11 Massachusetts Food Names That Outsiders Always Get Wrong
Growing up in Massachusetts, I’ve witnessed countless out-of-staters stumble over our unique food lingo.
Nothing gives away a tourist faster than hearing them butcher the name of a beloved local treat.
From sandwich shops to ice cream parlors, our Bay State food vocabulary is like its own special dialect.
Let me walk you through some Massachusetts food terms that leave visitors tongue-tied and confused.
1. Fluffernutter: Not Just Any Sandwich
My kindergarten teacher nearly fell over laughing when a substitute called it a “Fluffer-Nooter” during lunch time. This iconic Massachusetts sandwich combines peanut butter with Marshmallow Fluff – a sweet, sticky spread created right here in Somerville in 1917.
Most outsiders think it’s “Fluffer-Nutter” (with a hard T sound) or mispronounce it as “Fluffanada” or some other wild variation. The correct way? Fluff-er-nutt-er, with the emphasis on “Fluff.”
What makes this mistake particularly amusing is watching visitors try to order it at local diners. The sandwich might seem simple, but getting its name right is practically a citizenship test for Massachusetts residents!
2. Frappe: Not Your Average Milkshake
“I’ll have a milkshake,” announced my cousin from California during his first visit to our local ice cream stand. The server gave him that classic Massachusetts side-eye. In our state, what most Americans call a milkshake, we proudly call a frappe (pronounced “frap” – rhymes with “cap”).
Outsiders commonly say “fra-PAY” like the Greek iced coffee drink, or worse, confuse it with Starbucks’ Frappuccino. A true Massachusetts frappe contains ice cream, milk, and syrup blended together – what the rest of the country simply calls a milkshake.
Our regular “milkshakes” don’t contain ice cream at all – just milk and syrup. This distinction has started arguments in my family for three generations!
3. Jimmies: The Sprinkle Debate
“Could I please get rainbow jimmies on my ice cream?” I asked while visiting my aunt in Oregon. The ice cream scooper stared at me like I’d requested moon rocks as a topping. Those colorful little candy bits that top your ice cream? In Massachusetts, we’ve always called them jimmies.
The rest of America knows them as “sprinkles,” but ask any true Bay Stater and they’ll insist jimmies is the correct term (though some will argue jimmies refers only to the chocolate ones).
The origins of this term remain debated, but it’s believed to have started with the Jimmy Fund, a Boston-based charity connected to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Whatever the history, hearing someone ask for “sprinkles” immediately marks them as an outsider.
4. Scrod: The Fish That Confuses Everyone
My grandfather, a lifelong fisherman, would howl with laughter when tourists asked what kind of fish scrod actually is. Spoiler alert: it’s not a specific species! Scrod (rhymes with “rod”) refers to young white fish – usually cod or haddock – that’s served in Massachusetts restaurants.
Visitors often pronounce it “skrode” or think it’s some exotic Atlantic species they’ve never heard of. The term originated from Boston seafood restaurants as a way to indicate the catch of the day.
The confusion deepens when outsiders see variations like “schrod” on menus. Next time you’re in a Massachusetts seafood joint and someone at the next table confidently explains that scrod is a rare fish found only in New England waters, you’ll know better!
5. Grinder: Not A Dating App
Last summer, my New York friend nearly died of embarrassment when he asked the deli counter guy where he could find a good “sub” for lunch. In eastern Massachusetts, those long sandwiches on Italian bread aren’t subs – they’re grinders (pronounced exactly like it looks).
The name likely comes from the effort needed to chew through the crusty bread, which would “grind” your teeth. Western Mass folks might use “sub” or “hero,” but in my Boston-area neighborhood, it’s grinder or nothing.
Outsiders struggle with this regional term, often assuming it refers only to hot sandwiches (though many locals make this distinction too). The real entertainment comes when visitors try ordering a “submarine sandwich” and receive knowing smirks from locals in line behind them.
6. Hoodsie Cup: Tiny Ice Cream, Big Confusion
“Remember those little ice cream cups we’d get at school with the wooden spoons?” I asked my California roommate. “Hoodsies!” She looked at me like I was speaking another language – and in a way, I was speaking Massachusetts.
Those small paper cups with chocolate and vanilla ice cream are Hoodsie Cups, named after Hood, the New England dairy company. The rest of America might call them dixie cups or just “ice cream cups,” but in Massachusetts, they’re Hoodsies, plain and simple.
The wooden spoon that comes with it is practically a cultural icon. Visitors often think we’re referring to a brand name like “Whoopsie” or “Hoosier” when they hear us reminiscing about childhood Hoodsie Cups at summer camp or school lunches.
7. Coffee Regular: Not What You Think
Standing in line at Dunkin’, I watched a businessman from Chicago become increasingly frustrated when his “regular coffee” arrived with cream and sugar. In Massachusetts, “regular” isn’t black coffee – it automatically means cream and sugar!
This causes endless confusion for visitors who expect “regular” to mean plain black coffee. The tradition dates back to when Dunkin’ Donuts (born in Quincy, MA) became our unofficial state coffee shop.
The proper order is “coffee regular,” not “regular coffee.” And the formula is specific: two creams, two sugars for a medium. Watching tourists struggle with this peculiar coffee code is practically a spectator sport for locals. If you want black coffee here, you need to specifically ask for it “black.”
8. American Chop Suey: No Relation To Chinese Food
My college roommate from Texas nearly fell off her chair laughing when our dining hall advertised “American Chop Suey” on the menu. “That’s just goulash!” she exclaimed. But in Massachusetts, this comfort food of elbow macaroni, ground beef, tomato sauce, and green peppers has only one proper name.
Despite containing zero Chinese ingredients or cooking techniques, we stubbornly call it American Chop Suey. School cafeterias across the Commonwealth serve this dish regularly, confusing transfer students and visitors alike.
The name likely evolved from early Chinese-American restaurants that created Americanized dishes. Outsiders might call it goulash, beefaroni, or simply “pasta with meat sauce,” but those terms will earn you confused looks from any true Massachusetts native.
9. Johnny Cakes: Not Pancakes Or Johnnies
My Rhode Island grandmother would correct anyone who mispronounced these as “Johnnie Cakes” (with an “ie”). These cornmeal flatbreads have been a New England staple since Native Americans taught early settlers how to make them.
Visitors often assume they’re pancakes with a cute nickname, but Johnny Cakes are distinctly different – made primarily from cornmeal, water, and salt. The pronunciation trips up outsiders too, who tend to say “JOHN-ee” when locals emphasize both syllables equally: “JOH-nee.”
Southern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts each claim to make the authentic version (thinner in RI, thicker in MA). The debate gets heated at family gatherings spanning state lines! Out-of-staters who attempt to weigh in quickly learn this is serious business in New England.
10. Bulkie Roll: The Misunderstood Bread
“What’s a bulkie roll?” asked my bewildered friend from Seattle when I was making a shopping list for our cookout. I might as well have asked for moon rocks! These round, slightly flattened rolls with a hard crust and soft center are a Massachusetts sandwich staple.
The name comes from the Yiddish word “bulke,” meaning “small bread.” Outsiders often think we’re saying “bulky” and assume it’s just a large kaiser roll. Not so!
A proper bulkie has a distinctive flour-dusted top and substantial heft. They’re perfect for sandwiches because they don’t get soggy. When visitors ask for “hamburger buns” instead of bulkies at our delis, locals exchange knowing glances – another giveaway that they’re “from away” as we say.
11. Linguica: The Portuguese Pronunciation Problem
“I’ll have the ling-gwee-sa pizza,” said my cousin from Michigan, causing our server in Fall River to visibly wince. This spicy Portuguese sausage is pronounced “lin-GWEESH-a” in southeastern Massachusetts, where Portuguese immigrants have shaped the local cuisine for generations.
The smoky, garlicky sausage appears on pizza, in soups, and alongside eggs in diners throughout New Bedford, Fall River, and beyond. Outsiders not only mispronounce it but often confuse it with Italian sausage or chorizo.
My Portuguese-American neighbors would explain that authentic linguica gets its distinctive flavor from paprika, garlic, and vinegar, plus a slow smoking process. When you’re in Massachusetts and see it on a menu, remember the correct pronunciation to avoid gentle correction from your server!