Annoying food jargons (tastes, vanilla, olive, sandwich)

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by MillennialUrbanist

I like the word "growler". It sounds strong and masculine, and beer is seen as a masculine drink. "Growler" is also not a bad way to describe lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!).

LOL. I'll have to tell my husband. I'm the chief beer drinker in our house. He prefers whisky.

[Mikala43]

Someone up thread had complained about the term umami, and wanted it to be called savory. Umami IS savory in Japanese.

[TabulaRasa]

There seems to be a running theme here, among some camps, that, when using culinary terms, people should "speak American."

[Mikala43]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

There seems to be a running theme here, among some camps, that, when using culinary terms, people should "speak American."

That does seem to be a theme.


Just a note: umami flavor was discovered by a Japenese scientist in Japan.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

There seems to be a running theme here, among some camps, that, when using culinary terms, people should "speak American."

I tend to agree, when in America and when there is a legitimate, well-accepted American English term. If someone around me started saying "aubergine" instead of the perfectly good eggplant, or "maize" for corn, I would probably think that was pretentious. Umami is a fine Japanese word, but if it is really equivalent to "savory," then in my opinion it's better to use "savory" than a trendy term which comes across as word-of-the-month.

On the other hand, there are no good "English" words for lots of things. It would be equally silly to call hummus "chickpea-tahini dip" or avocados "alligator pears" (as old cookbooks used to do).

[TabulaRasa]

Hah, my husband asked me last night if I wanted to spilt an alligator pear.

This is because my two-year old loves avocados, and if we don't wanna share, as we didn't last night, code is required.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

LOL. I'll have to tell my husband. I'm the chief beer drinker in our house. He prefers whisky.

I drink beer, too.

[tickyul]

Sweetbreads, just started eating them and they ain't sweet nor are they made of bread.

[missik999]

Originally Posted by kokonutty

Ever heard the word "jug?"

(Didn't see TR's response above.)

Jug could mean whisky jug or milk jug. Growler is a jug with a specific purpose.

I’ve never heard anyone say they were going to pick up a growler of milk.

But if you want to go to a brewery and ask for a jug of beer that’s your choice.

[kokonutty]

Originally Posted by missik999

Jug could mean whisky jug or milk jug. Growler is a jug with a specific purpose.

I’ve never heard anyone say they were going to pick up a growler of milk.

But if you want to go to a brewery and ask for a jug of beer that’s your choice.

Exactly - a jug is a jug is a jug. It doesn't matter what you put in it - it is a jug. What would happen if you filled a "growler" with whisky or milk? It would still be a jug, even if you originally bought it to carry beer.

Thanks for proving my point.