Every language has its own idioms, or words/phrases that make sense to native speakers but that don't really translate well into other languages. That applies to food as well. There are lots of foods that make perfect sense to native eaters that do not work when exported. Spotted Dick, from England, is only one example. Over at the Commercial Archive, they've rounded up a whole group of idiomatic foods, including Shitto sauce and Six Faggots in Gravy.
The list is really funny. You should check it out for a good giggle. There was also at least one American product that is questionable, even by American standards: Sweet and Salty Nut granola bars.
Are there any that you know about that didn't make it on this list?
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-21-2008 @ 9:38AM
drstrangegun said...
*ahem*
PuPu platters.
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4-21-2008 @ 2:01PM
Alex Falk said...
Spotted dick is an excellent product.
Just sayin'...
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4-21-2008 @ 2:57PM
Mike said...
Do Do Balls, saw them in NZ. I think they are a SE Asian Fish Balls.
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4-21-2008 @ 3:33PM
wynk said...
rimming sugar. we had a friend from England visit and when he saw that he fell on the floor laughing hysterically. I'd never really thought of its more crude connotations but now I can't see the product without laughing.
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4-21-2008 @ 4:35PM
Obvious said...
Not sure I'm spelling it right (having a hard time googling it's existence, let alone a picture, but...):
"Pickled Micack"
Go to an Asian market, look in the appropriate section for pickled veggies, snicker at my pickled micack. :)
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4-21-2008 @ 7:22PM
Emily said...
There's a Mexican based company named 'Bimbo', its large bakery corporation I think.
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4-21-2008 @ 8:55PM
Lorcasaur said...
Who makes the "Cock Flavored Soup Mix" that shows up in every Shaw's "Shop the World" aisle? Simple, straightforward, and brilliant. (I'm 12 years old.)
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4-21-2008 @ 9:34PM
badfrog said...
My local Chinese grocery has a can of "Birds nest and snow frog ovaries soup."
Not a euphimism, that's exactly what it is, in sweet tea made with palm sugar, drunk like a soda or fruit juice. I keep a can around to scare my friends with.
And for when my asthma flares up. It actually works.
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4-21-2008 @ 10:15PM
bellecurves7 said...
Brownie Bites, Pizza Bites, Bagel Bites...anything "bites".
My French exchange student cracked up when she told me "bite" in French is slang for penis.
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4-21-2008 @ 10:56PM
Angie said...
Emily, yup, the brand name is Bimbo. Their Pan Dulce division does the baked goods (they do own better named snack divisions, but are better known for as the Bimbo Group)
Mexico also has Fud (sausage, hot dogs, cold meats).
I had completely forgotten about Fud until I was visiting my in-laws this past Christmas...must be their hot dogs. I hated them...their mortadela on the other hand is delicious!
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4-22-2008 @ 1:31AM
Amanda said...
There's an energy drink I like called "Bawls." The name is supposed to be a bit salacious. I was talking to some teens I volunteer with once and they were talking about much they liked Red Bull and drinks like that. I said, "I really like Bawls," without even thinking about it. You can imagine what reaction THAT got.
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4-22-2008 @ 2:34AM
megan said...
By the way, Brits do know that the products have funny names. Sorry if that puts a damper on the fun.
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4-22-2008 @ 5:49AM
fuchsoid said...
Faggots in gravy were a local favourite where I grew up; basically they are just a sort of meatball - and of course the name didn't have a double meaning in those days (or not one that we knew about).
Spotted dick was always good for a laugh, but it was one of a collection of joke names for puddings, especially at school, like "boiled baby" for steamed jam roll and "frogspawn" for tapioca (which really was horrible).
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