# Foods whose names have changed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412 "2010-03-05T14:45:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/101 "2010-03-08T19:56:15Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > When I lived for a brief period of time in Nebraska I was surprised to learn that _sloppy joes_ and _maid-rites_ did not exist. Instead they were _taverns._ > > In Eastern Iowa I think they call them _loosemeat sandwiches._ Couldn’t eat them under that appellation. Argh! I’ve lived in western Iowa or eastern Nebraska my whole life and never heard of Maid-rites and similar being called “taverns”. Maid-Rites originated in Iowa and sloppy joe’s were what was fed to us at grade school on the rare day that we had an actual hot meal. Where were you and when were you in Nebraska that you got all this naming backwards? And while this area isn’t known for specialty BBQ, a barbecue sandwich would never be confused with a sloppy joe or maid-rite. BBQ is meat meeting smoke and fire. Sloppy joe meets a pan. Even we know that. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/102 "2010-03-08T20:36:03Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I’m not 100% sure of this, but I believe that coriander ended up being known by the Spanish, cilantro, in the US because it mainly entered the market by way of Mexican cooking. > > (That is, I suspect 40 years ago if you could find it in a mainly Anglo store, it would be called “coriander” whereas today it’s universally “cilantro”.) > [@Dogzilla](#): > > My understanding is that coriander refers to the seed parts, which look like peppercorns and can be ground. Usually used as a spice. > > Cilantro refers to the entire plant, usually the leafy parts used in cooking, which is used like an herb and can be dried. At the moment, in America, yes. In parts of the world I’ve lived where UK English dominated (mainly Cyprus, plus Indian cookbooks written for the UK market), the whole plant, seeds and all, is called “coriander”. I’m just not sure when the distinction came to be in US English - my parents call the leaves coriander but they also spent their formative years in UK-English surrounds. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/103 "2010-03-08T21:57:03Z")
> [@meanoldman](#): > > I’ve lived in western Iowa or eastern Nebraska my whole life and never heard of Maid-rites and similar being called “taverns”. Maid-Rites originated in Iowa and sloppy joe’s were what was fed to us at grade school on the rare day that we had an actual hot meal. Where were you and when were you in Nebraska that you got all this naming backwards? > > And while this area isn’t known for specialty BBQ, a barbecue sandwich would never be confused with a sloppy joe or maid-rite. BBQ is meat meeting smoke and fire. Sloppy joe meets a pan. Even we know that. Oh pfft! Backwards. Doesn’t living in the area automatically qualify one as backwards? 😉 I was living in a little college town called Wayne, in the Northeast corner, during the Seventies. Everyone there and in all the nearby towns (which also began with double-yous,) called them taverns. I suspect that it was because they were cheap food which taverns served. A little sumpin to prove you weren’t just there to soak up the suds. You are fortunate to know the difference between smoked meat and meat cooked in a pan. But many of the farmers of Southern MN and Northern IA call sloppy joes “barbecues.” Which raises the question of whether my little Johnny is the only one in the whole marching band who isn’t out of step or not. Should one move into one of those insular little farming communities I’d tread carefully, and did, in informing them they had the wrong name. Yah gotta fit in or nobody will sit by you in the, um, tavern. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/104 "2010-03-08T22:43:04Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Brazil nuts are no longer called “nigger toes”. Praise the Lord! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/105 "2010-03-08T22:55:37Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Snakehead is now channa. Channa has always been an alternate name, and is the genus name for the snakeheads in taxonomy. It is derived from the Greek term for “anchovy”. It’s another case of playing down an “unappetizing” name in favor of a synonym, but in this case the scientific/alternate name had been used all along, and is just turning into the more common usage. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/106 "2010-03-08T23:31:49Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > You are fortunate to know the difference between smoked meat and meat cooked in a pan. But many of the farmers of Southern MN and Northern IA call sloppy joes “barbecues.” And [here’s a supporting cite](http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Sloppy-Joe): > [@](#): > > Sloppy Joes are also referred to as: > \* Wimpies in parts of the Northeast USA, especially northeastern Pennsylvania > \* “Yip Yips” in parts of southwestern Illinois near St. Louis, and > \* Slushburgers in parts of the Upper Midwest, including the Dakotas and Eastern Montana, as well as > \* Barbecues in other areas of the Upper Midwest. And here is support for [tavern sandwich](http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Tavern-sandwich): > [@](#): > > A tavern sandwich is a sandwich in the midwest region of the United States, consisting of unseasoned ground beef on a bun, mixed with sauteed onions, and topped with pickles, ketchup and mustard > > Similar to a hamburger, despite the consistency of the meat, or a sloppy joe, without the tomato soup, the tavern is served throughout the midwest, but specifically in the state of Iowa. The tavern has a number of different names and two of the most often used are loosemeat and Maid-Rite. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/107 "2010-03-08T23:52:48Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > “Shit on a shingle” was chipped beef on toast before world war two. And after…I joined the AF in 1955 and learned the term SOS. I just had to ask what that meant? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/108 "2010-03-09T02:42:01Z")
Well, apologies to **Tethered Kite**. I guess some parts of Nebraska and Iowa are as backward as Southern Minnesota. 😉 😃 I remember some 30 odd years ago when I worked for a hotel that gave out free drinks in the evening. Strange northern folks always wanted Brandy in their drinks instead of Bourbon. I thought that pretty odd. And now, come to find out, they didn’t know a sloppy joe from a barbecue sandwich. 🙂 Now I am curious if I know anyone with relatives from that area, to ask if those names still apply. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/109 "2010-03-09T02:52:53Z")
> [@meanoldman](#): > > Strange northern folks always wanted Brandy in their drinks instead of Bourbon. Yep. Wisconsin, especially seems to be pretty big with brandy in their drinks. Go to a Wisconsin bar and ask for an old fashioned, and it’s usually made with brandy instead of rye or bourbon. According to a quick google search (although I can’t find any hard sources), it says that Wisconsin is responsible for 90% of brandy consumption in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/110 "2010-03-09T03:59:25Z")
Thanks to pulykamell for clearing that up. I feel so, I dunno. Deliciously vindicated? Heh. Now go get them silly folks up in northeastern Pennsylvania, meanoldman. Sheesh. Everybody knows Wimpy ate hamburgers. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/111 "2010-03-09T04:59:39Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > …Now go get them silly folks up in northeastern Pennsylvania, meanoldman. Sheesh. Everybody knows Wimpy ate hamburgers. It get’s worse. Mangos used to be quite popular among the older generation. Mango = _green bell pepper_ :eek: ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/112 "2010-03-11T21:03:56Z")
About a year and a half ago Dad came grocery shopping with Mom and I. He loudly pronounced he was going to get some nigger toes and I almost flipped on him. I can’t believe he still thinks he can say that in public. Also, there’s a town round these parts with the motto ‘Land of Rape and Honey’. If I’m feeling particularly juvenile or rude I’ll point and yell ‘Rape!’ when driving past a canola field. I’m not old enough for a lot of the wording changes, but what about yam and sweet potato? Or is that just a regionalism? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/113 "2010-03-11T22:33:17Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Praise the Lord! Post content/user name combo FTW. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/114 "2010-03-12T02:54:04Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > When my daughter became a Girl Scout this year, I discovered that a lot of the cookie names had changed from when I sold them. > > Samoas -\> Caramel DeLites > Do-si-dos -\> Peanut Butter Sandwiches > Tagalongs -\> Peanut Butter Patties > Trefoils -\> Shortbread > > Sure, the new names are more descriptive, but they lack poetry. Back in MY Girl Scout cookie-selling days, the peanut butter sandwiches (AKA The Best Cookies in the World) were called “Savannahs.” I’m gonna go eat me some “Do-si-dos.” Yum. ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/115 "2010-03-12T14:40:21Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > I’m not old enough for a lot of the wording changes, but what about yam and sweet potato? Or is that just a regionalism? They’re different plants. [http://homecooking.about.com/od/howtocookvegetables/a/sweetpotatodiff.htm](http://homecooking.about.com/od/howtocookvegetables/a/sweetpotatodiff.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/116 "2010-03-12T14:44:16Z")
Pita became pocket bread (and PETA became a PITA) ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/117 "2010-03-12T16:46:26Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Pita became pocket bread (and PETA became a PITA) I’ve never in my life heard it called “pocket bread”. Is this one of those conservative American knee-jerk re-namings like “freedom fries” or “freedom cabbage” because pita sounds too Taliban-ish? Anyway, while most “pocket bread” would be pita by any other name, not all pita is a pocket bread. Most supermarkets up here in Canada always carry two kinds of pita, one of which is pocketless (usually known as Greek-style pita). ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/118 "2010-03-16T01:10:48Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > I’ve never in my life heard it called “pocket bread”. Is this one of those conservative American knee-jerk re-namings like “freedom fries” or “freedom cabbage” because pita sounds too Taliban-ish? Er… huh? I figure it’s kinda like why the Greeks call a really thick tortilla a pita. Just a regional name for something as common as a flatbread. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/119 "2010-03-16T01:59:40Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > I’m not old enough for a lot of the wording changes, but what about yam and sweet potato? Or is that just a regionalism? In my experience, “yams” when referring to sweet potatoes is typically just in the phrase “candied yams.” It’s pretty unusual to hear just the uncooked sweet potato itself to be called a “yam.” Of course, there will no doubt be any number of people who will say, “That’s the _only_ way I’ve ever heard it.” Locally, yams are marketed in grocery stores under the name “ñame.” ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412/120 "2010-03-16T02:29:16Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > They are still called this in some countries. Yes, such as the southern U.S.! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-whose-names-have-changed/531412.md?page=7)