Day 6: HOTS
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It’s a weird phenomenon really… but folks here in Massachusetts (at least the Boston area) use the term “Hots” when ordering items to put on their sandwich or sub (or grinder or hero… depending on where you live). I never heard this reference prior to moving here.
“Hots” are pickled hot peppers. What most of us just call “hot peppers”. I did some research on the web and could not find where this term comes from or any specific details regarding “hots”. Does anyone know the history behind this or if “hots” are different than standard pickled hot peppers? I’m curious…
It’s interesting how different food items (which are a staple in certain geographic locations) are practically unheard of in others. For example, I never heard of Crab Rangoon before moving here. On the flip side, I have never seen Shrimp Toast on a Chinese menu here. Also, this is the only place I’ve ever been where you have to order (and pay for) your steamed rice separately.
In NJ (where I am originally from), a very popular breakfast sandwich is a Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese. I’m sure you are asking yourself… “what the hell is Pork Roll???” I looked it up and it’s also called “Taylor Ham”, but you will NEVER hear someone from NJ call it this.
Even seemingly simple things… like how you cut your pizza (in pie slices or in a grid) varies from locale to locale. BTW—the grid cut is unacceptable.
Anyone else out there experience similar differences like this (I just love a good oxymoron!)? Please share!!!
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Actually, I grew up in NJ and we always called it taylor ham as opposed to pork roll. Maybe different parts of NJ refer to it differently. I grew up in Northern NJ.
“Even seemingly simple things… like how you cut your pizza (in pie slices or in a grid) varies from locale to locale. BTW—the grid cut is unacceptable.”
Sorry Tammy but if you are a sailor you have to have your pizza cut on a grid so you have one hand for the boat.
We used to order it this way for open house on the boat. Every one could eat with one hand and work with the other.
Fellow NJ’er — that’s too funny! If someone asked me yesterday what “Taylor Ham” was, I would say I don’t know! I grew up in Central NJ.
Penny — I still don’t buy it! You fold the pie slice in half… that way you CAN eat it with one hand!
I grew up in North/Central NJ and everybody calls it Taylor Ham! I’ve only heard pork roll used a few times in my life.
Weird!!! It must be very regional then… to particular areas of NJ. Porkroll, egg and cheese is the “IT” breakfast sandwich where I grew up!
Regardless of what it’s called, it’s so delicious! My mouth is watering right now. I wish we could buy taylor ham here in MA.
i grew up in central NJ. . and NEVER heard Taylor ham… PORK ROLL!
its nasty but i do like those dam Jersey woodticks and what they give names too! ye haw!
I think the pizza grid thing may be mid-west as that is the only way I found it during college. In NYC of course it was slice, back in the days when 2 slices and a coke got you a dime change from a buck.
All the different names for subs.