (seen some use peanut butter). sprinkle salt on an apple.
I like peanut butter and fluff (marshmellow) sandwiches. And when that runs out, honey or maple syrup makes a good substitute.
A Toboggan is a sled.
It would be interesting to know how it became associated with a hat though. Maybe because you wore a specific style of hat in winter while moving things around on your Toboggan? Who knows!
When I was growing up we called it soda, but my grandfather always said "pop". I thought "pop" was just how old people refer to soda/carbonated beverages, but I guess some people on the east coast say "pop" too, but I still associate the term as a phrase from a bygone era.
Quote from: Dustin on August 25, 2010, 04:11:40 PM
My wife is from Iowa. When we met, we were both living in Tennessee (long story) and working at Wal-Mart. One time, she had someone ask her for a toboggan. She told them they'd probably be in toys, and got a funny look. Later, talking to some co-workers, she told the story of getting the funny look, and wondered why. They told her that toboggans wouldn't be in toys, but in clothing. She said, "But a toboggan is a sled!" They said, "No, a toboggan is a hat."
I, being from Alabama, agree that a tobbogan is that hat you wear in the winter time, sometimes with a little pouf ball on top. She still says it's a sled.
OK, for me back home in Europe "tobbogan" is a slide, found in the kids play area in the park. You climb on one side and slide down on the other.
Quote from: Valiss on September 01, 2010, 03:05:50 PM
When I was growing up we called it soda, but my grandfather always said "pop". I thought "pop" was just how old people refer to soda/carbonated beverages, but I guess some people on the east coast say "pop" too, but I still associate the term as a phrase from a bygone era.
It's pop here in Iowa/Illinois land, too. I'm from Alabama, where you ask for a Coke, and they ask you what kind, then you specify Sprite or Dr. Pepper or Coca-Cola.
Quote from: Anna Iram on August 17, 2010, 05:30:54 PM
Well, I grew up eating grits for breakfast with salt and pepper and butter ...yum :)...then one day I met a man from up nawth (note pronunciation) and he actually put sugar on his grits!! Y'all are nuts up in Washington. Just because it's a hot cereal don't mean you have to go and ruin perfectly good grits that way!
Something similar with grits is a popular baby food back home in Romania; it's made with grits and milk (or water) and you put sugar or fruit preserve over it.
Quote from: will paisley on August 18, 2010, 11:49:12 AM
Quote from: blue66669 on August 18, 2010, 11:32:43 AM
The thing is, all the staff are Mexican, most of the people eating there are Mexican, if you can't speak Spanish you can only order by pointing at the menu (which is in Spanish), the bloody cash register reciept's in Spanish, and saying you're from INS will empty the place out quicker than a bomb threat. Granted, they're not serving Yucatan peninsula-style moles, but how could that "Tex-Mex" food possibly be any more Mexican?)
Had lunch in one of those places in downtown Los Angeles few weeks ago. Food was awesome and it was fun to freak everybody around us. We were talking Romanian and somebody asked me what Spanish dialect I'm speaking.
Quote from: Dustin on August 25, 2010, 04:11:40 PM
My wife is from Iowa. When we met, we were both living in Tennessee (long story) and working at Wal-Mart. One time, she had someone ask her for a toboggan. She told them they'd probably be in toys, and got a funny look. Later, talking to some co-workers, she told the story of getting the funny look, and wondered why. They told her that toboggans wouldn't be in toys, but in clothing. She said, "But a toboggan is a sled!" They said, "No, a toboggan is a hat."
I, being from Alabama, agree that a tobbogan is that hat you wear in the winter time, sometimes with a little pouf ball on top. She still says it's a sled.
Toboggan is a sled. My dad used to make toboggan runs for us down the side of our hill when we had a good snowfall.
Quote from: Dustin on September 01, 2010, 06:27:48 PM
It's pop here in Iowa/Illinois land, too. I'm from Alabama, where you ask for a Coke, and they ask you what kind, then you specify Sprite or Dr. Pepper or Coca-Cola.
See, that just seems like extra work to me. Like ordering your drink twice.
My husband still teases me whenever I ask him to hand me the "clicker" instead of the "remote" for the TV, and we both grew up here in Minnesota.
Oh, and that "davenport" thing. I always thought Grandma was saying "Dabbinport" and refering to the porch, not the couch.
Quote from: Leyla on September 02, 2010, 01:41:02 AM
My husband still teases me whenever I ask him to hand me the "clicker" instead of the "remote" for the TV, and we both grew up here in Minnesota.
I think "clicker" is more of a generational thing than a regional thing. All my older relatives called it a clicker because when the remotes first came out they had huge buttons that clicked (I rememeber those still). I dont think I've heard anyone under 40, but espcially young kids, who call it a clicker these days. Kinda like calling the fridge an 'ice box'.
I went on a field trip to Chicago and we went to see a baseball game at Wrigley Field. It was FREEZING. I wandered down to the gift shop to warm up, and I noticed that they had hats for sale behind the counter.
"Could I get one of the toques?" I asked the girl at the counter.
"The what?"
"Toques." I stared at the hat, trying to think of another name for it. After a couple of minutes of pointing and guessing, I finally came up with "The knit hat? With the pom pom on the top?"
Yeah. In Canada, that's a toque (pronounced tooooook.) Interestingly, that's also the technical term for a chef's hat. Yay French!
Quote from: GirlChris on September 04, 2010, 12:38:32 PM
I went on a field trip to Chicago and we went to see a baseball game at Wrigley Field. It was FREEZING. I wandered down to the gift shop to warm up, and I noticed that they had hats for sale behind the counter.
"Could I get one of the toques?" I asked the girl at the counter.
"The what?"
"Toques." I stared at the hat, trying to think of another name for it. After a couple of minutes of pointing and guessing, I finally came up with "The knit hat? With the pom pom on the top?"
Yeah. In Canada, that's a toque (pronounced tooooook.) Interestingly, that's also the technical term for a chef's hat. Yay French!
Ironically, the only reason I understood this was because of the "Strange Brew" movie and the Bob and Doug MacKenzie skits.... I still say "Beauty Toque eh!" when I see a neat winter hat!!!! ;D
My wife, a pharmacist, heard her female Aussie cohort yell out down the hall at the hospital, "Keep your pecker up!" Of course she caught a lot of funny looks. Nim had to explain to her that over here, the phrase had an entirely different connotation. It more or less means to cheer up.