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Regional food terms that non-locals don't understand

KevinF

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Ok, we've had regional food that you both "get" and "don't get"... What about regional food terms?

For example, in New England we have:
  • Grinders are subs. Subway sandwich shop would do much better in New England if they renamed it "grinders".
  • Bulkies are sandwiches on a big hamburger roll type thing
  • Jimmies are the chocolate sprinkles you put on ice cream
  • Frappes are what the rest of the known universe calls a milkshake.

Those three really threw me for a loop when I first moved to the Boston area from the mid-Atlantic.

First time I went to a local ice-cream place... the attendant had made my ice cream cone and asked "Do you want jimmies?". I'm thinking "why would I want Jimmy's ice cream?" so I thought the question was a bit weird but politely said "no thanks, but can you put chocolate sprinkles on please?" to which I received a snarky reply of "then why did you say 'no' to jimmies???".

I left that transaction very confused...
 

Jersey Skier

aka RatherPlayThanWork or Gary
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Ok, we've had regional food that you both "get" and "don't get"... What about regional food terms?

For example, in New England we have:
  • Grinders are subs. Subway sandwich shop would do much better in New England if they renamed it "grinders".
  • .
On Long Island, that's a Hero.

Soda vs. Pop.
Pork Roll or Taylor ham
 

surfsnowgirl

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Large scamotz is what my dad would say when he was ordering a pizza. I grew up in southwestern CT.

Birch beer

Package stores

Those are my new England ones at the moment.

Pop when I lived in Minnesota.

Spent 15 years in Socal so will have to put that had on.
 

bbinder

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What kind of coke do you want?
I’ll have an orange coke.
 
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KevinF

KevinF

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Yep. I grew up with “coke” being a generic term. Telling a waitress you wanted a coke was like asking for beer; they’re supposed to answer with the varieties they offer (Pepsi, sprite, etc)

When I moved here I discovered that asking for coke got you a coke. Very confusing. :rolleyes:
 

cantunamunch

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Wait...what...are you eating?? Peelers?!? :huh::roflmao:

6P6TSPBAC5ABXEDRHYOOOD5L2Y.jpg
 

dbostedo

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Pittsburgh:
Jumbo = bologna
Chipped ham = shaved/chopped ham
Hoagie = sub
Pigs in a blanket = stuffed cabbage

DC:
The only one i can think of here is "half- smoke", which is a local smoked sausage served like a hotdog
 

mdf

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  • Frappes are what the rest of the known universe calls a milkshake.
Those three really threw me for a loop when I first moved to the Boston area from the mid-Atlantic.

When I first came to Boston I ordered a milkshake and that's what I got --- milk, a squirt of chocolate syrup, put a lid on and shake it, pour it in a glass.:huh:

For awhile there was a Swensen's in Faneuil Hall -- that is a California ice cream parlor chain. So we had the reverse problem, when customers wondered why they didn't sell frappes.
 
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