# Regional Food Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597 "2012-11-30T18:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![notsoheavyd3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@notsoheavyd3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsoheavyd3)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/61 "2012-12-02T19:33:30Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Fluff is marshmallow spread (Invented in MA). A Fluffernutter is Peanut Butter and Fluff sandwich. (These are New England neologisms) Yup, and when we gave the kid who was originally from Philly a fluffernutter he had no idea what it was.(He said it was pretty good 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/62 "2012-12-02T20:06:18Z")
**nsh** -I misinterpreted your post I quoted. :o I thought you were an outsider wondering what a fluffernutter was. When in fact, you’re an insider (local) explaining it to outsiders. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/63 "2012-12-02T20:21:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Chili size](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12217753) > > Nearly 80% of respondents did not know what they are. > [@pulykamell](#): > > But that’s what I’m wondering about. Are we just asking for regional dishes or regional names for dishes that are common all over? Because if it’s the former, I can add plenty of regional names that almost nobody would recognize and even a lot of people in Chicago (depending on what neighborhood you live in) might not know. For example: the mother-in-law, the humdinger, the big baby, the combo, etc. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I think that an open-face burger covered in chili and cheese is on most menus across the country that serve that type of food. Only, outside of Southern California it’s been called something else. > [@pulykamell](#): > > Never heard of it, myself. (Well, I’ve heard of a “chili size” because of that old thread, but I’ve never seen it in the Midwest, and I do go to greasy spoon diners.) Wonder what the local name is. I’ve seen hot open faced hamburger/roast beef/turkey & gravy sandwiches, but never a hamburger with chili and cheese open face sandwich. Is it really that common? Chili-size is a Californina invention, but it essentially doesn’t exist in the rest of the world. **Johnny L.A.** What’s it called elsewhere? It doesn’t exist outside of Southern CA. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/64 "2012-12-02T20:32:13Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I’ve heard “American Chop Suey” around here, I think meaning elbow noodles, ground beef, and tomato sauce. That never had a particular name where I grew up. Growing up, this was a popular “we’re poor” meal. Mum called it beefaroni. peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/65 "2012-12-02T20:36:17Z")
American Chop Suey was one of my favorite school lunches! (MA in the '80s) ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/66 "2012-12-02T20:49:09Z")
A “cheese crisp” is a large (pizza size) flour tortilla sprinkled with cheese and optionally other toppings (green onion, olives, etc) and broiled open-face. It is usually available on the appetizer menu and is eaten cut into wedges like a pizza and dipped into salsa. It is frequently used as the “kids meal” when parents would go out for Sonoran-style Mexican food. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/67 "2012-12-02T21:04:45Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Chili-size is a Californina invention, but it essentially doesn’t exist in the rest of the world. > > **Johnny L.A.** What’s it called elsewhere? It doesn’t exist outside of Southern CA. I’ve seen it as ‘chili burger’ and ‘open-face chili burger’. How can an open-face burger with chili on it _not_ exist outside of Southern California? It’s a natural! [In Iowa](http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2010/03/11/20100311airplane-crashes-chandler-stellar-airpark.html?nclick_check=1): > [@](#): > > Original Chili Burger – A chili lovers dream, this sandwich is an open face burger, topped with a generous potion of our famous homemade chili, shredded cheese and green onions. A burger that can get the job done! [In Texas](http://www.christianstailgate.com/menus/Christians_Tailgate_Heights_Menu.pdf) > [@](#): > > Chili Burger > Open face 1⁄2lb. burger smothered with chili served on a fresh toasted bun with mayo 9.99 Mayo on a chili size?? :eek: That’s just wrong. [In Idaho](http://www.smittys-if.com/menu/lunch-menu/): > [@](#): > > chili burger > An open face burger topped with chili, cheddar cheese and onion… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/68 "2012-12-02T22:33:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’ve seen it as ‘chili burger’ and ‘open-face chili burger’. > > How can an open-face burger with chili on it _not_ exist outside of Southern California? It’s a natural! > > [In Iowa](http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2010/03/11/20100311airplane-crashes-chandler-stellar-airpark.html?nclick_check=1): > > [In Texas](http://www.christianstailgate.com/menus/Christians_Tailgate_Heights_Menu.pdf) > > Mayo on a chili size?? :eek: That’s just wrong. > > [In Idaho](http://www.smittys-if.com/menu/lunch-menu/): **Johnny**. You got me. It does exist, but it didn’t travel far. _Size_ is definitely a Cali invention ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/69 "2012-12-03T00:47:54Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > [Vi-Co](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi-Co) will always mean chocolate milk to me. Vi-Co and hot dogs: the lunch of kings in elementary school! ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/70 "2012-12-03T01:01:07Z")
In central Indiana, many old folks call bell peppers mangoes. People in south Georgia pronounce the L in salmon and call shopping carts buggies. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/71 "2012-12-03T01:04:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > How can an open-face burger with chili on it _not_ exist outside of Southern California? It’s a natural! I guess it exists, but I really doubt it’s common. Like I said, I’ve never seen it, and I’ve been to my fair share of greasy spoons. First of all, open-faced burgers are just not that common, but you will see them in the occasional old fashioned diner with a menu the size of the bible in the form of open faced hamburger with gravy. If I had ever seen such a concoction, I certainly would have tried it, as it’s completely foreign to me (and a bit perplexing. Why wouldn’t I just get a bowl of chili? Or is it meatless chili that’s used? I have to try one one day, because I don’t understand why it exists. Chili and cheese on fries I get. But on more meat?) ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/72 "2012-12-03T01:06:41Z")
American Chop Suey and Dynamites have been covered, and I’m ravenous after reading about them. Some other Rhode Island culinary oddities are [Johnnycakes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnycake) and [pizza strips](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_strips). I will admit that, as a Rhode Island native, the only time I’ve ever actually seen a Johnnycake was then I was taken to the “[Johnnycake Festival](http://www.johnnycakefestival.com/Index.html)” by my grandparents as a kid. Pizza strips are **very** common, though. They’re in super markets, convenience stores, gas stations, etc. You have to go to a bakery for the best ones, though. I’m not sure if these count, because they’re not “food” per se, but they are consumed. [Frozen](http://www.dels.com/) [lemonade](http://www.quahog.org/cuisine/index.php?id=129), and [coffee milk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_milk) are considered so uniquely “Rhode Island” that the coffee milk is actually [codified in law](http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title42/42-4/42-4-15.HTM) as the official state beverage. The state legislature voted between it and frozen lemonade. ETA: I see that American Chop Suey is called “goulash” in Minnesota. My dad lives in upstate NY, where they use a blend of the two, and it’s called “American Goulash”. Just as tasty, whatever you call it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/73 "2012-12-03T01:09:16Z")
I’ve had plenty of chiliburgers. None of them open faced. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/74 "2012-12-03T01:11:06Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > _Size_ is definitely a Cali invention Exactly. ‘Chili size’ is a regional term, though the item itself exists elsewhere under other names. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/75 "2012-12-03T01:11:54Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > American Chop Suey and Dynamites have been covered, and I’m ravenous after reading about them. > > Some other Rhode Island culinary oddities are [Johnnycakes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnycake) and [pizza strips](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_strips). I will admit that, as a Rhode Island native, the only time I’ve ever actually seen a Johnnycake was then I was taken to the “[Johnnycake Festival](http://www.johnnycakefestival.com/Index.html)” by my grandparents as a kid. Pizza strips are **very** common, though. They’re in super markets, convenience stores, gas stations, etc. You have to go to a bakery for the best ones, though. > > I’m not sure if these count, because they’re not “food” per se, but they are consumed. [Frozen](http://www.dels.com/) [lemonade](http://www.quahog.org/cuisine/index.php?id=129), and [coffee milk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_milk) are considered so uniquely “Rhode Island” that the coffee milk is actually [codified in law](http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title42/42-4/42-4-15.HTM) as the official state beverage. The state legislature voted between it and frozen lemonade. Actual Johnny Cakes that aren’t just pieces of cornbread are getting to be rare. Pizza Strips are the consituent of a Party Pizza, which is just a pizza without cheese. Though I do see the strips sold with cheese occasionally. Of course Del’s and Coffee Milk are not found anywhere else in the world, unless you call them Frozen Lemonade and Coffee Flavored Milk. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/76 "2012-12-03T04:23:45Z")
I grew up in the MidWest and we had Fluff and Fluffernutters. I’m also familiar with a Chili Cheeseburger, but never open faced… and certainly not Chili Size. Here though if you order “a Tenderloin” you will get a pork tenderloin pounded to about the size of a dinner plate, breaded and deep fried… served on a bun way too small and in my opinion should have mustard pickles and onion. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/77 "2012-12-03T05:50:20Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > This is the first time I’ve ever read about a food here on the Dope that _I want to eat._ NOW. Just make sure the first time you order it - “wet” or “juicy” - is how I’d recommend it. This means they pour a ladle of jus on your sandwich. “Dipped” is delicious (they actually dunk your whole sandwich in their jus, but it’s too messy for me to order regularly. You can also specify cheese (“cheesy-beef”) which is usually mozzarella or provolone. Very good. And if you are really hungry, get the “combo” (Italian Beef plus an Italian sausage wrapped inside.) SO good. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/78 "2012-12-03T14:19:16Z")
Hamburgers are steamed hams, but it’s more of an Albany thing 😉 Seriously, my relatives in PA call fried eggs over easy (with a runny yolk) “dippy eggs.” I’m assuming because you dip things in them. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/79 "2012-12-03T16:18:20Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Here though if you order “a Tenderloin” you will get a pork tenderloin pounded to about the size of a dinner plate, breaded and deep fried… served on a bun way too small and in my opinion should have mustard pickles and onion. Man, done right I love those things. It’s basically a pork wienerschnitzel on a hamburger bun. I always get them with mustard, pickle, and onion, though. How are they normally eaten? (Serious question. I’m from Chicago and we don’t really have those things here. I mean, Culver’s has something called a “pork tenderloin” sandwich on its menu, but it’s not like those things you get in Iowa or some other parts of the Midwest.) ETA: Actually, [here’s a picture](http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254795_10150364753238777_4883579_n.jpg) of a HALF portion of the tenderloin sandwich at a place called St. Olaf’s Tap in St. Olaf, Iowa. ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597/80 "2012-12-03T16:39:39Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > We have a dish here in RI called a Dynamite. It’s a sandwich of ground beef in a spicy tomato sauce that everyone else calls a Sloppy Joe (except in Sioux Falls). The connoisseur of such sandwiches will tell you it’s different because it’s made with tomato paste instead of tomato sauce, and it has celery salt on it, but they also park their cars side by each, so take it with a grain of celery salt. So while you’re simmerin up the dynamites, how about you throw me down the stairs my shoes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regional-food-names/642597.md?page=5)