The SouthCoast is lucky to have a selection of spicy sausages, my favorite being linguica, which you can't really get anywhere except here, where Portuguese food is, well, everywhere.

But what about the other one? I'm talking about chourico. Or is it chorizo? What's the difference?

I thought it was interesting that during my weekend brunch outings, I found two restaurants that had the sausage on the menu but didn't spell it the same way. Add this to the list of things that make you go, "Hmm?"

After scratching my head on this, I decided, why not take to trusty Google to inform me? It turns out, no, chourico and chorizo are not quite the same even though, to me, both taste good with just about everything.

Get our free mobile app

Chourico, traditionally smoked before sale, is made of pork and paprika. I didn't want to believe that it was this basic but I guess for the most part it's true. Its origins are in Portugal so we know this is the real deal. Add a little wine in the cooking process because everything is better with wine.

Looking up chorizo, I found that while it tastes similar, is made with some of the same ingredients and can be used in similar dishes, it has Mexican origins and is usually cured instead of smoked.

Mello's Chourico and Linguica in Fall River puts it this way on its website:

"Portuguese chourico and Mexican/Spanish chorizo are both spiced pork sausages. However, Mexican chorizo is fresh and not fully cooked, and Spanish chorizo is cured. Portuguese chourico is a smoked sausage, so it is fully cooked and ready to eat."

So, I guess the question is, which came first? I couldn't really find the answer to that anywhere.

Both taste amazing with my omelet. I guess I don't have a trained enough palate because I can't taste the difference.

Can you? Is your mouth drooling yet? After hopping onto Mello's Chourico's Facebook, I know have a few recipes I'd like to try at home.

There you have it.

So, what will it be for you, chorizo or chourico?

As for the difference between chourico and linguica, Gaspar Sausage Company in Dartmouth has this to say on its website:

Chourico "is made with the same recipe as linguica but has more of a 'kick' to it. Chourico is a spicy sausage with a heartier spiced flavor and with different spices that are known to 'kick it up a notch.'"

Whatever you choose, bon appetit.

The Weirdest Food Combinations That the SouthCoast Is Eating

We all love food here on the SouthCoast, but here are some weird food combinations that will leave you scratching your head.

More From WFHN-FM/FUN 107