Things aren’t always as they seem, especially when the terminology seems to point toward something else entirely. Why do inflammable and flammable mean the same thing?! You really notice this when it comes to all sorts of misleading food names. Did you know the California roll wasn’t invented in California? And Hawaiian pizza didn’t emerge from Hawaii either.

But, at least you can still recognize a California roll as sushi and Hawaiian pizza as pizza. That’s not really the case with so many of the misleading food names on this list. Let’s dive in.

Nice to Meat You

It probably shouldn’t surprise too many of us to learn that it’s really all about marketing. When you reposition a food under a new brand, so to speak, you hopefully spark some new appeal. At least that’s the idea.

  • Albany beef: A slang term for sturgeon, because they were once so abundant in the Hudson River near Albany, New York.
  • Bombay duck: A type of lizardfish (also called bummalo, boomlaor bombil) in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Cape Cod turkey: Nope, no turkey here. It’s a dish with salted cod, salt pork (or bacon), potatoes, eggs and cream sauce.
  • Geoduck: Pronounced “gooey-duck,” it’s not a duck and it’s not from land. A geoduck is a very large saltwater clam, excellent as sashimi.
  • Head cheese: Nope, not actually cheese. It’s a congealed meat jelly or terrine made with the head of a calf or pig.
  • Phoenix claws: No mythical creatures were harmed in the creation of this standard chicken feet dim sum dish.
  • Prairie oysters: Wait. There aren’t any oysters in the prairies. That’s because these are bull testicles.
  • Rocky Mountain oysters: See prairie oysters. Also called “calf fries” or huevos de toro.
  • Sweetbreads: You don’t get these from your local bakery. Sweetbreads are the thymus or pancreas of a calf or lamb.

Confusing Country of Origin

Yes, it’s true that fundamentally the same kind of food goes by many different names around the world. Most cultures have some form of a dumpling, for example, just as most do some kind of fried dough. These misleading food names, though, are of a different breed altogether.

  • English muffin: I always thought this name was strange, because they’re clearly not “muffins” as we know them. They’re more like if crumpets could be split in half to make sandwiches.
  • French dressing: The sweet, creamy, ketchup-based dressing you buy from the supermarket? That’s an American adaptation.
  • French fries: What we know as “French fries” probably got their start in Belgium.
  • Mongolian BBQ: Despite its name, this form of stir fry was first developed in Taiwan in the 1950s. And it’s not really BBQ either. It’s more like teppanyaki.
  • Russian dressing: Just like how “French dressing” is actually American, so is mayo-ketchup based concoction that’s similar to Thousand Island dressing.
  • Scotch bonnet: The only connection between this fiery hot pepper from West Africa and Scotland is that it vaguely resembles a Scottish tam o’ shanter cap.
  • Scotch woodcock: A type of forest bird found in Scotland, you might think? Nope. It’s just scrambled eggs on toast with anchovy paste.

More Misleading Food Names

Confused yet? Good. Let’s keep going (and eating), leading straight into some sweet dessert options too.

  • Black pudding: A dessert, maybe with chocolate or licorice? Nope. It’s a blood sausage from the UK and Ireland.
  • Bubble and squeak: Champagne and cheese curds? Nope. It’s a British breakfast with potatoes and cabbage.
  • Egg cream: This fountain drink contains neither eggs nor cream. Instead, it’s got milk, carbonated water and a flavored syrup. Popular versions include the Manhattan, Brooklyn and San Francisco.
  • Gunpowder dosa: Don’t worry about getting wrapped up with an explosive outcome. A dosa is a like a crepe, popular in South India and Sri Lanka. And the gunpowder is just the name of a spice blend.
  • Hen-of-the-woods: Also called ram’s head and sheep’s head, this is a type of polypore mushroom that grows in clusters.
  • Ladyfingers: You don’t need to be Hannibal Lecter to enjoy these sweet sponge biscuits.
  • Plum pudding: Typically served around Christmas, plum pudding is made with dried fruit but no actual plums.
  • Pork butt: You might think this has to do with a pig’s derriere, but the “butt” actually refers to Porky’s shoulders.
  • Refried beans: These beans aren’t actually fried twice; the name comes from the Spanish refritos, meaning well fried.
  • Spotted dick: Get your head out of the gutter (and no need for a visit to the doctor to get it checked out). Spotted dick is just a type of British pudding with suet and dried fruit.

Expanding Your Food Vocabulary

Language is weird. Food is creative. Put the two together and you end up with all sorts of confusing and misleading food terms. If you’ve been thinking about these food names all wrong, maybe you’ve been eating it all wrong too. Check out that post for how you should be eating sushi, pho and chicken wings, complete with video instruction. Now, armed with this newfound knowledge, get out there and enjoy the vast world of culinary delights!