# Foods/dishes whose name does not compute **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 3, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092 "2023-04-03T16:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/121 "2023-06-09T20:25:45Z")
“Chicken fried steak”. I honestly have no idea what it is. Is it steak? Is it chicken? Is it steak fried by a chicken? What? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/122 "2023-06-09T23:45:10Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > \< shakes away image of someone milking a little dog \> From: Red Dwarf S2 Ep1 [Dogs Milk](https://www.google.com/search?q=red%20dwarf%20dog%20milk&tbm=vid) > [@](#): > > **Lister:** Dog’s milk?! > > **Holly:** Nothing wrong with dog’s milk. Full of goodness, full of vitamins, full of marrowbone jelly. Lasts longer than any other type of milk, dog’s milk. > > **Lister:** Why? > > **Holly:** No bugger’ll drink it. Plus, of course, the advantage of dog’s milk is that when it goes off, it tastes exactly the same as when it’s fresh. > > **Lister:** Why didn’t you tell me, Holly? > > **Holly:** What, and spoil your tea? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/123 "2023-06-10T00:34:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > _Ragout_ contains no bits of cloth, nor does _ragu._ Do not get me started on Ropa Viega. No clothes to be seen, old or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/124 "2023-06-10T00:38:33Z")
Macadamia nuts were named after Sir John Macadam, who had nothing to do with the discovery, cultivation, or popularization of the nut. Not do they have anything to do with macadam pavement. And while we’re at it, the peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. It is a legume. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/125 "2023-06-10T02:03:11Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > And while we’re at it, the peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. It is a legume. Peas are legumes, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/126 "2023-06-10T02:06:08Z")
This has been ambushing me at random intervals throughout the afternoon. 😂 ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/127 "2023-06-10T04:47:39Z")
Which Tartarians must I thank for Tartar Sauce? What exactly is “Mongolian” about my Cantonese. Mongolian Beef. Still no egg, in my egg roll… ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/128 "2023-06-10T05:53:57Z")
The pupus on a pupu platter contain no… 😖 Toad in a hole ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/129 "2023-06-10T06:46:18Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Macadamia nuts were named after Sir John Macadam, who had nothing to do with the discovery, cultivation, or popularization of the nut. I had to check, but apparently he was _not_ the same John Macadam who invented the “mac” part of tarmac. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/130 "2023-06-10T08:31:15Z")
Thanks, you got my morning off to a good start! 😀 Cottage cheese, navel oranges, monkfish… And gorgonzola, the cheese monster. I forget which comedian said that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/131 "2023-06-10T10:57:42Z")
> [@Didi44](#): > > Toad in a hole Spotted dick. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/132 "2023-06-10T13:14:20Z")
I posted a pic of that near the top of the thread. Has sweetbreads been mentioned? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/133 "2023-06-10T13:25:07Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I posted a pic of that near the top of the thread. Huh. Did a search, too. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/134 "2023-06-10T13:44:02Z")
When i was eight years old, I ordered _Tournedos of Beef_ and was mildly disappointed they weren’t more…cyclonic. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/135 "2023-06-10T13:50:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Spotted dick (casually checks zipper) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/136 "2023-06-10T14:35:06Z")
**Snert** , aka **erwtensoep**. It’s tasty, but I often see it spelled as ertwensoep, which in my mind is “earth pimple soup”, rather than the correct erwtensoep, which means “pea soup”. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/137 "2023-06-10T15:44:36Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > The mincemeat I make contain 2 pounds of beef chuck, Somewhere around here I have a cookbook with a recipe for venison mincemeat. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/138 "2023-06-10T15:54:55Z")
Surely tortilla and burrito have to win this thread. “Little cake” wtf what kind of cake is this? It’s just corn and water, no icing, sprinkles or anything remotely cake-like. Also it’s not even that little I mean I’ve been served cupcakes way smaller than this. “Little donkey” now you are just taking the piss;) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/139 "2023-06-10T16:05:13Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > “Little donkey” now you are just taking the piss;) Is eating a little donkey any worse than eating a hot dog? ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092/140 "2023-06-10T17:54:46Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > “Little cake” wtf what kind of cake is this? It’s just corn and water, no icing, sprinkles or anything remotely cake-like. Tortilla is the diminutive of _torta_, but the latter word refers to something similar to a flour tortilla that used to be popular in Spain hundreds of years ago (I think before 1492). _Tarta_ is usually the word for cake, although it’s often interchangeable with _torta_ nowadays (might be a regional thing). The _tortas_ that inspired the use of the word tortilla in Latin America were unleavened wheat flour and I’m guessing water and salt and nothing else. Those kinds of tortas are so old-fashioned and simple that, as far as I know, they’ve practically disappeared from Spanish cooking. I’ve only ever heard of them being used today as one of the ingredients in some versions of _ropa vieja_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-dishes-whose-name-does-not-compute/982092.md?page=8)