Regional foods?

[katie01]

the dessert thread (shoo fly pie) thread made me think of this. Do you have any foods that your area is known for or pretty much found only in your area? Or have you tried other regional foods that you love or hate?

I don't know why I'm drawing a blank for my area (Chicago suburbs), but on our trip to St Louis, we tried two regional favorites, gooey butter cake and St Louis style pizza. Loved the first, could definitely pass on the second--that provel cheese has a processed taste is still making me feel slightly nauseous to think about, but maybe it is an acquired thing!

Oh, just thought of one for my area--potica bread (may be popular in other parts of US with Eastern European populations?) and g shaft candies. Anyone else heard of those?

 

[lovesmurfs]

Chicago suburbs here, too. I'd think a Chicago hot dog (ketchup-free!) and Chicago-style pizza are regional to our area.

Or Italian beef like Portillos?

 

[MIGrandma]

Upper Michigan is known for their pasties. Not sure they're popular in other states.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Upper Michigan is known for their pasties. Not sure they're popular in other states.

They're popular with our family! We vacation in the UP, and I actually make them in the winter for meals!

PSA that "pasty" rhymes with "nasty," not "tasty." But they are tasty!

 

[bcla]

Well - the Mission-style burrito. However, it's more a thing about being known for but now ubiquitous. Sure there were independent places that made them around the US, but Chipotle was the first national chain that did it.

 

[rastahomie]

Sure.

My home town of Springfield, Illinois claims to have invented the corn-dog-on-a-stick, although that's disputable. There's also another local dish where there is no ambiguity: the Horseshoe. It was definitely invented in Springfield, although where in Springfield is a matter of intense debate. A Horseshoe is basically an open-faced sandwich with Texas Toast on the base, plus a meat of your choice (go with hamburger or corned beef), topped with fries, with cheese sauce poured over it. It's a giant calorie bomb, and it's to die for. And if you call it "an open cheeseburger" you will be murdered.

I've also lived most of my life within about 100 miles of St. Louis, which has its own culinary traditions. I don't know where frozen custard was invented, but it was perfected at Ted Drewe's, which doubles as a Christmas Tree lot during the winter, because that makes sense. Officially, you haven't been able to legally buy "snoots" (deep-fried pig noses) for decades; unofficially, if you ask the right people in The Lou you'll probably get you some. There's also toasted ravioli, which draws mixed reactions but is a proud local tradition. And of course, Provel cheese (Provolone + Mozzarella), which is a crime against cuisine, was invented there.

 

[amberpi]

Nashville here - hot chicken forever.

Great thread OP!

 

[mjkacmom]

Taylor ham egg and cheese sandwiches, disco fries, Italian hoy dogs,, zeppole, and all of our bakeries are Italian bakeries. My niece from the Midwest always has to get pasta vodka pizza when she comes here (I'm not a fan). My transplanted SIL's always pick up some taralli.

 

[BrianL]

Memphis - Barbecue pork and fried catfish are the local specialties around here!

 

[soccerdad72]

Cleveland - home of the Polish Boy

 

[sunshinehighway]

Fluffernutters? I think that's a New England thing.

 

[nene0182]

The things that pop into my head include: Lefsa, Krumkake, Cheese buttons, Knoephla, Kuchen, and of course calling any type of casserole and hotdish.

 

[fly girl]

Cincinnati Chili!!


Yes there's Chili under that mountain of cheese. And yes, there's cinnamon in the chili.

I didn't care for it when I moved here 20 years ago, but now I love it!

 

[porschegrl]

There's also another local dish where there is no ambiguity: the Horseshoe. It was definitely invented in Springfield, although where in Springfield is a matter of intense debate. A Horseshoe is basically an open-faced sandwich with Texas Toast on the base, plus a meat of your choice (go with hamburger or corned beef), topped with fries, with cheese sauce poured over it. It's a giant calorie bomb, and it's to die for.

I went to school in Champaign, and various bars and diners had a horseshoe on the menu (and, of course, for those with smaller appetites, the pony shoe). I don't recall if I ever had one, and now that I'm vegan, I suppose I never will. But my son and I took a weekend vacation to Springfield a couple years ago, and he sampled as many as he was able!

 

[fly girl]

Oh, I almost forgot about Goetta (pronounced get-ah). It is a sausage, it's made with oats. I don't like it. It's so popular here that it has its own festival.

 

[Christine]

Blue Crabs cooked with Old Bay (from Maryland).

 

[lovesmurfs]

Fluffernutters? I think that's a New England thing.

Born and raised and NJ (Chicagoland transplant 20 years ago). I still love a good fluffernutter! DH thinks I'm completely crazy.

 

[bcla]

California style pizza. There are different things called "California pizza" but I think of it as a vegetarian pizza without tomato sauce, and that uses more exotic cheeses.

The prime examples are Chez Panisse and the Cheese Board. The movies Inside Out kind of made fun of it with their broccoli pizza. That was probably based off a combination of the one from Cheese Board as well as Arizmendi Emeryville.

 

[Magpie]

Beaver Tails!

Seriously delicious, an Ontario treat!

Also, my father convinced me to try scrapple once, when I was visiting him in New Jersey. That was not a good experience.

 

[RangerPooh]

Memphis - Barbecue pork and fried catfish are the local specialties around here!

I never saw so many BBQ and wing places until I moved to Memphis! I've been here a year and half and am already tired of it, lol. Although some places are certainly better than others.