Whether you’re headed one state over to visit a family member or hopping a plane to travel abroad, you typically expect that some things will be very, very unfamiliar. The language might be different, the locals might have varying expectations about etiquette, and driving practices might be vastly different, too. And when it comes to foods all around the world, it goes without saying that even common meals will have different names or flavors. The foods might even be completely different.
In Portugal, for example, nearly every restaurant serves cod with cream. In Tokyo, the local food connoisseurs might encourage you to try okonomiyaki, a savory pancake made with cabbage and batter and topped with kimchi and meat. Experiencing those new cuisines, in part, makes travel so life-changing.
It’s surprising, however, to encounter foods that look really familiar but go by completely different names. The discrepancy sometimes occurs because Americans adopt and rename foods from other places. And occasionally, the names just develop from cultural phrases.
1. Eggplant – Aubergine
In the UK, this veggie’s color inspired the name.
The eggplant has a much longer history in the United Kingdom than it does in the United States. It originated in India, but the British populace started eating eggplant in the 1500s. They called it an aubergine because of its dark violet hue (aubergine is also a color). The oblong vegetable didn’t reach America until the 1700s, though. And early Americans preferred the eggplant moniker because they thought the food looked like an egg.
2. Cookies – Biscuits
Does a cookie by any other name taste just as sweet?
Australia and the UK have a completely different name for this beloved treat.
Served daily alongside the beloved afternoon tea or “cuppa”, biscuits are to Australians and Brits what cookies are to most Americans. The name isn’t the only thing that sets this afternoon snack apart, though. In the United States, people tend to prefer chocolate cookies dipped in milk. While in the UK, the locals go for digestive biscuits in hot tea.
3. Arugula – Ruchetta
The name for this leafy green varies a lot depending on where you are.
Arugula, a slightly bitter leafy green, is still a relatively new and underrepresented food in the United States. It does, however, have a long history in Europe with a long list of names. What began as the Roman ruchetta in Italy became roquette in France. Then it morphed into rocket in Britain. Reportedly, Italian immigrants brought the fibrous veggie to America. And it was renamed, once again, arugula.
4. Bell Pepper – Capsicum
Around the world, this crisp veggie goes by a very different title.
In the United States, people use bell peppers in soups, salads, and fajitas. But many Americans might struggle to order this delicious pepper in other countries. In fact, this vegetable from the nightshade family is called a capsicum in places like New Zealand, Australia, and India. It originated in South America, but many food historians unofficially credit Christopher Columbus with introducing the bell pepper to other nations.
5. Peanut Butter – Pindakaas
Peanut butter is well-loved in America, but it isn’t nearly as popular elsewhere.
It’s actually pretty difficult to find peanut butter in many European grocery stores. But apparently, people in the Netherlands tend to love the creamy nut spread. In fact, only Canadians and the Netherlands citizens eat more peanut butter per capita than people living in the United States. The catch? People in other countries call the spread pindakaas, which translates to peanut cheese.
6. Baked Potatoes – Jacket Potatoes
If you take a good look at a baked potato, the British name actually makes a lot of sense.
Americans typically think of baked potatoes as side dishes topped with butter and sour cream. In the United Kingdom, though, a jacket potato can actually be the main meal. To make their russet potatoes especially filling, Brits split the spud open and top with any number of ingredients, including beans, chili, dahl, and even pizza toppings. Sounds delicious to us!
7. French Fries – Chips
Delicious, deep-fried, and dipped in ketchup — French fries are beloved everywhere.
But people in the United Kingdom call these fried potato slices chips. Further maximizing the difference, Americans typically eat their fries with a cheeseburger or club sandwich. While most British people enjoy theirs alongside fried fish. Moreover, British chips often come topped with cheese or a curry sauce. While we’re at it, we should probably point out that fries are called frites in France. No matter what you call sliced and deep fried potatoes, they’re all delicious.
8. Chips – Crisps
If you actually have a craving for thin, crispy potatoes, don’t order chips in the U.K.
We know that, in the United Kingdom, fries are called chips. So what do the Brits call thin, crispy fried potatoes that come in snack bags? They refer to them as crisps, and the name is actually quite fitting. Walker’s makes one of the most brands of crisps in the UK. And they have some unusual flavors like Pickled Onion and Prawn Cocktail.
9. Pancakes – Flapjacks
You don’t need to go abroad to hear variations on food names.
In the United States, pancakes topped with butter and covered in maple syrup are popular breakfast fare. That being said, breakfast enthusiasts don’t always call them pancakes. In a Michigan restaurant, people place orders for flapjacks. But in the southern states, diners ask for griddle cakes or hotcakes. Sometimes in New England, pancakes are called Johnnycakes.
10. Sub Sandwich – Hoagie
Cold cuts have five different names in America alone.
In Philly, people commonly refer to subs as hoagies. Purportedly, this name is inspired by the location of the Italian-American cooks famous for the sandwich. For a long time, they were called Hog Island sandwiches, and eventually, they earned the hoagie nickname. In New England, locals call sub sandwiches grinders because the bread is so tough and chewy. Additionally, New Yorkers call the sandwich a hero. While Louisiana natives think of it as a po’boy.
11. Hot Dog – Frankfurters
They may seem like quintessential American food, but people eat hot dogs everywhere.
Hot dogs have very different names, though. For example, in Austria or Germany, people call their dogs frankfurters, wienerwursts, or Vienne sausages. In New Zealand and Australia, everyone enjoys hot dogs, but the snack food looks rather strange. In those two countries, batter coats the sausages. And they’re deep-fried. Want a boiled or grilled dog in a bun? Order an American-style hot dog instead.
12. Omelet – Tortilla Española
What we call an omelet in the States is a tortilla Española in Spain.
A tortilla Española is a lot like an omelet. Someone whips eggs, cooks them in a skillet, and fills them with any number of delicious additions. In Spain, though, the yummy egg dish is most commonly filled with thinly sliced potatoes and onions. People also tend to call it a tortilla de patata and eat it between two pieces of bread like an on-the-go sandwich.
13. Oatmeal – Porridge
In America, porridge probably evokes images of Goldilocks and three little bears.
However, in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and Britain, people refer to oatmeal as porridge. And there are many different varieties of it. Porridge might also be made from barley, wheat, corn, or millet. In Russia, porridge is called kasha and is a staple of their cuisine. Kasha might be made from farro, buckwheat, or oats. In Japan, you’re more likely to see congee eaten for breakfast, which is a porridge made from rice.
14. Candies – Lollies
Want to grab a sweet treat for your child, niece, or nephew? Look for lollies across the pond
A lolly is just a lollipop here in the United States. But in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. the word is the catch-all term for candies. Interestingly enough, eating candy doesn’t necessarily cause cavities. Instead, poor dental habits and leftover plaque buildup cause cavities. They can occur c anytime you eat and fail to take care of your oral hygiene. So, just so long as you brush and floss, don’t be afraid of the occasional lolly!
15. Soft-Boiled Eggs And Toast – Dippy Eggs And Soldiers
But you can eat these soldiers.
Americans often enjoy boiled eggs and toast for breakfast, and the Brits do too. They call their breakfast staple something completely different, though – dippy eggs and soldiers. Some people suggest the name is related to the Humpty Dumpty rhyme (the toast was sliced and lined up to look like soldiers in formation). And other people think the name just refers to how you can dip the toast into the runny egg yolk.
What did we miss? What familiar foods with unfamiliar names do you eat while traveling?
