One of the joys – and difficulties – of travel is learning the language of the area you’re going to visit. Of course, if you’re going to another country, it’s wise to learn at least a few useful phrases before you go, so that you can find your way around the city, locate the bus terminal, or order a meal in a restaurant. You might think that if you’re taking a trip within your own country, you don’t have to bother with learning new words or phrases, but you’d be wrong. Every area has its own regional dialect, with words used in different ways, or entirely new words you’ve never heard before. Once you get familiar with the lingo of the land, though, you’ll be able to explore the cultural aspects that the natives know well, and that other tourists might never discover.

One of the best ways to get the flavor of a region is to taste the traditional dishes you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re traveling in the United States, you might want to check the menus for these local specialties:

flannel cake: a griddle cake (also called “pancake” or “flapjack”) that may be slightly sweetened, often served with jam or jelly (Appalachian Mountains)

Sally Lunn: a sweet rich bread whose recipe harks back to the early American settlers arriving from England (North Carolina)

lutefisk: dried cod (whitefish) that has been rehydrated in a solution of lye and water before being boiled and served warm or at room temperature; the Norwegian immigrants brought this dish with them to the farms they developed on the plains (upper Midwest region)

scrod: another fish dish, this one also reflecting the early American connections to the British Isles, scrod is a traditional way of preparing small whole fish by salting and drying, then broiling over open flames (New England)

red-eye gravy: a sauce made from pan drippings (from bacon, fried ham, or other fried meat) thickened with flour and with strong coffee added (South)

hopping John: a “good luck” dish eaten on New Year’s Day, this dish is made out of black-eyed peas, rice, and bacon (South Carolina, Georgia)

bear claw: a scary name for a deliciously sweet pastry covered in icing, that’s shaped like the paw of a grizzly bear (Pacific Northwest)

We hope that you’ve gotten a taste of some of the interesting words you can discover while you’re traveling! Keep your eyes open for new words as you visit different areas, and you’ll fill your mind with food for thought.