Adjusting to the East Coast, in general, has not been that difficult. Sure, crossing the street is dangerous and the tax sucks, but other than that I'm doing ok. Every once in a while you stumble upon a cultural difference between coast lines (East and West coast people tend to know different words). For instance, on the East Coast you say that you stand "On Line" at the bank instead of "In Line" as is popular on the West Coast. Most of these little syntax differences are kind of fun to discover, but today we hit a cultural divide of epic proportions.
We were just settling down for breakfast at Zeta Psi and I was asked what I wanted for breakfast. I responded that I wanted french toast, bacon, and over-hard eggs. I get this weird look, and the guy wanders away to tell the kitchen. After he's gone the people at the table look at me and tilt their heads a bit.
"Did you say 'Over-Hard'?"
"Um, yeah, why?"
"What's that?"
"Are you serious?"
[everybody else at the table] "What are you talking about Snively? There's no such thing!"
Alright, call me crazy, but I've been ordering Over-Hard eggs for my entire life and nobody has ever had trouble figuring out what I was talking about. Do you guys know what Over-Hard eggs are?! Let me know in the comments and then in the poll on the right side of the page, it's bugging me a ton.
No, sorry, no idea what over-hard eggs are... over-easy maybe? I always get sunny-side-up though. But I do say stand in line, not on line...
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is other countries (Australia) though; the best is when my friend asked me if I want some "chewy". What? Yeah, a piece of gum is called chewy, which if you think about it does make more sense, but it was pretty funny when I had no idea what she was talking about.
Er, could you describe how over hard eggs are ? because i learned english, but i never learned this word, so maybe i eat them but i just don't understand the word...
ReplyDeleteHahaha, that's hilarious! I don't know what over-hard eggs are but I voted yes because I have heard of them. I'm not an egg person; I couldn't even describe over-easy.
ReplyDeleteBut on another note, I'm from the east coast and I've never heard anyone say "on line" unless they were talking about the internet. =\
If there are eggs "over easy," it is only logical to assume that there are eggs "over hard"; why say "over easy," if it's the only way you can have them?
ReplyDeleteI'm nearly positive that those eggs are over-easy (thank you, Google Images). I live just outside of Cambridge, MA, and I've never heard someone say stand on line. The streets and the driving are pretty insane, though.
ReplyDeleteIn line and over easy... where in the world did you get over hard?!?!?
ReplyDeleteHmmm, never heard of "over-hard" eggs before. I've heard of well done, and over easy, but otherwise, that's about it. As for standing on line, I've lived on the east coast all my life and have never heard that before. It's always been, "Get in line."
ReplyDeleteThe differences aren't just coast lines though. I'm from the south, and when my dad and I went to visit MIT, we made the mistake of ordering sweet tea at a nearby restaurant. The look we got was indescribable. >.<
"Stand on line?" Seriously? People say that? I have never heard that, ever. I'd probably smack whoever said that. I only recently learned what over hard eggs are, when I started frying eggs the Alton Brown way. But, I mean, it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of "over hard."
ReplyDeleteAnother regional difference is "Tea" -- is it served hot or cold?
Never heard of over-hard, but is it just fried eggs with a hard yolk? Also, do you follow Sam's Misti blog? He said he'd update it a few days ago with the final entries but hasn't. How I cried
ReplyDeleteI have heard of eggs over-hard, but I have no idea what said eggs would taste like since I'm not an egg-eater.
ReplyDeleteI'm from the East Coast originally (well, the South, actually) but I'm a Midwesterner now, and I have never, ever heard, "Stand on line." You get in line at the bank, the ice cream place, and everywhere else as far as I know.
Hard-over? Nope. But I do stand in line. Hard over makes sense but I have never ever heard it before.
ReplyDeleteAS DPS mentioned earlier, tea is another really odd regional cuisine/beverage. Having been born in the South, I drink my tea cold. Being a Yankee at heart, I drink it bitter.
ReplyDeleteHot tea is becoming more "trendy" here in the Midwest, and iced tea is had on occasion, but overall tea simply doesn't have the reputation or 'staple' status here that it does in the South.
(My dad and sister claim that sweet tea is the best food perk that comes with visiting our relatives. That, and real hush puppies.)
PS) Snively, I'm sorry if this sort of counts as blogjacking/commentjacking. I realize that I have digressed from the original, eggs-citing topic.
IM IN UR BLOG, HIJAKING UR COMMENTZ
ReplyDelete=P
Hola Michael!
ReplyDeleteI have had over-hard eggs...don't worry. But, one thing that annoys me about the East Coast is how everyone says 'Oregon' incorrectly!
But, yeah, glad to see your enjoying yourself! I envy you, I wish I could go to college on the east coast...so fun.
And, just to say! I adore that engineering drinking song. But, I do disagree, I want to be an aerospace engineer, and I am not socially inept...but it was hilarious!
I'm from California and have never heard over-hard. Are they more cooked than over easy?
ReplyDeleteHow does one correctly say "Oregon?"
ReplyDeleteHey, Mike - try this one out...
ReplyDeleteOrder "Chef's Break" Eggs - Since I'm from the East Bank ( v.s. West Bank ) (( Long Island NY )) - an order of "Chef's Break" eggs is when you want'em busted, broken and left on the grill long enough for the cook to have a coffee break, same as Over Done Heartbreak eggs. There is an entire list of diner shortcuts.
Al Szymanski :)
I've prepared "over-hard" eggs for my family for years and they love it but we've never had a name for it. They'd just say, "Dad, break 'em and fry 'em."
ReplyDeleteNow we have a moniker for 'em! Thanks!
yes, i've not only seen eggs over hard, but also over medium and over light. and i've been on line at the bank and at a movie. not for a long time though since i live in new orleans and we wait in line now. unlike many southern phrases, that one makes more sense than it's northern counterpart.
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