What's In A Name? "Phuking Surprise" & "Spotted Dick w/Custard"

[Jerry Smolin]

Just returned from a trip to London where I had the opportunity to order a "Phuking Surprise" (a drink at Thai Silk) as well as a serving of "Spotted Dick with Custard" (a pudding of some sort at The Marquess of Anglesbey pub).

I wonder what other similarly named foods Chowhounds have discovered in their travels.

[zora]

"Fu fu" is my all-time favorite.

[Deven Black]

You mean you didn't try "toad in the hole" or "bubble and squeak"?

[Jerry Smolin]

Actually I did have "Bubble & Squeak" . . . just thought the aformentioned pair were more, well, provocative, shall we say.

[Erik M.]

I've had alot of good laughs during my travels. Most recently, in Egypt. Sadly, I can't recall what was so funny.

I have a book here on my desk that's full of such manglings. I can't confirm their veracity, but they're good for a laugh on a slow Monday afternoon.

Fresh Fish Soap (China)
Bosom of Chicken (Egypt)
Shrimp in a Casket (S. Korea)
Cajun Chicken Biceps (Indonesia)
French Creeps (L.A.)
Masala Nasti (India)
Roasted Duck Let Loose (Poland)

Cheers,
Erik M.

[Sharuf]

I always liked the name "bangers". I like the sausage, too, but my doctor doesn't.

[Covert Ops]

I remember being in several Chinese restaurants in my youth and ordering a "Pu Pu Platter," containing spare ribs, shrimp toast, etc. with an open flame to warm them.

Several years later, I notice they all have generic names like "Mixed Appetizers." Did too many people find the name distasteful? What does "Pu Pu" MEAN in Chinese, anyway?

[ironmom]

I think the appetizer assortment picked up the term in Hawaii, where 20 years ago I saw happy hour tidbits called "puu-puus".

Sort of a Polynesian-American restaurant term.

Any Hawaiians out there know for sure?

[CliffA]

There's a great cookbook (now, unfortunately packed away in storage, so i can't remember the exact title) that has recipes from the era of Patrick O'Brien's Napoleonic War sea novels. Filled with how to actually make Spotted Dog/Dick and many other strangely-named dishes. Worth a search on Amazon.

[Carpetbagger]

It's called:
Lobscouse and Spotted Dog: Which It's a Gastronomic Companion to the Aubrey/Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian
by Anne Chotzinoff Grossman and Lisa Grossman Thomas.

Some of the recipes include "drowned baby" and "millers" in white sauce (millers being the lower deck name for rats).

[CliffA]

I wrote the below to your Email address listed here, returned to me as "undeliverable"--i guess i'm beginning to understand how it works...

Yes, that's it. Thanx. By the way, your Email address gives me the opportunity to ask how the ".nospam" part of your address works. I can't figure out how including that phrase or words acts to filter unwanted messages since senders know the address, and so forth.
Thanks again.

Cliff Abrams

[Nancy Berry]

re: Spotted Dick

The following link is very interesting:

Link: http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/asithapp...

[Nancy Berry]

Here's a website you might find interesting:

Link: http://www.dazbert.co.uk/rudefood/

[Tom Meg]

A Korean BBQ place near my house in Queens offers "Korean Dump". I have yet to try it.

[The Turtle (Bay) Dove]

Speaking of spotted dick, I once found pre-made microwaveable individual-portion-sized spotted dick -- supply your own custard. Frankly, it was vile, but good for laughs. And since I was reading the Patrick O'Brien books at the time, it at least gave me an idea of what the stuff was like. I've had better since! I bought it in Cambridge, MA at that "gourmet" store on Brattle? right off Harvard Sq, but it was a few years ago so who knows if they still carry it. --Joanna