...Was talking with friends over the weekend about how Chilean Sea Bass became popular (so popular that in late 90's it was at risk of extinction from overfishing) ever since fish wholesaler Lee Lantz had the bright idea in 1977, of tossing the original name Patagonian Toothfish overboard and re-baptizing it with a name that combined familiar pedigree with a hint of imported cache.
And so was prompted to further inquiry for other such examples which, in addition to the commonly known Rocky Mountain Oysters, Sweetbreads and Lamb Fries, might include...
The Oil Fish. Renamed Blue Cod.
Doughnuts (introduced into the American culture in the 1700’s by immigrants of the Netherlands) were originally called “Oliebollen” which translates to “oil balls”.
Mahi Mahi – Directly translates to dolphinfish, though it's not a "Flipper" dolphin. Yet still, no way they could not change the name.
Rapeseed oil, would you buy it? Canola, on the other hand, sounds much better. Except then you find out that just means Canadian oil – so it’s back to square one.
Honey. More appetizing sounding than bee spit. (actually, vomit)
Dried Plums – A.K.A Prunes. The California Prune Board asked for and received permission from the Dept. of Agriculture in 2000 to start calling them Dried Plums. They promptly changed their name to the California Dried Plum Board shortly after.
I'm still surprised whenever I see (after long list of precisely named ingredients) “natural flavoring” and “other spices”. Why can't they give the specifics?
Mystery: How did "Hot Dog" survive without a name change?
"Chitlins".
Beef Tartare.
Pepperpot Soup. Real name: Lining-of-hog-belly (tripe) soup?
Squab
Go to a hole in the wall restaurant in Chinatown and they'll call it by its real name...Pigeon.
But leave it to the British to reverse the process and use the euphemism to make matters worse with their Bangers and Mash (sausages and potatoes), Bubble and Squeak (potatoes and cabbage), Toad-in-a-Hole (sausage cooked in batter), Spotted Dick (pudding with dried fruit) and Cock-a-Leekie (soup with chicken, leeks and sweet dried plums, I mean, prunes).
And in 2003, when France declined to rubber stamp our Iraqi invasion plans, the Republican controlled House of Representatives changed the names of French fries and French toast on their menus to freedom fries and freedom toast. Tina Fey lambasted the move on Saturday Night Live, announcing that "in France, American cheese is now referred to as 'idiot cheese.'"
And so was prompted to further inquiry for other such examples which, in addition to the commonly known Rocky Mountain Oysters, Sweetbreads and Lamb Fries, might include...
The Oil Fish. Renamed Blue Cod.
Doughnuts (introduced into the American culture in the 1700’s by immigrants of the Netherlands) were originally called “Oliebollen” which translates to “oil balls”.
 |
| Mahi Mahi (Dolphinfish) |
Rapeseed oil, would you buy it? Canola, on the other hand, sounds much better. Except then you find out that just means Canadian oil – so it’s back to square one.
Honey. More appetizing sounding than bee spit. (actually, vomit)
Dried Plums – A.K.A Prunes. The California Prune Board asked for and received permission from the Dept. of Agriculture in 2000 to start calling them Dried Plums. They promptly changed their name to the California Dried Plum Board shortly after.
I'm still surprised whenever I see (after long list of precisely named ingredients) “natural flavoring” and “other spices”. Why can't they give the specifics?
Mystery: How did "Hot Dog" survive without a name change?
"Chitlins". Beef Tartare.
Pepperpot Soup. Real name: Lining-of-hog-belly (tripe) soup?
 |
| Squab. Pre-cooked. |
Go to a hole in the wall restaurant in Chinatown and they'll call it by its real name...Pigeon.
But leave it to the British to reverse the process and use the euphemism to make matters worse with their Bangers and Mash (sausages and potatoes), Bubble and Squeak (potatoes and cabbage), Toad-in-a-Hole (sausage cooked in batter), Spotted Dick (pudding with dried fruit) and Cock-a-Leekie (soup with chicken, leeks and sweet dried plums, I mean, prunes).
And in 2003, when France declined to rubber stamp our Iraqi invasion plans, the Republican controlled House of Representatives changed the names of French fries and French toast on their menus to freedom fries and freedom toast. Tina Fey lambasted the move on Saturday Night Live, announcing that "in France, American cheese is now referred to as 'idiot cheese.'" 
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