Regional Foods?

We have snow balls here in MD as well.
That's cool. I've never been able to find a sno-ball made with the fine, fluffy ice like in Louisiana. The ones I've had elsewhere always use course, and crunchy ice. There's a sno-ball stand here in TN where we live, and the guys who run it are from around New Orleans. The sno-balls are so good
 
That's cool. I've never been able to find a sno-ball made with the fine, fluffy ice like in Louisiana. The ones I've had elsewhere always use course, and crunchy ice. There's a sno-ball stand here in TN where we live, and the guys who run it are from around New Orleans. The sno-balls are so good
Like a Hawaiian shave ice? Or like kaki gori in Epcot used to be (last time I had it it wasn't the nice fine shaved ice, but it used to be).

I had an amazing one in Guam with fresh fruit. I'd go back just for this. 😄
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Technically….I’m in NW Indiana and we have no regional food here, so we just attach ourselves to Chicago items - LOL!

Deep dish pizza
Chicago style hotdogs
Italian beef
Good Steak restaurants

@Dan Murphy - what am I leaving out?
Great ones there, Sandy.

Maybe Garrett Popcorn
Eli Cheese Cake,
Rainbow Ice Cream ((chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with cherries and walnuts), pistachio and orange sherbet (in that order).
Ann Sather Cinnamon Rolls
Maxwell Street Polish sausage
Jay's Potato Chips
Manny's Deli
All of the Lettuce Entertain You venues
 

Taylor ham egg cheese spk on a hard roll
NJ sloppy joes (cold cut sandwich)
disco fries
black and white cookies
pasta vodka pizza
grandma pies
taralli
sunday gravy
italian hot dogs in pizza bread
 
Great ones there, Sandy.

Maybe Garrett Popcorn
Eli Cheese Cake,
Rainbow Ice Cream ((chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with cherries and walnuts), pistachio and orange sherbet (in that order).
Ann Sather Cinnamon Rolls
Maxwell Street Polish sausage
Jay's Potato Chips
Manny's Deli
All of the Lettuce Entertain You venues
These are great!
How could I forget Garrett Popcorn? It’s my husband’s favorite.
I knew you’d think of more than I listed 🙂
 
I wish I wasn't so afraid of driving in more urban areas because I think I'd really like to try most of the things on your list. :)
Those Philly foods are readily available in the extended region. No need to drive into the urban areas.

Cleveland…

All I can think of offhand are Lake Erie perch and Polish Boys
Once while visiting Cedar Point we saw a sign outside a restaurant nearby advertising their Lake Erie perch. I guess it’s really a “thing.”

And curious minds want to know what Polish Boys are.

and from growing up in in South Jersey, for my Burlington County folks - Boost!
Boost! Now that is REALLY a tiny regional niche beverage. But I never cared for it.
 
A Philly food I didn’t notice mentioned is Pepper Pot soup, although it’s likely dying out along with the people who actually enjoyed it.

It’s made with beef tripe. (Stomach lining)
 
We just had dinner at L. Woods on Tuesday. It's their 25th anniversary celebration. I went to HS with the manager. One of my favorites.

I love Rainbow Cone too!

View attachment 826818
L Woods was another LEYE venue before it changed to L Woods, Bones. And before that, an independent, The Kenilworth. I've not eaten at L Woods.

Rainbow cones are starting to become available at Buona Beef locations now.
 
While I've lived a number of places, I've been in my current area for 27 years, so...

Texas/Houston-

- Tex Mex - things like Chuy's (vs. true Mexican). While Austin is the birthplace of Chuy's, in general, Chuy's is better in TX
- Mexican - some overlap with Tex Mex, but thinking things like carnitas from El Tiempo or street tacos 100% Taquito
- Steaks - they're kind of synonymous with Texas. Even better, find a person who bought a steer at auction!
- Meat in General - so many people hunt or do FFA, that someone always has fresh venison/meat from a show animal
- Whataburger - they continue to expand but TX is home and we have more than any other state
- Kolaches - Czech influence on state, but you'll even find some Lafayette inspired ones w/boudin filling.
- Chili (NO BEANS!) - The source of many chili arguments you'll hear from Texans looking for chili out of state.
- Brisket - I could lump it in with BBQ, but TX brisket always feels like one step above all other BBQ.
- BBQ - Everything beyond brisket...from beef ribs, smoked turkey, pulled pork, sausages...to all the sides!
- Shipley's Donuts - nothing trendy like Voodoo, but beats Dunkin' any day
- Buc-ee's - While not just in TX anymore, Buc-ee's are all over here and they have lots of great food options.
- Louisiana crossover - being so close to LA means lots of LA cuisine in TX. The Rouxpour is a great example.
- Pappadeux - Pappas restaurants in general, but Pappadeux's is the fave.
- Tex-Orleans - you've heard of Tex-Mex? Well, we also have Tex-Orleans (like BB's), which blends those two cuisines.
- Pecan Pie - the origins are debated, but it is the state pie.
- Chicken Fried Steak and Chicken - Supposedly developed in Texas by German immigrants as a version of schnitzel.
- Queso - It should go under Tex-Mex, but it's so embedded in the party/potluck culture here that it stands alone.
- Frito Pie - Never heard of it until I moved here, but it's a thing. Restaurants even elevate it, like Frito Pie Mac N Cheese.
- Anything Landry's Based - Tilman Fertitta is local, so we have nearly every Landry's based option imaginable.
 
Campbell’s used to sell it in a can. No idea if they still do or not.
I looked it up before I posted. Campbell’s discontinued Pepper Pot in 2011, but I hadn’t seen it in stores for at least a decade before that.

Some restaurants in the Philly area had it many years ago too. Snapper (turtle) soup seems to have fallen out of favor too.
 
St. Louis:
toasted ravioli
St. Louis style pizza (thin crust pizza with provel cheese/Imo's)
gooey butter cake
pork steaks
Ted Drewes frozen custard

Kansas City:
barbecue, especially burnt ends
steak, especially KC strip

also in Missouri, Springfield cashew chicken
 












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