What food is special to your region?

[aliciagirl]

That deep-fried Mars bar is frightening!'

My hometown in WV is famous for their ramps. Disgusting, garlic-scented, onion-looking things. They are sort of like leeks? Everyone would dig them out of the woods and then have them with eggs for breakfast. Ugh.

My parents went to grad school in WV and told me about how the entire town would stink for a couple of weeks during the ramp festival. I love garlic and onions though, so I'd like to try it!

Haha! It does! They're definitely interesting - love or hate, that is for sure. I'd like to eat them again as an adult, although I still think my "ugh" opinion would still stand - maybe my tastes have changed as I've gotten older. They cooked them in our high school for our town's ramp festival, so the smell would waft around for weeks while we were trying to learn - so not cool!

 

[AGBF]

We have a few things in Québec that I believe are unique to our region.

Maple taffee on snow

I think this is probably what I mentioned eating in Connecticut as a child and JewelFreak mentioned eating in northern New York State as a child!

Deb


Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

 

[sctsbride09]

From southern california, I would say avocados and citrus fruits. We also have some amazing mexican food. Another thing my family from out of state always wants when they visit is In-N-Out. First thing, off the plane, get in the car, go grab some double-doubles. I dont know that I would say that its "special" to our region, I just know that other than California the only place you can get it is Las Vegas and Reno.

 

[Skippy123]

I am going to say scrabble.. Habbersett (SP?) Oh so yummy. Fry it up in a pan, serve with an egg.... Delish...

Lisa, I never heard of it so I looked it up. What does it taste like? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapple

 

[Skippy123]

In CT it's probably pizza - people are are obsessive about their pizza here. I'm in the western part of the state so it's mostly NY style. In New Haven they have their own type of pizza which locals will defend to the death (I still haven't tried it). I honestly couldn't tell you where there was a Dominos, Papa Johns, or PIzza Hut in my town (there is an Uno's in the mall I've seen), but I can list at least 5 locally owned pizza places right by my house. They're everywhere!

I want to move there. I would be really, really thin if it wasn't for pizza.

haha me too Jennifer! I love pizza and the homemade kind or the pizza in Italy. mmmmm When I am having a bad day I head to our local thin crust pizzeria, yum

Elrohwen, nice having 5 choices so close to home!!! Yeah, i hear you on never going to the chains, bleh!

 

[purselover]

In NY I'd say we are known for our bagels, (just discovered flagels love them!) our pizza and apples -we have a ton of orchards a bit furher upstate. Ohh and NY style cheesecake

 

[elrohwen]

In CT it's probably pizza - people are are obsessive about their pizza here. I'm in the western part of the state so it's mostly NY style. In New Haven they have their own type of pizza which locals will defend to the death (I still haven't tried it). I honestly couldn't tell you where there was a Dominos, Papa Johns, or PIzza Hut in my town (there is an Uno's in the mall I've seen), but I can list at least 5 locally owned pizza places right by my house. They're everywhere!

I want to move there. I would be really, really thin if it wasn't for pizza.

haha me too Jennifer! I love pizza and the homemade kind or the pizza in Italy. mmmmm When I am having a bad day I head to our local thin crust pizzeria, yum

Elrohwen, nice having 5 choices so close to home!!! Yeah, i hear you on never going to the chains, bleh!

We just go to the same one over and over (it got good reviews online, we tried it and loved it, that was that) but I can definitely think of many more within a mile of our house. Also Italian places - I can think of four popular Italian restaurants within a mile of our house too and we don't even live in the downtown area ("downtown" is mostly Brazilian food )

Not that I don't enjoy a slice from Pizza Hut every once in a while. Just don't tell the people in CT

 

[elrohwen]

So CT loves pizza, but I was thinking that my town, specifically, is known in the area for middle eastern food (mostly Lebanese) and Brazilian food. I haven't actually eaten at the Brazilian places because they're mostly soccer bars, but we do have a bakery I've visited and a larger family-type place that's on my list to try.

 

[Jennifer W]

We have a few things in Québec that I believe are unique to our region.

Maple taffee on snow

I think this is probably what I mentioned eating in Connecticut as a child and JewelFreak mentioned eating in northern New York State as a child!

Deb


Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

My grandparents did this too, with bramble syrup (made from hedgerow blackberries that we collected on a ritual day out and picnic every autumn). My daughter and I made this last time it snowed here. She loved it, and it brought back a lot of happy memories.

 

[Hera]

haha it's probably considered "californian" if the meat is replaced w/ tofu and avocados! come to think of it... aren't avocados considered californian?

I just tried a California burrito the other day because I thought the only difference was avocados. Clearly I was wrong. There is carne asada, cheese, guacamole, and fries. It really good!!

 

[Matata]

Pittsburgh is ethnically diverse so each section has it's own speciality. However, one thing stood out when I was growing up there. Every Friday the catholic/Ukranian churches would make perogies and people all over the city would line up to buy dozens. Dough filled with all sorts of things and drowned in butter, carmelized onions, & sour cream. From the lips straight to the hips.

I make them once a year for friends who call them "gut busters."

 

[zoebartlett]

In my particular state, we have a lot of locally made sodas and beer. And our thin crust brick oven pizza is in a class of its own. CT is also, I believe, the birthplace of the Hamburger, and the supposed restaurant that created the Hamburger is still in existence, and still makes one of the most bangin' burgers around. They still cook on the original griddle!

Specific to New England, I would say, Lobster (or Lobstah depending on where you're from )-plain ol' lobster, lobster rolls, lobster bisque, etc., blueberries and blueberry pie, maple syrup (the legit stuff), clam chowder (both white and red broth), seafood seafood seafood, cranberries, and Cheddar cheese.

Speaking of locally made soda, do you have Squamscot soda in CT? It's made in NH but I don't know if it's found elsewhere in NE too. It's really good!

Cranberries! How could I forget those? I love them. I put dried cranberries in practically everything.

 

[Prana]

In my particular state, we have a lot of locally made sodas and beer. And our thin crust brick oven pizza is in a class of its own. CT is also, I believe, the birthplace of the Hamburger, and the supposed restaurant that created the Hamburger is still in existence, and still makes one of the most bangin' burgers around. They still cook on the original griddle!

Specific to New England, I would say, Lobster (or Lobstah depending on where you're from )-plain ol' lobster, lobster rolls, lobster bisque, etc., blueberries and blueberry pie, maple syrup (the legit stuff), clam chowder (both white and red broth), seafood seafood seafood, cranberries, and Cheddar cheese.

Speaking of locally made soda, do you have Squamscot soda in CT? It's made in NH but I don't know if it's found elsewhere in NE too. It's really good!

Cranberries! How could I forget those? I love them. I put dried cranberries in practically everything.

Doesn't ring a bell...do you have Foxon Park soda??

 

[HeatherL]

Hey aliciagirl....I'm also from WV!!! I agree about the ramps-disgusting, well in my opinion anyhow LOL. How about pepperoni rolls? I've not heard of them outside of WV.

Matata...I grew up on pierogies, my family is polish and we would have them for the holidays. I absolutely love them.....brings back great memories!!!

 

[zoebartlett]

Prana -- nope, never heard of Foxon Park. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm down there.

 

[CherryBlossom]

Chocolate dipped frozen banana, $5 to whoever figures out where it's from... it should be easy if you've watched Arrested Development

 

[Burberrygirl]

I'm from Michigan, so it's pretty much your standard mid-west type food.... But around here, we have some of the most fantastic burgers and pizza i've ever had!!!

Hi Tuckins.

I think these foods are unique to MI/popular here:

-Vernors ginger ale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernors
-Vernors float/Boston cooler (was named after Boston Boulevard in Detroit)
-Faygo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faygo
-fudge (Mackinac Island )
-delicious cherries and blueberries
-Better Made potato chips http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Made_Potato_Chips_Inc....
-Pasties: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty
-Kielbasa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielbasa
-Paczki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%85czki
-Pierogi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi
-Coney dogs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_hot_dog
-Coney Island restaurants: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_(restaurant)
-Olga’s Kitchen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga%27s_Kitchen

 

[charbie]

Leave it to the preggo girl to start this thread and then not want to return bc it is making me waaaaaaaay too hungry!
this thread is now going to be resurrected anytime I travel away from my city! therr are some awesome foods out there.

To those who mentioned pierogies: love them fried up in butter and onions!
Vc: next time, you've gotta try black raspberry chip. Uh-mazing.
alicia and heather: I've spent time in WV...totally forgot about ramps!
Jennifer: I want that soda! Sounds nommy. I love international foods. I lived in Switzerland...talk about the best year of my life in food. Im still carrying a few lbs. From that year.
Kaleigh: scrabble is a game where im from but that sounds great!
Skippy: I like to think I've had good mexican food, but im sure I haven't!

Has anyone ever heard of the soda "ski"? It is sort of like mt. Dew, but MORE caffeine. I hadn't heard of it until my boss from SE Ohio brought it around.
Another soda in KY and in some small markets I've seen is called, "ale81" (a late one).

 

[charbie]

Zoe: I've never heard of that soda before.
El: I had no idea CT was so picky about pizza!
Burberry: love all those Michigan foods! Mackinac island fudge....yummers. and the cherry festival in traverse city was a staple for my family when I was younger.

 

[vc10um]

I'm from Michigan, so it's pretty much your standard mid-west type food.... But around here, we have some of the most fantastic burgers and pizza i've ever had!!!

Hi Tuckins.

I think these foods are unique to MI/popular here:

-Vernors ginger ale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernors
-Vernors float/Boston cooler (was named after Boston Boulevard in Detroit)
-Faygo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faygo
-fudge (Mackinac Island )
-delicious cherries and blueberries
-Better Made potato chips http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Made_Potato_Chips_Inc.....
-Pasties: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty
-Kielbasa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielbasa
-Paczki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%85czki
-Pierogi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi
-Coney dogs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_hot_dog
-Coney Island restaurants: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_(restaurant)
-Olga’s Kitchen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga%27s_Kitchen

All of these (except Vernor's...and ESPECIALLY Olga's) make me miss home!

Oh, and don't forget the A-MA-ZING Lebanese cuisine you can get in Detroit/Dearborn. So. GOOD.

 

[vc10um]

Vc: next time, you've gotta try black raspberry chip. Uh-mazing.

LOVE the Black Raspberry Chip. But it had already been mentioned.

Also love and miss UDFs. There's one on 23 north of the outer belt and I'd always stop there when traveling between Ann Arbor and Columbus my senior and grad school years of college.

Oh! And Schmidt's in Columbus. Mmmmmm...German food and Creme Puffs!

While we're talking about ice cream...Stucchi's in Ann Arbor, MI, is still one of my all-time favorites.

 

[Burberrygirl]

All of these (except Vernor's...and ESPECIALLY Olga's) make me miss home!

Oh, and don't forget the A-MA-ZING Lebanese cuisine you can get in Detroit/Dearborn. So. GOOD.

I grew up with a lot of Lebanese and Greek food. My dad owns a business in the Dearborn/Detroit area. He would bring home Lebanese food at least once or twice a month. We used to go to Greektown a lot especially when we were down there for games. The last few years I’ve gone to Greektown and then a Wings game for my birthday.

Yum… all I can think about is hummus, tahini, tabbouleh, fattoush, majaddra, shish taouk, shish kabob, shawarma, falafel, baklava, feta, octopus salad, dolmades, saganaki, gyros, moussaka, pastitsio, lemon potatoes, roasted lamb, Greek salad…

 

[packrat]

Umm..corn on the cob? SueBee Honey and Well's Blue Bunny ice cream are made not too far from here. Mad Butcher Salsa is in Iowa too but I don't know how far away. Cookie's BBQ sauce.

 

[Imdanny]

Taro, it's a very mild root plant, and it was/is the sustenance food of the Hawaiian diet. If you come here and order it, finish all of it on your plate (I know that can be difficult) because it's culturally considered very insulting when they have to throw it away.

 

[Cehrabehra]

taro is popular here as well Danny, but no stigma about throwing it away lol Is that what poi is made out of?

 

[AGBF]

El: I had no idea CT was so picky about pizza!

I never thought about it being a "Connecticut" thing before Elrohwen mentioned it, but I lived in Connecticut all my life, and when forced to move to Virginia (the DC metro area) I found it impossible to find either decent pizza or a gorgonzola salad. One can find them anywhere here! At least in my part of the state, there have been many Italian immigrants, God bless them!!! No one eats mediocre pizza from chains, the way they do in Virginia!

Deb/AGBF


Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

 

[elrohwen]

I'm from Michigan, so it's pretty much your standard mid-west type food.... But around here, we have some of the most fantastic burgers and pizza i've ever had!!!

Hi Tuckins.

I think these foods are unique to MI/popular here:

-Vernors ginger ale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernors
-Vernors float/Boston cooler (was named after Boston Boulevard in Detroit)
-Faygo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faygo
-fudge (Mackinac Island )
-delicious cherries and blueberries
-Better Made potato chips http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Made_Potato_Chips_Inc.....
-Pasties: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty
-Kielbasa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielbasa
-Paczki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%85czki
-Pierogi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi
-Coney dogs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_hot_dog
-Coney Island restaurants: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_(restaurant)
-Olga’s Kitchen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga%27s_Kitchen

My dad's side of the family are Yoopers - definitely lots of pasties up in the UP! Mmm ...

 

[summerlove6]

Mmmmm this thread is making me drool!! (Except for those sea cucumbers!)

One "delicacy" special to the New England area (US) is Fluff. I lived in WA state for a few months and no one knew what it was. I had my mom ship me a jar of Fluff and the kids I lived with went crazy over it! It's basically light & creamy like a semi-melted marshmallow. You can pair it with peanut butter & bread to make a "fluffernutter" sandwich... or you can be naughty and just eat it straight from the jar!! Either way, you have to be prepared to get sticky.

What else is big here in the biggest little state...Del's Lemonade is huge. It is basically the perfect consistency of icy slush, fresh lemons, and sugar. It comes in other flavors too, my favorite being peach-mango. It makes it easy to spot out-of-towners... they are either working hard trying to suck it up through a straw, or it's slip-sliding off of their spoons before it gets to their mouths. Local Del's fans understand that tools are superfluous. The secret to its enjoyment is two-fold: a rapid shake of the cup that allows for Del's redistribution, followed by the folding of the cup to both push it up from the bottom and to direct it into your mouth. I spend a LOT of money here, it's a good thing they are only open during the summer ; )

We have coffee milk, which is milk mixed with coffee-flavored syrup; doughboys-- big lumpy balls of dough fried and rolled in sugar; clam-cakes-- fried dough filled with clam pieces; and "New York System" hot weiners which are mini-hotdogs made from pork (I think?) that will be drowned in chopped onion, spices, and mustard if you ask for them "all the way". Places that serve these are often open until 3 or 4 in the morning, I'm pretty sure it's due to the fact that hot weiners taste better after a night drinking on the town!

 

[Prana]

Mmmmm this thread is making me drool!! (Except for those sea cucumbers!)

One "delicacy" special to the New England area (US) is Fluff. I lived in WA state for a few months and no one knew what it was. I had my mom ship me a jar of Fluff and the kids I lived with went crazy over it! It's basically light & creamy like a semi-melted marshmallow. You can pair it with peanut butter & bread to make a "fluffernutter" sandwich... or you can be naughty and just eat it straight from the jar!! Either way, you have to be prepared to get sticky.

What else is big here in the biggest little state...Del's Lemonade is huge. It is basically the perfect consistency of icy slush, fresh lemons, and sugar. It comes in other flavors too, my favorite being peach-mango. It makes it easy to spot out-of-towners... they are either working hard trying to suck it up through a straw, or it's slip-sliding off of their spoons before it gets to their mouths. Local Del's fans understand that tools are superfluous. The secret to its enjoyment is two-fold: a rapid shake of the cup that allows for Del's redistribution, followed by the folding of the cup to both push it up from the bottom and to direct it into your mouth. I spend a LOT of money here, it's a good thing they are only open during the summer ; )

We have coffee milk, which is milk mixed with coffee-flavored syrup; doughboys-- big lumpy balls of dough fried and rolled in sugar; clam-cakes-- fried dough filled with clam pieces; and "New York System" hot weiners which are mini-hotdogs made from pork (I think?) that will be drowned in chopped onion, spices, and mustard if you ask for them "all the way". Places that serve these are often open until 3 or 4 in the morning, I'm pretty sure it's due to the fact that hot weiners taste better after a night drinking on the town!

Ah yes, when I lived in Providence I had many a 1AM New York System's run. Not because of drinking, but because I was hungry! I had never heard of coffee milk until I went to RI, and I went to Spooky World one year when it used to be behind Gillette Stadium, and could not get over that I couldn't get 'fried dough' without marinara sauce. In CT, our fairs offer fried dough with your choice of marinara or powdered sugar.

 

[iugurl]

Vc: next time, you've gotta try black raspberry chip. Uh-mazing.

LOVE the Black Raspberry Chip. But it had already been mentioned.

Also love and miss UDFs. There's one on 23 north of the outer belt and I'd always stop there when traveling between Ann Arbor and Columbus my senior and grad school years of college.

Oh! And Schmidt's in Columbus. Mmmmmm...German food and Creme Puffs!

While we're talking about ice cream...Stucchi's in Ann Arbor, MI, is still one of my all-time favorites.

UDFs are everywhere! I remember when I first moved there (3 years ago, just moved away 8 months ago) people were always talking about UDF ice cream. Eventually I asked what is UDF? United Diary Farmers. I went to one, and I was not impressed! I still don't understand the appeal, it seems like every other convenience store/gas station store. Besides the ice cream, which I did not like. But I understand the love for such things. In my hometown there are "Rickers" basically the same thing instead of ice cream they have slushies. The difference I grew up on Rickers vs. being an adult when introduced to UDF.