Well, hello Funny Names Fans. It’s me, Liz, here to break the silence that seems to have fallen at Blog of Funny Names. Know that the ragtag collection of BoFN writers are busy folk, so posts may not always go up. In fact, I–your resident funny-names-in-food “expert”–had nothing planned for you this week.
After Fannie’s most excellent post on Mr. Greg Bear last week, I knew I was up next. (Thank you, Fannie, for being my marker.) No funny food names came to mind, but I assumed I’d be inspired at some point during the week. Turns out I assumed wrong. Inspiration did not hit and I had not the go-gettedness (that’s a word, right?) to hunt down a name. [shades of Diddy here]
So imagine my relief when I happened upon a post from a crazy-talented blogger friend entitled How To Make Lumpia with Tinapang Bangus. Wow. While Lumpia (which I had heard of before) and Tinapang Bangus (which I had not) are funnily named foods rather than funnily named folk, their funniness factor is high enough that I will build an entire post around them.
First, though, note that I am in no way making fun of Tinapang Bangus nor Lumpia. One of BoFN’s many tenets is that funny names are celebrated because of their greatness. Though you’ll occasionally find a wee bit of snark and ridicule, it’s mostly good clean fun and we pick our topics because we think they’re cool enough to be featured. And “tinapang bangus” (along with the slightly more familiar “lumpia”) blew me away. Such awesome words deserve to be shared.
tinapang bangus, on the menu at Puerto Rico’s Bangus Restaurant, Greenhills Branch
Wikipedia tells me that “tinapa” is the Filipino term for smoked fish and bangus is also known as milkfish. So Tinapang Bangus is simply smoked milkfish. You can learn to make your own here.
Though I knew lumpia as some type of dumpling, more research was needed for specifics. Again to Wikipedia for the knowledge that lumpia are “pastries of Chinese origin similar to … fried spring rolls.” Most food-based websites define lumpia as Filipino egg rolls, so there you have it. Hop over to YouTube for Judy’s lovely lumpia-making demo. I would totally eat these.
So what Jar of Salt has done in her post, then, is add flaked tinapang bangus to lumpia filling. Which is altogether brilliant. How yum! I’m just sorry she’s on another continent and I”ll never taste her amazing creation. But I’ve expanded my food world and am glad to have learned a few new (funny) food words. Here’s hoping you enjoyed them, too.
The Blog of Funny Names 
Too funny, LIz! I promise it tastes better than it sounds :))
I realized that “tinapang bangus” is not a funny name at all to people in the Philippines, so it’s a regional thing. But it was so new to me! My mouth was watering by the end of your post. Looks SO good.
I’m sure if you mention that to any FIlipino, they’d probably be impressed that you know the word at all. Would you believe that it’s quite common for people to eat bangus (without the spring roll) for breakfast? With rice. Oh, and fried egg 😀
sounds good to me!
“I realized that ‘tinapang bangus’ is not a funny name at all to people in the Philippines, so it’s a regional thing.”
See “Linguistic context in name humorousness,” (2014) Wye D. Duffy et. al.
“shades of Diddy here”
There are actually 49 shades of Diddy. It was supposed to be 50 but there is no way I’m going to that thing. I’m like, euwww! No way!
My shelves hold a book called 50 Shades of Chicken (authored by F.L. Fowler) and it makes me blush. Haven’t read the original books, but the cookbook cracked me up. Good to know you stopped at 49.
I did look for your Linguistic context paper, but apparently someone else has checked it out. ???
Lumpia sounds like a disease. So, I don’t know if I’d want to eat that, lol. But I would so eat some tinapang bangus!
tinapang bangus sounds like a frat party stunt to me, haha. But like you, I’d happily eat any of it. Good to see you here, too, Liz 🙂
Fun fact: in the chorus for Mr. Bojangles, you can sing “tinapang bangus” instead.
I’m doing that now. But then how do you end the chorus? “Tina-pang bang-us, fry?” Instead of dance?
something about France, don’t you think, Kerbey?
I’ve been giving this a lot of thought, Kerbey. I think the word we’re wanting here is “pants.”
It works on diffferent levels.
i am so happy just to see something fried up like a spring roll that i will call it anything you like )
We will call it Tinapang Bangus Lumpia, then, Beth. Chow down 🙂
Like your (no-longer) Boxleitner to my (continuing) Selleck, I see our ying-yanginess in housework and cooking. Whereas I would wash and dry and iron laundry, you will pay another to do that. And whereas you might don a hairnet and roll out handmade blue corn tortillas, I would pay the tortilla lady at the Tex-Mex restaurant to do that. And that is the joy of disposable income. So I will happily watch them make lumpia while I sip coffee.
I also had never heard of loooomp-ia. Since I haven’t heard your voice, I will imagine you saying this in a Filipino accent, although I am confused by the Puerto Rican picture. Does PR specialize in milkfish? That is a gross word. But probably better than lutefisk. The chili sauce looks good. I would dunk that like I dunked egg rolls last week in an orange citrus sauce.
As I recently feel as I am walking on walnuts, with lumps in my feet, I resent any references to lumps at all. But I’m certain I had tinapang bangus going on at the roller rink (it’s when bangs cause pain) while Bang A Gong was playing. And one more thing–does that pic have both rice AND mashed potatoes? Double starch? What is with a lone tomato slice? And that flat plate would assure that rice grains would go shooting off on the table with no lip to keep them centered. So confused.
ok then.
#1) If we were neighbors, I would make food for you and you could clean my house and at the end of the day we’d have plenty of time leftover to drink (multiple bottles of) Moscato 🙂 Curious: do you prefer red or white? I didn’t know there were both, but I have a bottle of each (and also a pink, I think) so perhaps I should do a taste test.
#2) I speak with a Minnesota accent, which is not an accent at all. Yah, shure, youbetcha. Though I don’t like lutefisk.
#3) So the photo, then. I picked that one because it was the only shot that wasn’t nauseating (google tinapang bangus to see what I mean). Apparently this Bangus Restaurant specializes in bangus. And it’s in Puerto Rico. Which reminds me of Love Boat, though I think they were always going ashore at Puerto Vallarte.
#4) Your egg rolls and citrus dipping sauce sound tasty.
#5) I am sorry about the reference to lumps. You were kind enough to change your “lice” to “lint” so I will change “lump” to “lamp” just for you. Better now?
#6) I think you were hit with tinapang bangus after falling at the roller rink. In fact I think that’s the name of the condition from which you suffer. Quick, call the doctor and tell them you have figured it all out.
#7) The double starches I can not explain. See #3.
I will drink any time, as long as it’s not before its time. Red, white or blue–but not that weird chocolate milk/red wine concoction they sell at Walgreen’s. I see the doctor in two hours, so I will tell him of my exacerbated acute Tinapang Bangus that a lovely midwestern woman diagnosed from across the country. Perhaps the cure will be watching the first four seasons of Love Boat.
Reblogged this on food for fun and commented:
learned a few new words when researching this month’s Blog of Funny Names post.
Hilarious! This actually looks really good. xox
ha, thanks Amanda! You know Jar of Salt, yes? She’s a great artist–once bought personalized recipe cards from her Etsy shop. All the way from Singapore 🙂 And she obviously knows her way around the kitchen.
Am I the only one brash enough (and male enough) to bring up the fact that, seen under the right one of 50 shades of lighting, the food phrase tinapang bangus could bring to mind a certain type of soundtrack music that would normally accompany footage that could, to quote Liz in a comment she made right here on her own post, “make me blush” …? There’s more than one way to make a spring roll? OK, enough food innuendo for one day. Kerbey cleans. Liz cooks. I make salty and innappropriate jokes and get locked out of the wine tasting in the living room while I pound on the basement door apologizing …
I agree that it does sound like that way–or like a command to Mr. Tinapang. There is definitely some brown chicken, brown cow there. Not just smoked milkfish.
what’s with you and cows today, Kerbey? 😉 I think a brown cow is a chocolate milk drink. May I suggest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfC1diz2Z_E
I’d try that!
awesome, Mark. As you can see, things get a bit crazier at Blog of Funny Names than they do at food for fun. Yes, Tinapang Bangus would be a highly inappropriate shout-out in a shopping mall or public park. Unless you were in the Philippines, in which case you would be directed to the nearest Bangus Restaurant franchise. It was hard to keep a straight face googling some of the recipes as they go on about boned vs boneless, etc. Chuckling over your spring roll comment. I’m going to let that fly during my next fight with Larry and see where it gets me, haha.
Hey, sorry about you being locked out of the wine tasting. Hoping your apology for salty and inappropriate jokes was accepted and that you did not damage the door with all of your pounding. You and your dear wife Karen are welcome at our parties anytime. The kids play in the basement so the adults don’t have to watch their language so much. Cheers!
The parties at the blog of funny names are kicking, Liz and Kerbey. Count us in!
What a hoot, Liz. Love what you did with the place. You did a bang-us job! And the comment thread, Mr. Tinapang would be proud . . . 🙂
*Lumpia: After I get done cooking it, actual benefits may vary.*
watch those food puns fly! Though they could also be considered sexual double entendre. And I suspect you know that 😉
Do you suppose there is a Mr. Tinapang somewhere? I imagine there is.
Thanks, Tracy 🙂
😀
Tinapang bangus! That sounds like one of those hit club songs that those young folks like with suited Korean men doing horse dances and what not. If you catch me drift.
I’m also very impressed by the 49 Shades of Chicken back and forth up there. The comments really are the dill on the fish here.
That looks like a good lumpia. I’m hungry. This always happens with your posts, Liz!
I knew you’d be down with this name, Arto. Yep, suited Korean men doing horse dances. I see a Saturday Night Live skit coming on. Drift caught.
Dilly fish? Have you spent time in a Scandinavian country recently perchance? So glad you’re here, Arto. Grab as many lumpia as you’d like. Take a few for Leslie, too 🙂
You all are having way too much fun–the comments are as good as the post! I intend to find ways to say the words tinapang bangus in conversation at least of couple of times today. It’s just fun to say!
Thanks, KC 🙂 Comments are always crazy fun here. Glad you’re here for the party. Have you found occasions to toss the phrase “tinapang bangus” around?
Looks great, Liz! I haven’t had lumpia since I was little and living in Hawaii.
Thanks, Princess 🙂 Love that you have lumpia memories! You’ve been around, haven’t you?
Hey Liz! I made it! Can’t wait to try some of that… wait… where did all the tinapang bangus go?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 🙂
I saved some for you, Dave, and this being virtual food and all, it will never go bad. Chow down 🙂 Then get back to school–more studying to be done, fun to be had.
We had a surprisingly large Filipino population in my hometown of Kodiak, AK and I grew up eating lumpia and pancit. I’m pretty sure homemade lumpia is one of the best things ever — every family had their own slightly different version. I even remember making them once at a Girl Scout meeting. I have never heard of tinapang bangus though, so I definitely learned something new today. Fun post, Liz. =)
You made lumpia at a GS meeting? How cool is that 🙂 Fun to have those memories. This was all new to me, though I had a Filipino friend who threw the best parties–lost of noodles consumed. Appreciate you coming by, J. I know I’m behind over at your place, but we’ve been modem-less for almost a week (which seems like forever, sadly) and am just starting to catch up.
No modem?! That reminds me of a “spooky” pumpkin I saw somewhere online that had the words “The Wi-Fi is down” carved into it. The horror! 😉
that’s awesome–and spot-on. It was a long week!