There are many things that are attributed to one country or location, that has nothing to do with where the thing originated.
As one person pointed out in the American Cheese thread, it’s not American.
Chineese Checkers is not Checkers made in China, it’s Checkers* made in America.
[Ok, So it more resembles Halma, but that’s for another thread entirely.]
I can think of a few more, but, lets see what you guys know about.
American Toys and electromics are made in Korea, Japan, and China.
I’m told that the English call it “French Toast,” and the French call it “Crouton Anglaise.” (English Toast.)
“Australian Shepherds” come from the USA
I think the French call it “pain perdu,” which means “lost bread.” The idea is, you’re salvaging stale bread that would otherwise be thrown away by dipping it in egg and milk and then frying it.
I’ve heard it called ‘Gypsy Toast’ or, more commonly, ‘Eggy Bread’. Only know it as ‘French Toast’ from visiting the US and watching US telly.
The French horn is not French (and the instrument is now just known as the horn).
In the US, salad dressings with nationalities in them usually have no connection with the country mentioned. Russian dressing was invented in the US, as was French dressing. Italian dressing is unknown in Italy, though it is similar to French vinaigrette.
German chocolate cake has no connection to Germany; the recipe was actually named after an Englishman named “German.”
Huh, I did not know that.
Chinese food is neither chinese nor food…
In Québec, it’s called ‘pain doré’, which means golden or gilded bread, I’m not sure which. Possibly both. French toast does get a lovely yellow colour to it.
Similarly, the English horn is probably French. Go figure.
Well that’s not fair. There are lots of different kind of horns, Why does the French
horn get to be THE horn.
Moving from dressings to salads: A Serbian friend talks about a Russian Salad they make back home. A Russian friend said that they used to make the same salad, but it was called French Salad in Russia. Obviously this warrants a trip to Paris to follow the lead.
German chocolate cake is not German, it’s a cake made with a chocolate named for a British guy with the last name of German.
French fried potatoes are Belgian, I’ve heard.
I always enjoyed the urban legend that there is a factory in Japan in the town of Usa (pronounce OO-sa) where all the toys are made, marked with “Made in USA”.
Specifically, it was called German’s Chocolate Cake.
Somehow, the “'s” got clipped, and we have German Chocolate Cake.
You’re all wrong. The cake is named for a type of chocolate, German('s) Sweet Chocolate. The the type of choclate is named for an American man called Sam German who worked for Baker’s Chocolate Co., which to this day sells the stuff, http://www.buythecase.net/product/12791/bakers_germans_sweet_chocolate_bar/?engine=googlebase. The first publication of the cake recipe came from a Texas housewife. Cite.
I can’t find this anywhere in that thread. There is some discussion of cheddar not having to come from England, but nothing I see about the point of origin of American Cheese.
If you want Canadian bacon in Canada, you’ll have to order peameal or back bacon. If you buy Canadian bacon in the US, chances are it was made and packaged in the US (although some is imported from Canada, not much is).