Key Points
- McDonald's Australia has introduced potato scallops to its menu.
- The announcement ignited debate over the item's name, with some calling it a potato cake or potato fritter.
- Many items have different names in different parts of Australia.
When McDonald's Australia announced the latest addition to its menu, it reignited an age-old debate: is it a potato scallop, cake, or fritter?
On social media, promotional posts lead to a number of impassioned followers disputing the fast-food giant's choice of name after it advertised the deep-fried potato snack as a scallop.
In Queensland, NSW and the ACT, this is the preferred name for the takeaway staple, but in Victoria and Tasmania, it's potato cake.
In South Australia, it is most commonly referred to as a fritter, while Western Australia and the Northern Territory appear to go between the terms.
In 2015, researchers at Linguistics Roadshow even mapped out the common names of the food in different parts of the country.
Linguistics Roadshow mapped out the common names for a battered, deep-fried potato snack in different parts of the country. Credit: Linguistics Roadshow
Over the years, the ongoing dispute over the name has caused numerous debates on social media.
"You would think a company like this could call something by its correct name, potato cakes," Chris Mayer wrote on the McDonald's Instagram post.
Wendy Michelle insisted: "Banana dipped in batter & deep fried is a banana fritter. Pineapple dipped in batter & deep fried is a pineapple fritter. Therefore a slice of potato dipped in batter & deep fried is a....potato fritter."
Items such as potato scallops, togs, and doonas have different names in different states. Source: SBS News
Why do things have different names in different states?
The fried potato snack is one of many items around Australia that has a different depending on location.
When talking about swimwear, Queenslanders will often use the word togs, while those in NSW prefer cossies.
Queenslanders also use the word doona when referring to a type of bedding, while other states alternate between duvet and quilt.
Most places around the country refer to an orange melon as rockmelon, but in Victoria, it's a cantaloupe.
A sausage in bread is a popular snack all around the country, but depending on your location, it might also be referred to as a sausage sizzle or sausage sandwich.
Mark Gwyn, a senior researcher at the Australian National Dictionary Centre at the Australian National University, says while different areas often have distinct accents and vocabulary, it can be difficult to determine the reason for the discrepancies.
"With the potato cake being used more in Victoria whereas scallop is used in NSW and Queensland, to pinpoint why that happened is quite difficult, but if you go over to South Australia and look at their use of potato fritter, that's a little bit more understandable because of the German immigration that happened in Adelaide and South Australia," he said.
"In Australia, there has been a lot of state rivalry ... and perhaps that kind of influences the retention of these words after they become popular in a particular area."
When it comes to the origin of our colloquial terms and slang, Mr Gwyn says our language and slang is influenced by a number of factors.
"In terms of some of our distinctive Australian-English terms, a lot of them come from dialects in the United Kingdom ... and there are a whole range of words that were borrowed from the Indigenous languages," he said.
"So it comes down to geography, climate, and also what words came out with immigrants over time.
"Language doesn't sit still, it moves with the times and it reflects what our concerns are and what our culture is at the time."
FAQs
On social media, promotional posts lead to a number of impassioned followers disputing the fast-food giant's choice of name after it advertised the deep-fried potato snack as a scallop. In Queensland, NSW and the ACT, this is the preferred name for the takeaway staple, but in Victoria and Tasmania, it's potato cake.
Is it called potato cake or scallop? ›
Potato scallops/Potato cakes
In Australia and England, potato scallops are thin slices of potato that have been battered and deep-fried. The terminology used in Australia differs from state to state. In Victoria, Tasmania, and the Murray River regions of New South Wales, they are referred to as potato cakes.
Where do potato scallops originate? ›
It's not clear where the tradition of potato cakes from fish and chip shops originated, but it's probably Britain. Where they're called potato scallops. These days, many English fish and chip shops sell an exotic version called Aloo Pakora – a potato cake with Indian spices.
Why is McDonald's called Maccas? ›
McDonald's research found that 55 per cent of Australians called the company Macca's and they have submitted the word to the Macquarie Dictionary for consideration. It's an Australian habit to abbreviate names. So Barry becomes Bazza, Warren becomes Waz and anyone whose surname begins with Mc is likely to become Macca.
What is the issue with scallops? ›
Scallops harvested from prohibited waters may be contaminated with human pathogens, toxic elements or poisonous or deleterious substances and can cause illness if consumed. Scallops are filter feeders that remove and bioaccumulate bacteria and other pathogens from the water.
What do Americans call potato scallops? ›
In some states it's known as a 'potato scallop', in others it's a 'potato cake', and for years the debate has been bantered back and forward between protagonists.
What do British people call potato cakes? ›
Bubble and Squeak (or Potato Cakes) is a British classic, and an easy and flexible recipe. You can make it from scratch OR use up leftover veggies. Flavorful, colorful, fluffy, creamy and so so good. Perfect as a breakfast or brunch recipe!
What is potato cake batter made of? ›
Mix mashed potatoes, flour, onion, egg, black pepper, and salt in a bowl until well combined, similar to a batter consistency. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Drop 4-inch circles of batter into the hot oil. Cook until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes per side; drain on paper towels.
What is another name for a potato scallop? ›
What do you call this potato snack? Much of South Australia chooses to call it a 'potato fritter' along with a tiny region of Western Australia. Meanwhile, a small laid-back region of New South Wales seems to opt for just 'scallop'.
What is the difference between potato scallops and hash browns? ›
You probably already know that Maccas hash browns are fairly chunky, crispy, and the potato itself has a sort of 'mashed' texture. Potato scallops, on the other hand, consist of one continuous thin slice of potato that is then battered and deep fried.
The Tlingit ate scallops between August and March [8]. The Wampanoag living at Grey Head held a yearly festival called the Cranberry Festival where shellfish (including scallops) from Menemsha pond were collected [6]. The Wampanoag would sometimes eat scallops raw [6].
What is a scallop butty? ›
A butty is another name for a sandwich, the term is usually given to two slices of bread with hot chips (fries) between. This is called a “chip butty”. So a scallop butty would be two slices of bread and butter with freshly cooked scallops between.
What do Irish people call McDonalds? ›
List
| Nickname | Country |
|---|
| Macca's | Australia New Zealand |
| Mäckes, Mäckies, Goldene Schwalbe | Germany |
| Mickey D's | United States, Ireland |
| Mak Kee / Mak-Gei | Hong Kong |
23 more rowsThe new name also comes with a new sauce. McDonald's has decided to cosplay as its animated alter ego. Starting Feb. 26, the fast-food chain launched a manga-inspired makeover, embracing the upside-down golden arches featured in some of anime's most iconic movies and shows, where it is cheekily known as “WcDonald's.”
Why is scallop roe removed? ›
Why do celebrity chefs cut off the orange roe of scallops before cooking? Because it has a briny flavour that a lot of customers seem to not like. The flavour is different from the abductor muscle (the white cylindrical part) which reacts very well to whatever seasoning or sauce it is cooked with.
Why don't people eat the whole scallop? ›
The roe and other organs are discarded at sea when they are shucked by the crew. The entire scallop is edible, but in the US, it is advised to only eat the meat as other parts of the scallop may retain naturally occurring toxins that can lead to PSP or paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Why can't you eat scallop roe? ›
Even if the roe is often removed from scallops, it's actually edible. Whether you want to eat it or not is just matter of taste.
What is the meaning of scallops potato? ›
Scalloped potatoes consist of thinly sliced potatoes layered in a casserole dish and baked with heavy cream or milk (or a combination of the two). The cream is often infused with an aromatic, such as garlic or fresh herbs.
