# What condiments do other cultures and nations use that may seem odd to north Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774 "2011-12-19T21:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [December 29, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/181 "2011-12-29T14:54:43Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Fried potato wedges, sometimes known as “Buffalo Wedges”, or “Buffalo Chips”. Usually coated in some sort of seasoning before being cooked. > > I’ve never come across lettuce wedges before. A take-out place here has sandwiches they call wedges. Never had/seen one. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/182 "2011-12-30T17:21:54Z")
In Trinidad local pizza joints will have two big bottles of ketchup and mustard on the counter, but to be fair local style pizza is very dry and devoid of tomato sauce and italian herbs. Its not bad. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/183 "2011-12-30T17:29:56Z")
> [@eldowan](#): > > The only time I’ve come across lettuce wedges are in wedge salads. > > [http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2239/2468153843\_caf69a9f7b.jpg](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2239/2468153843_caf69a9f7b.jpg) Which are things of beauty unto themselves, as it is the one time you can be s **ure** your salad isn’t going to be made up of the chef’s lawn trimmings. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/184 "2011-12-30T18:58:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > the one time you can be s **ure** your salad isn’t going to be made up of the chef’s lawn trimmings. Somehow that possibility has never troubled my thoughts… all through my salad days. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/185 "2011-12-30T19:01:44Z")
You know how kimchi regularly tops the lists of the world’s healthiest foods? For me, personally, kimchi is the last word in condiments, _le dernier cri_. Kimchi has it all: With its garlic, hot chilis, vitamins, fiber, and healthy, beneficial biota for your innards’ flora, what’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/186 "2011-12-30T23:39:21Z")
> [@grude](#): > > In Trinidad local pizza joints will have two big bottles of ketchup and mustard on the counter, but to be fair local style pizza is very dry and devoid of tomato sauce and italian herbs. > > Its not bad. Sounds like more of an Italian-flavored _roti paratha_ than anything else. Which sounds like it could be awesome. Roti paratha is what converted me to Trinidadian cuisine. 🙂 Served with chutney, as is traditional, except these might be called [ul] [li]_khatti mithi tamatar ki catni_ (sweet and sour tomato chutney [i.e., ketchup])[/li] [li]and _haldi rai ki catni_ (turmeric and mustard-seed chutney [i.e., mustard]).[/li] [li]In Ohio when I was growing up, at every backyard cookout, there would be relish. The Hindi name for American-style relish might be _mithi acar ki catni_ (sweet pickle chutney).[/li] [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/187 "2012-01-01T00:59:25Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Sounds like more of an Italian-flavored _roti paratha_ than anything else. Which sounds like it could be awesome. > > Roti paratha is what converted me to Trinidadian cuisine. 🙂 I thought Roti Paratha (sometimes called Prata) was Indian cuisine originally? It’s huge in Malaysia/Singapore where they do some really interesting stuff with it, but since pretty much everywhere that was once part of the British Empire has an Indian community I’d assume there’s localised variants (Like the Trinidadian one you described) everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/188 "2012-01-01T02:39:21Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I thought Roti Paratha (sometimes called Prata) was Indian cuisine originally? > > It’s huge in Malaysia/Singapore where they do some really interesting stuff with it, but since pretty much everywhere that was once part of the British Empire has an Indian community I’d assume there’s localised variants (Like the Trinidadian one you described) everywhere. Yes. Indian culture has spread far and wide. Americans who have not traveled the world have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/189 "2012-01-01T22:38:59Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Fried potato wedges, sometimes known as “Buffalo Wedges”, or “Buffalo Chips”. Usually coated in some sort of seasoning before being cooked. > > I’ve never come across lettuce wedges before. Not to go too off topic, but fried potato wedges are jojos. I’ve never seen them called anything involving buffalo unless they happened to be flavored with Buffalo wing type flavors. Somewhat back to the main topic: why aren’t British pickles and chutneys like Branston and piccalilli more popular in the US? ---
**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:** [January 1, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/190 "2012-01-01T22:46:07Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > Somewhat back to the main topic: why aren’t British pickles and chutneys like Branston and piccalilli more popular in the US? Look, you. We fought a revolution to be free of British cooking! ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/191 "2012-01-01T23:41:21Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > No idea. Conversely, which condiments do Americans use which seem odd to other countries? (Other than putting peanut butter and jelly [is that jam?] in a sandwich, which sounds like the most disgusting thing I can possibly imagine!) I’m gobsmacked. You just caused me to use the word “gobsmacked.” It’s peanuts, fruit, salt (if you’re using the most common kind of peanut butter), sugar and bread. I mean… what could you possibly not like about this?! How can you imagine that and think, “ew”? It’s a _natural_! ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/192 "2012-01-01T23:43:23Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Sorry man. That sounds like beef and custard, or potatoes with sugar on to me. Two things I can’t imagine why I’d mix them together. Ice cream and gravy. WT everliving F? Do you guys not have candy bars with nuts in them? Do you not have trail mix with nuts and dried fruits in them? You seriously have blown my mind. And I’m all culturally open-minded and shit too. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/193 "2012-01-02T00:19:40Z")
Well I wouldn’t call it “odd” but I noticed that you see white pepper on breakfast tables in Ireland rather than the black pepper Americans are used to. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/194 "2012-01-02T00:38:33Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > Somewhat back to the main topic: why aren’t British pickles and chutneys like Branston and piccalilli more popular in the US? [Branston pickle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branston_%28food%29) sounds more or less like what we would call relish here. I’ll admit that I don’t know of anybody who eats this except on hot dogs, and even that would be a minority of folks. As for chutneys generally, in the American South we have a pickled relish called [chow-chow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow-chow) which exists in a variety of forms, and is often used to add a kick to otherwise bland meals like beans and cornbread. I have to say that the picture attached to that wiki article looks nothing like any chow-chow I have ever seen (though as I said, it does come in a wide variety of forms, with a wide variety of ingredients). [This](http://whatscookingamerica.net/Sauces_Condiments/ChowChow1.jpg) and [this](http://forkfingerschopsticks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Jarred-Chow-Chow_-Chow-Chow-Variations.jpg) look more like what I am used to. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/195 "2012-01-02T01:11:51Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > (Other than putting peanut butter and jelly [is that jam?] in a sandwich, which sounds like the most disgusting thing I can possibly imagine!) What country are you from? Why would you have to imagine it? Peanut butter is almost certainly obtainable where you are. I get the feeling you’ve never actually eaten peanut butter or you’d know that it’s sweet, not savory. It’s not like beef or gravy in your analogies. > [@](#): > > jelly [is that jam?] Jelly is like jam only it’s made from fruit juice only and has no fruit pieces in it. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’m told it’s called [Miracle Whip](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_Whip)in the USA. One of the most common discussions on this board is the differences between mayonnaise, salad cream, and Miracle Whip. They’re roughly similar in intent and use, but it’s far too much to say that “salad cream is called Miracle Whip in the United States.” ---
**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:** [January 2, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/196 "2012-01-02T01:18:08Z")
Salad Cream and Miracle Whip **are not** the same thing. I have both in my fridge right now, and they are different creatures. Related, but different. They are no more identical than A1 Sauce and HP Sauce are. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/197 "2012-01-02T01:28:10Z")
As a couple of people have mentioned up thread, peanut butter in the UK is more commonly savoury than sweet - generally just a combo of nuts, oil and salt. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/198 "2012-01-02T01:41:53Z")
Another midwesterner checking in (born/raised in Illinois, '67-'85), and I had never heard of butter on sandwiches as a staple method of sandwich making in the midwest. On just bread? Yes. Including raisin bread. Toast? Same. Dinner rolls, croissants, and biscuits? You betcha. Pancakes and french toast? Heaven. We even put butter on Cream o’ Wheat and Oatmeal. But on a sandwich? With meat and veggies of some sort? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/199 "2012-01-02T02:08:54Z")
Our mother, who was German, put butter on sandwiches. We made fun of her mercilessly for this. She also ate bacon drippings on bread. We simply stared at her like she was crazy and shook our heads. We were modern and American and we ate Kraft mayonnaise on our sandwiches like God had intended man (and child) to do. One day, I tried butter on a cheddar cheese sandwich. Nirvana. It was years before I wiped a bacon-cooking skillet with a bit of bread and popped it in my mouth, unthinkingly. Hoooooooooooly shit that was good. I still can’t spread cold drippings on bread or toast, but I love to swipe the skillet clean when I cook bacon. I think of it as the cook’s privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/200 "2012-01-02T04:07:03Z")
> [@Jennyrosity](#): > > As a couple of people have mentioned up thread, peanut butter in the UK is more commonly savoury than sweet - generally just a combo of nuts, oil and salt. I didn’t know that. But if everyone else in this thread did, Candyman’s quelle horreur seems quite odd, considering that the peanut butter that Americans eat with jelly is not the same thing as the peanut butter he’s having convulsions over. > [@ExTank](#): > > Another midwesterner checking in (born/raised in Illinois, '67-'85), and I had never heard of butter on sandwiches as a staple method of sandwich making in the midwest. Same here. I’ve never actually seen a sandwich made with butter in real life. I’ve only read about it on these forums [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774.md?page=11)