Welcome to New York City.
We're actually pretty nice people. We're just like the rest of the country. We just don't like eye contact, invasions of personal space, and rush hour delays to our subways, trains, buses, etc. Other than that, we're pretty dope.
What really sets us apart from the rest of the country (apart from the fact that they're not living in the greatest city in the world) is how some sections of the country refer to their food.
A lot of us have traveled from our beloved city and experienced jolts of surprise when dining with non-New Yorkers. Our NYC foodie vocabulary did not translate to their local vernaculars, leaving us disappointed and hungry.
Others of us have had to tell visiting friends and family that terms like suckers and pop make them look like instant tourists in the Big Apple.
To get by in New York, we've put together a list of terms that may mean something else in the rest of the country, and what to refer to it when you're here.
1. Lollipop vs. Sucker
chemicalghosthorizon Why are these lollipops so pretty. Where can I get them. I wish I was famous so my fans could bring me some lollipops #lollipops #bandsarelife #fallinginreverse #bringmethehorizon #bands #blackveilbrides #paramore #piercetheveil #panicatthedisco #ghosttown #theallamericanrejects #alltimelow #ofmiceandmen #falloutboy #mydigitalescape #mychemicalromance #sleepingwithsirens
If you're a visitor to NYC, pleeeaase do not ask for a sucker. Or better yet, do, then let us know what happens. We're thinking that you may not get what you asked for...
If you want a hard candy on a stick that comes in a variety of deliciously sweet and savory flavors, ask for a lollipop.
Some people also like to differentiate a sucker as a flat lollipop where as a true lollipop is the spherical (think blow pop) lollipop. We refer to both flat and circular hard candies on a stick as a lollipop.
2. Hero vs. sub vs. hoagie vs. grinder vs. sandwich
lioniheroes No room for a #3FootHero, get it on a tray instead! #American #PartyHero #Catering #LioniHeroes #DaleBagels
Listen up y'all. heroes and subs are the only way to go in NYC. If you want to sound really New York, use the term hero. A sub (as in submarine sandwich) is also an acceptable term, but it is secondary to the hero.
Say hoagie, and we'll probably tell you how much the Eagles and Phillies suck, because it's a dead giveaway that you're from either Philly or South Jersey (which is an entirely different state than north Jersey).
A grinder pretty much refers to a foot long sandwich in New England. Traditionally, a grinder is served hot, but now it refers to both hot and cold sandwiches.
If you're from the west coast, a sandwich is not a foot long. It's a pair of square pieces of bread topped with anything from PB & J to turkey and mayo. It's pretty much just a lunchbox sandwich. Step up your game, sandwich lovers.
3. Soda vs. pop vs. Coke
So if you ever leave NYC, don't be surprised if you get asked what kind of coke you want. Some places west of the Hudson consider the term coke to mean any fizzy soda, including Sprite, Coke, 7-Up, orange soda, etc.
Other people will ask you for a pop or soda pop. Ask a Midwesterner to say the term pop. Most of the time, you'll find someone who enunciates it as a "pahhh-p."
We'll stick with the word soda.
4. Slice vs. pizza
Let us let you in on a horrendous secret: a lot of places outside of NYC do not sell pizza by the slice.
We can feel your looks of incredulity. We were pretty devastated when we found out too. Sometimes you don't want the whole darn pizza. You just want a slice.
So when you're visiting friends in Cali or Florida, don't just assume you can go to any pizza joint and ask for a slice. They might look at you like you're crazy.
,5. Tea vs. sweet tea vs. hot tea
dezca Secangkir teeh hangat + kue onde wijen isi lacang hijau dan creakers coklat 😂😂 #kuliner #food #santai #lazyday #tea #snack #kue #cake #onde #wijen #hottea #indonesia #blacktea
If you have ever been to the south, you'll know that you cannot just ask for a tea and expect it to be a steaming mug of your favorite caffeinated beverage.
Because, fellow tea drinker, you will be provided with a sickeningly sweet iced beverage that in no way resembles what the Bostonians threw into the drink in rebellion of the Brits (who, coincidentally, also understand the sanctity of the term tea).
Sweet tea is just not our cup of tea. Pun intended.
6. Schmear vs. spread
Did you eat a properly made NY bagel today?
Probably, because you most likely don't know that the bagels we have in NYC are boiled before being baked, and that's how it's supposed to be done, but the rest of the country is lazy and skips that step and pops out "bagels" the consistency of cardboard.
We digress. You were probably asked by your favorite bagel dude whether or not you wanted a schmear of anything. Or, you might have asked for a schmear of cream cheese or butter.
If you ask for a schmear anywhere else in the country, they'll probably understand what you're going for, but may hesitate from your use of this term of germanic origins.
Bonus: chopped cheese
brigitteinstagrams A Harlem staple. The delicious chopped cheese sandwich. Lord have mercy 😩🙌🏽 Who came up with this beauty? #eastharlem #choppedcheese #nycfood
One of the spoiled NYC staff writers contributed this NYC term to the mix. Some natives knew what this referred to, while other natives were entirely confused. A chopped cheese is like NYC's version of the Philly cheesesteak.
It's essentially a cheeseburger (ground beef and cheese) chopped up and placed on bread, a round roll, or long roll. Think grilled cheese with chopped up hamburger meat. It is the quintessential bodega lunch sandwich.
Check out 13 Crucial NYC Slang Words Every New Yorker Should Know.
[Feature Image Courtesy of Instagram]