# Foods and/or resturants you didn't realize weren't universal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 29, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836 "2020-09-29T21:44:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/81 "2020-10-01T20:09:20Z")
Yes, they are different. Originally Mr. Vickie’s and just the Malt Vinegar Miss Vickie’s were made (originally by hand) by a company in a small town north of Toronto. They were bought out by Frito-Lay (IIRC) or other big company, which did keep a high level of quality and some good new flavours. Mr. Vickie’s were sold in a blue bag with a bow tie and kind of a unique vinegar-paprika(?) taste during the 1980s and 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/82 "2020-10-01T20:13:12Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > There are those who would say that you were correct when you assumed that was the only type of bbq. I’ve learned over the years to love and appreciate many varieties of bbq, but the Eastern NC version is my favorite. Since we’re vacationing in the Outer Banks as I type, I’m fixin’ to go get some And those people would be correct. All right-thinking folk know that true barbecue can only be found east of Goldsboro, North Carolina. South Carolina Lowcountry mustard-based 'cue is an acceptable substitute, when Wilber’s or Parker’s can’t be had, but the tomato-based concoctions that go by the name “barbecue” in Georgia and Tennessee and such, are mere wannabes. As to those heathens in Texas and Kansas who barbecue cows, the less said of them, the better. Let me know if you find a decent barbecue joint in the OBX - I’ll be there in two weeks, and I’m always on the lookout for a good place. Part of the ritual for our annual trip to Hatteras is to stop at Wilber’s in Goldsboro for dinner. King’s in Kinston isn’t bad, either. (If you’re in the mood for a good fish camp/dive bar, that’s popular with the locals, try Pop’s Raw Bar in Buxton.) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/83 "2020-10-01T20:28:42Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I’ve learned over the years to love and appreciate many varieties of bbq, but the Eastern NC version is my favorite. Same with me. I appreciate California’s own tri-tip, and other styles, but to me “barbecue” means Eastern NC style. Sometimes you might find a barbecue restaurant in California with something on the menu that they call “Carolina style” or something like that, but it isn’t. Sure, it will contain pulled pork, but then they’ll go and add some generic barbecue sauce to it, and not the vinegar that defines Eastern NC style. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/84 "2020-10-01T21:02:12Z")
I’m originally from Chicago, and after reading this thread I am now jonesing for decent Italian beef (as well as a Maxwell Street Polish). Fortunately, I had been to Chicago in mid-February, and was able to get my Paczki fix while I was there. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/85 "2020-10-01T21:23:09Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > I’m originally from Chicago, and after reading this thread I am now jonesing for decent Italian beef Yeah, I haven’t had a Chicago IB sandwich in like 10 years. 😋 This thread made me google for it locally and I see there’s a place in San Jose near me. I’ll have to swing by when I’m up in Silicon Valley. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/86 "2020-10-01T21:24:04Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > All dressed chips (tout garni) and ketchup chips are fine. I don’t go out of my way to eat them. If you ate a sour cream, dill pickle and salt and vinegar chip at the same time, the flavour might be close? … More like a salt and vinegar chip, a ketchup chip, and a barbecue chip. A friend works at Frito-Lay, and says that’s the combination of flavours they’re putting into All-Dressed chips. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/87 "2020-10-01T21:27:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > [@Sitnam](#): > > > > Ever since watching Letterkenny I’ve wanted to try All Dressed chips, but just can bring myself to pay the exorbitant price of having a bag of chips sent air mail and go through customs over national boundries. > > Where do you live? They’re readily available here in the Cleveland/Akron area. I got some a couple weeks ago. Not sure if I’ve seen them at grocery stores but they’re at gas stations. Twin Cities. I have never seen them anywhere near here. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/88 "2020-10-01T21:31:09Z")
Is that what they are? Good to know. Like knowing the cola nut gives little flavour to Coke - a combination of lemon-lime-orange, vanilla and cinnamon. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/89 "2020-10-01T21:32:59Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I was probably 15 or so before I realized that tortillas weren’t available in every grocery store in the US. I found out by my mom telling me the tale of attempting to explain to a grocer in Ohio what one even was when she lived there in the 60s. Around that time, I learned how to make them myself, however poorly. I couldn’t imagine not being able to have tortillas, they’re a basic food group. > > I haven’t gone hunting for them in grocery stores outside of Texas in recent years, but I think they’re a lot more common than they used to be. Maybe not a whole endcap or part of an aisle devoted to them like you have here, but there’s probably at least a bag of shelf stable Mission brand flour tortillas in most stores in the US. Is that the case? I think tortillas probably are available in most mainstream supermarkets all over America. (And even if they’re not, there are ethnic markets in many places that specialize in Mexican foods.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/90 "2020-10-01T21:38:16Z")
There’s great barbecue in Carolina, Nashville, Memphis, Kansas City… South Africa, Argentina and Brazil are devoted to meat. The barbecue culture in Canada is improving but too often hot dogs and frozen hamburgers. They don’t have the variety of US dogs, but in Quebec the buns are top sliced and “all dressed” (see article below). Not in Ontario where buns form a top and bottom piece. > **[40 Ways The World Makes Awesome Hot Dogs: An Illustrated Guide](https://www.foodrepublic.com/2015/05/19/40-ways-the-world-makes-awesome-hot-dogs/)** > > It's the hot dog chart that broke the internet! Check out 40 ways the world makes awesome hot dogs, a colossal compendium of tube steak styles. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/91 "2020-10-01T21:43:14Z")
When I was a kid, there were Dixie Lee chicken restaurants around. They were the second string competition to KFC. Because of the name and the fact they served fried chicken, I always assume the chain had originated in the south and had moved up into northern New York. But it was the exact opposite. Despite its name, Dixie Lee started as a Canadian chain and they moved south down into New York. They’re pretty much all gone now. There’s only one Dixie Lee restaurant still operating in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/92 "2020-10-01T22:16:07Z")
So many New England foods that I didn’t realize were regional until I moved away. Brown bread in a can, red snapper hot dogs, coffee milk, fluffernutters, whoopie pies…the list goes on. This thread has made me realize I need to find some dinner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/93 "2020-10-01T22:29:29Z")
Tortillas are definitely in pretty much all major grocery stores now, if not in the bread aisle with multiple varities I always see even discount shops have those boxes of Old El Paso “Taco Kits” where they give you tortillas along with taco seasoning and hot salsa in a single box for 99 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/94 "2020-10-01T22:42:21Z")
Tortillas are everywhere. But they are not nearly as good as the freshly made ones in Mexico. And I cannot find blue masa locally, although it’s advantage is just cosmetic - many dishes just look cool if you divide the recipe in halves and use yellow masa in one half and blue in the other. ---
**Author:** ![Drummond\_Bays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@Drummond\_Bays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drummond_Bays)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/95 "2020-10-01T22:43:20Z")
I’ve had it at San Antonio foods on Hwy 7, a store in Coxwell village that sadly no longer exists, Tre Rose bakery on Kipling has a lady on weekends who will do it occassionaly (and a pasta il forno that is to die for!) And an unknown sandwich shop in Maple that was bought by a client. (To clarify - the sandwich, not the shop!) Woodbridge is your best bet, I know I have had others, possibly Parmigiana on Weston (temp. Closed due to covid.). Most sandwich shops will happily do it if asked! Nowadays I always do it myself, so my info may be a bit dated! ---
**Author:** ![Drummond\_Bays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@Drummond\_Bays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drummond_Bays)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/96 "2020-10-01T22:46:59Z")
Ahhh, also Mr. Smileys on Vic Park used to. Now townhouses, sadly. And I used to get them about 20 years ago at Chk’n’Burger on Kingston ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/97 "2020-10-01T22:52:45Z")
I’m guessing they’re a lot like this, minus the creamy gravy. > **[Country Fried Steak Recipe - Food.com](https://www.food.com/recipe/country-fried-steak-36023)** > > Try this chicken fried steak recipe from Food.com. I had country/chicken-fried steak once, but that was a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/98 "2020-10-01T22:54:00Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Canada has a few foods that are (or were) less popular elsewhere: butter tarts, toutiere (a pork pie best with added beef and veal), poutine, spruce beer, bagged milk. Don’t forget smoked meat sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/99 "2020-10-01T23:25:11Z")
I actually didn’t get around to getting any today; Ms. P walked the length of the Duck boardwalk, stopping for drinks along the way. Tomorrow I plan to try High Cotton, which is at the end of 158. It’s supposedly the best. What do you think of Lexington BBQ? Folks who are less enlightened may think that everything east of Interstate 77 is the same, but I’m sure you know they are in error. Growing up I had a Grandma in Salisbury and a Grandmother/Grandaddy in Sanford. What I got in each place was certainly different. Also, I grew up near the legendary Ridgewood BBQ in Bluff City, TN. I won’t have anyone dissing it. Several years ago, I got a NC BBQ sandwich at Eastern Market in DC. My expectations were low, but when I bit into it I wept. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836/100 "2020-10-01T23:28:29Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Food and beer in NC (and a lot of the country) expanded a lot in the 1990s. In the 80s, I remember that Chinese and Mexican (both Americanized style) restaurants were considered a bit exotic, and and Italian was about the only other nationality routinely represented. We actually had a pretty good Chinese restaurant in our town, and in retrospect it was probably kind of unusual for a smallish town in NC to have one at the time. For Mexican food we had to drive to a bigger town, and of course that was the Americanized Tex-Mex variety. Of course now they’ve got multiple Chinese and Mexican restaurants, and Japanese, and Thai. I’m not sure if Indian food has made it there yet. I didn’t have Indian food until I moved to Raleigh for college, and it seemed _really_ exotic at the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-and-or-resturants-you-didnt-realize-werent-universal/921836.md?page=6)