30 Foods with Deceptive Names
Have you ever gone to order something at a restaurant with an interesting name, but stopped because you didn’t know what’s in it? Maybe you saw a cooking show on TV, and the chef pulled out a weird ingredient that looked nothing like you expected. Food names can be pretty misleading, and that can lead some serious confusion when you’re trying to grab something to eat. This goes double when you consider some regional dishes that have…well, saying interesting names doesn’t do it justice.
Most of the times, these strange names come from someone that thought the food looked like something. Other times, they’re a serious misnomer, like Canadian Bacon (which you’ll learn about in this slideshow).
Knowing about these foods can be pretty important, especially if you run into them every now and then. Not knowing could lead to some seriously disgusting culinary mishaps if you’re not careful. None of us want to order Rocky Mountain Oysters thinking we’re going to get some delicious seafood. These are 30 foods that are designed to trick our taste buds and confuse our brains. We’re happy to tell you about them so you don’t end up bamboozled.
Spotted Dick
Yeah, we’re not even going to go into what this one sounds like because we’re sure you can use your imagination. Fortunately this dish is not even close to what it sounds like: a steamed pudding dessert with raisins (spots).
Bubble and Squeak
Bubble and squeak sounds like a brand that makes bath products, but this actually is a dish comprised of mashed potatoes fried with cabbage and sometimes boiled beef. It doesn’t sound too bad, so we’d give it a shot!
Sweetbread
Sweetbread sounds like a tasty pastry, but sweetbread is neither sweet nor bready. Instead, this deceptive dish actually contains the thymus glands and pancreas of a calf , which are then used is souffles and pates.
Welsh Rabbit
This dish sounds pretty self-explanatory, right? However, this dish does not contain any rabbit and may not even be Welsh! It’s a simple piece of toast with a spicy bechamel cheese sauce on top, which honestly sounds even more appetizing. The “rabbit” misnomer actually comes from people who mistake “Welsh Rarebit” for “Welsh Rabbit.”
Ladyfingers
If you hear someone saying that they love munching on ladyfingers, no, they’re aren’t a cannibal. Yet, there are a few different foods they could be referring to: oval-shaped, sweet sponge cakes, okra, or even a type of banana that is eaten in Asian, African, and Creole cooking.
Geoduck
This doesn’t sound like a food at all, but more like something you would try to catch on Pokemon Go. Geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck) is not a duck, but a three-pound softshell clam that is found in the Pacific Ocean. It’s considered a delicacy in China and Korea!
Colonial Goose
Colonial goose conjures images of a Revolutionary War-era feast with a stuffed goose, but this dish doesn’t contain bird at all! It’s actually a leg of lamb that has been stuffed with breadcrumbs, onion, and other spices, then marinated in red wine and roasted.
Buffalo Wings
Everyone knows a buffalo wing is actually the wing section from a chicken. Why the name? They were invented in Buffalo, New York! Since wings were cheap, Teressa Bellissimo decided to make this snack for her customers at her bar.
Refried Beans
Refried beans aren’t actually fried. The name comes from the word “refritos,” which just means well-cooked. The dish is made by boiling beans and then mashing them into a paste. Occasionally, they’ll be fried, but usually baked or served as is.
Scotch Woodcock
Scotch woodcock doesn’t sound too great. Depending on your tastes, it still might sound horrible. This dish toast topped with scrambled eggs and anchovy paste. Sometimes, actual anchovy fillets are thrown on top.
Canadian Bacon
Did you know that the United States is the only place that calls back bacon “Canadian bacon”? The name probably came from the mid-1800s. There was a shortage of pork in the United Kingdom, so they imported meat from Canada. It would be cured with a special brine, which gave it the unique taste. Americans liked it, and Canadian bacon was born.
Cream Crackers
Cream crackers are made from wheat flour, vegetable oil, and yeast. Notice something missing? Cream. Cream crackers don’t have any cream in them. The name comes from the fact that the ingredients are “creamed” together.
Grasshopper Pie
This one fools kids (and sometimes adults) all over the United States. This pie is actually a crème pie with mint – or crème de menthe. Grasshopper pie is also accompanied with chocolate of some kind, whether it’s syrup or actual crème de cacao. It’s super sweet and, thankfully, doesn’t contain any bugs.
Pork Butt
Pork butt is delicious when roasted, but have you ever wondered about the name? It’s not actually from the rear of a pig. This section of meat comes from the upper part of the shoulder from the front leg. “Butt” is just another term that means it’s the thicker end of something, similar to the butt of a gun.
Hen of the Woods
Hen of the woods is a mushroom that grows at the base of trees. The name came from the fact that it looks like the feathers of a hen. It’s also sometimes called ram’s or sheep’s head.
Ants Climbing a Tree
More ants? Nope, another deceptive name. This dish is a classic Sichuan food that’s made using glass (clear) noodles – another misnomer if you ask us. The name comes from a person who was given the dish and thought it looked hilarious. The noodles were branches, the chopped scallions were tree leaves, and the bits of ground meat as ants.
Lion's Head
What does lion taste like? Even if you eat this meal, you still won’t know. Lion’s head is a meatball that’s made using ground pork. It comes in two types, plain and red. Plain is stewed or steamed with napa cabbage, while the red variety is stewed or cooked with cabbage, bamboo shoots, and tofu. Why the name? The shape is supposed to resemble the head of the Chinese guardian lion.
Nun’s Farts
Nun’s farts don’t sound too great, but it’s easier to say than the original French name “pets-de-nonne.” These are little sugary puffs almost like a donut. They’re really similar to pets de soeurs, which is a pastry that’s buttered, covered in sugar, rolled up, and baked.
Prairie Oysters
The prairie doesn’t have oysters, so what is this? Despite the name, it’s actually a drink that consists of a raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, vinegar, hot sauce, salt, and ground black pepper. Supposedly, it cures a hangover, but the thought of it could make anyone feel nauseous.
Bombay Duck
Bombay duck is an Indian dish that doesn’t contain any actual duck. Instead, it’s a lizardfish that’s battered and fried. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, it may be hard to find this strange dish.
Ants on a Log
Most kids have eaten ants on a log, but nothing is freakier than hearing them called this. This snack is a celery stick with peanut butter and raisins. It’s pretty healthy, but not as packed full of protein as the name might suggest.
Bear Claw
How delectable does a bear’s foot with fur and claws attached sound? Not very, but the real bear claw sounds much tastier: an almond-flavored pastry drizzled with icing and sliced almonds. We’ll take two!
Gunpowder
If someone in China asks you if you want a hot cup of gunpowder, you would probably be quite confused. Why would you want to drink the stuff of fireworks? You’d actually enjoy this drink more than you would think, though, because it’s simply green tea from the Zhejiang Province.
Duck Sauce
You would think that Chinese duck sauce is made from rendered duck fat, but it’s actually a concoction of apricots, plums, or peaches combined with ginger and chilies. So, even vegetarians can enjoy this delectable sauce with their egg rolls!
Head Cheese
No matter which way you slice the term, “head cheese,” is not going to be good. Is it cheese made out of an animal’s head? Well, it is made out of an animal’s head, but it’s not cheese. It’s essentially parts of cow or pig’s head combined with tongue, feet, and heart for flavor.
Mincemeat
Mincemeat is finely minced meat, right? Wrong again! Mincemeat is actually not as gross as it sounds, as it consists of chopped apples, raisins, spices, and rum or brandy. Mincemeat pie sounds infinitely better now, doesn’t it? Traditionally, mincemeat contained meat, but modern recipes opt for fruits and spices.
Rocky Mountain Oysters
As you probably know, the Rocky Mountains are nowhere near the ocean—so how could you possibly get oysters from there? You can’t, obviously, and these little “oysters” are actually bull testicles that have been halved, battered, and deep fried. Bon apetit?
Egg Cream
If you thought that egg cream was some kind of cream and egg mixture used for cooking, you will probably be happily mistaken. Egg cream is actually a soda fountain favorite that consists of seltzer and chocolate syrup.
Black Pudding
Black pudding sounds like a delicious chocolate dessert, but don’t let the name fool you. This food is actually a sausage that’s made of curdled pigs’ blood, pig fat, onions, oats, and seasoning. Naturally, all of this is stuffed into an intestinal casing. In the UK, this dish is often served with breakfast. Could you imagine eating this for breakfast every morning? Neither can we. The super-rich chocolatey pudding sounds better.
Catheads and Gravy
Catheads?! The last thing you want to eat is a cat. Good thing this food doesn’t have any familiar felines in it. A better name for this food is biscuits and gravy, but it isn’t as fun.
