# Is this chicken salad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630 "2016-08-22T15:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/41 "2016-08-22T21:25:06Z")
What **Biggirl** ’s son made, delicious though it may have been was not chicken salad. He actually made a _salade composee_, an entree salad with greens, veggies, possibly fruit and nuts, usually a protein(chicken fish, beef, etc), various crunch-eties sprinkled on top and then finished with some sort of salad dressing. Each good in their own right, but one is not a substitute for the other, and cannot be equated on a few levels. Mangia! ---
**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:** [August 22, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/42 "2016-08-22T21:34:23Z")
I guess the question evolves into: did your son grow up with “chicken salad” as you know it in the house? If not, then, yes, the instructions were not clear. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/43 "2016-08-22T21:55:39Z")
Of course he knows and eats and has made chicken salad in the past. It would be weird for me to ask him to make something he’s unfamiliar with. I think he saw all the lovely veggies on hand and took it upon himself to make salad with roasted chicken. Or maybe he thought that was what I meant because of all the veggies available. As I said in the OP, I didn’t complain. I was merely surprised. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/44 "2016-08-22T21:56:48Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Of course he knows and eats and has made chicken salad in the past. It would be weird for me to ask him to make something he’s unfamiliar with. I think he saw all the lovely veggies on hand and took it upon himself to make salad with roasted chicken. Or maybe he thought that was what I meant because of all the veggies available. > > As I said in the OP, I didn’t complain. I was merely surprised. I absolutely noted that you didn’t complain (and good!). I was just curious whether this was something he was familiar with or not. I would probably have the same sort of puzzlement if I asked for a “tuna salad” that my kids were used to and ended up with a nicoise salad. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/45 "2016-08-22T22:51:41Z")
That’s no more chicken salad than putting bacon bits on would make it bacon salad. It’s a salad with chicken as a topping. Without knowing the age of your son (and it’s not my business) it’s hard to say how big of a fuck up interpreting it that way was. Teenager or younger, well, okay. Full grown adult… yeaaaaaaaaaah he should’ve known better. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/46 "2016-08-22T23:12:43Z")
It sounds good, it ain’t chicken salad. Chicken salad is chicken+veggies+mayo mooshed together. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/47 "2016-08-22T23:24:39Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > That’s no more chicken salad than putting bacon bits on would make it bacon salad. It’s a salad with chicken as a topping. > > Without knowing the age of your son (and it’s not my business) it’s hard to say how big of a fuck up interpreting it that way was. Teenager or younger, well, okay. Full grown adult… yeaaaaaaaaaah he should’ve known better. Yes, if bacon was the focus ingredient, I’d call that bacon salad. What else would you call it? ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/48 "2016-08-23T02:26:27Z")
I don’t understand why people put innocent ingredients like potatoes, macaroni, or chicken into a bowl, add fucking _mayonnaise_, and call it a salad. Somebody must not have understood the concept of salad when they invented and named these horrors. Mayonnaise is the devil’s semen. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/49 "2016-08-23T02:42:00Z")
wow my mom had a chicken pie that was a cross between a salad and what5s normally chicken salad she got from "seasons of pie baking " in a free cookbook from Pillsbury it has lettuce grapes normal chicken salad and a few more things and is slightly warmed in an open pie crust and supposed to have almonds but she never put them in … (well ok it wasn’t entirely free you were supposed to buy a 2 pie crust pack to get it but I just seen “free” on the cover and walked off with it ) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/50 "2016-08-23T03:07:14Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Of course he knows and eats and has made chicken salad in the past. It would be weird for me to ask him to make something he’s unfamiliar with. I think he saw all the lovely veggies on hand and took it upon himself to make salad with roasted chicken. Or maybe he thought that was what I meant because of all the veggies available. He is such a GOOD BOY! I’d like to think I’d do the same thing in his position. I NEVER make “chicken salad.” I like to shred the chicken with my bare hands and pile it between the bread spread with plenty of mayonnaise, plus lettuce and salted tomatoes. Makes a good gooshy sandwich, and does not inundate the meat with dressing. Now…HAM salad is something I’ve never encountered in NYC, and haven’t tasted in years, but remember with great nostalgia. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, it was best when you GROUND the cooked ham and mixed with chopped hard boiled eggs, mustard, mayo, and minced dill pickle. You could spread it on crackers like pate, or make a sandwich out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/51 "2016-08-23T03:12:12Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Mayonnaise is the devil’s semen. The Halal food carts in New York will serve you chicken or lamb with salad over rice for five bucks, covered with hot sauce and a white sauce made of mayonnaise, ranch dressing, lemon juice, vinegar, dill, parsley, and some other mystery ingredients. On the mean streets, we refer to that freaking delicious white sauce as “Angel Jizz.” ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/52 "2016-08-23T03:17:59Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > He is such a GOOD BOY! I’d like to think I’d do the same thing in his position. > > I NEVER make “chicken salad.” I like to shred the chicken with my bare hands and pile it between the bread spread with plenty of mayonnaise, plus lettuce and salted tomatoes. Makes a good gooshy sandwich, and does not inundate the meat with dressing. > > Now…HAM salad is something I’ve never encountered in NYC, and haven’t tasted in years, but remember with great nostalgia. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, it was best when you GROUND the cooked ham and mixed with chopped hard boiled eggs, mustard, mayo, and minced dill pickle. You could spread it on crackers like pate, or make a sandwich out of it. Wow you got it made with real ham ? my family cheated cause grandma had a us gov issued cookbook that was made during ww2 that was supposed to stretch the ration coupons and used shredded chunk bologna … shredded spam was also an option but grandpa wouldn’t have spam in the house til the grandkids moved in and they had to feed 7 kids a night To0 this day they still make it that way … in fact my step sister tried making it with real ham for a picnic and no one liked it … Oh and the white sauce from the foodcarts might have yogurt in it… a relative of mine had a middle eastern/north African girlfriend and yogurt was like their ketchup/mayonnaise/heavy cream it went in everything sometimes flavored sometimes not … in fact the thought of a cup of dannon or Yoplait with fruit in it revolted her ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/53 "2016-08-23T04:22:02Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > Wow you got it made with real ham ? my family cheated cause grandma had a us gov issued cookbook that was made during ww2 that was supposed to stretch the ration coupons and used shredded chunk bologna … shredded spam was also an option but grandpa wouldn’t have spam in the house til the grandkids moved in and they had to feed 7 kids a night. Huh. I only got it made with that deviled ham in a can. Your solutions sound better. Then again, I’m pretty fond of bologna and absolutely love Spam. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/54 "2016-08-23T07:29:24Z")
If I ordered chicken salad in a restaurant, and got what the OP described … I wouldn’t send it back, and would probably enjoy it. But it’s’ not what I ordered. > [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Now…HAM salad is something I’ve never encountered in NYC, and haven’t tasted in years, but remember with great nostalgia. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, it was best when you GROUND the cooked ham and mixed with chopped hard boiled eggs, mustard, mayo, and minced dill pickle. You could spread it on crackers like pate, or make a sandwich out of it. I also grew up in NE Ohio, and wouldn’t dream of grinding ham for ham salad. It’s always chopped. And yes, I’ve had it in NYC as well. What you’re describing is something else. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/55 "2016-08-23T14:09:36Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Now…HAM salad is something I’ve never encountered in NYC, and haven’t tasted in years, but remember with great nostalgia. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, it was best when you GROUND the cooked ham and mixed with chopped hard boiled eggs, mustard, mayo, and minced dill pickle. You could spread it on crackers like pate, or make a sandwich out of it. Try SPAM[sup]®[/sup] salad. Grind the meat in your meat grinder, and add Miracle Whip and sweet pickle relish. Nothing else. You have to use Miracle Whip, because it’s a sweet dressing, to counteract the fatty saltiness of the SPAM[sup]®[/sup]. Mayo would make it too fatty and salty. Chill, and serve on soft white bread. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/56 "2016-08-23T14:12:59Z")
I have never seen any restaurant serve a a bowl of chicken and mayo and call it salad, whereas I’ve had plenty of chicken salad **sandwiches**. You asked for chicken salad, not a chicken salad sandwich, ergo you got what you asked for. FWIW, it also sounds like it was really good. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/57 "2016-08-23T14:38:23Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > I have never seen any restaurant serve a a bowl of chicken and mayo and call it salad, whereas I’ve had plenty of chicken salad **sandwiches**. You asked for chicken salad, not a chicken salad sandwich, ergo you got what you asked for. FWIW, it also sounds like it was really good. I have seen restaurants that serve a scoop of chicken salad or tuna salad in a tomato. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/58 "2016-08-23T15:49:55Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I also grew up in NE Ohio, and wouldn’t dream of grinding ham for ham salad. It’s always chopped. And yes, I’ve had it in NYC as well. What you’re describing is something else. Chopped with a knife or in a processor? How finely chopped? My old grandpappy owned a small cast-iron meat grinder that you clamped onto the side of the kitchen table, and he often ground things that other people would chop…like ham for a baked hamloaf. Is it the chopping versus grinding thing that leads you to disrespect my dear grandfather’s ham salad? Or did I get the ingredients wrong? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/59 "2016-08-23T15:52:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have seen restaurants that serve a scoop of chicken salad or tuna salad in a tomato. Restaurants? Hell, I made that for lunch the other day. Leaf of lettuce, quartered tomato, scoop of tuna salad. Was pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630/60 "2016-08-23T16:07:07Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > My old grandpappy owned a small cast-iron meat grinder that you clamped onto the side of the kitchen table, [They still make them](https://smile.amazon.com/Weston-Manual-Grinder-Sausage-Stuffer/dp/B000BQSW44/). (I got mine at a yard sale for $5.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-chicken-salad/763630.md?page=4)