# local food traditions around the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699 "2013-08-08T13:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/41 "2013-08-08T21:53:09Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > In Central / Southern Illinois there is this delicacy known as a horseshoe, which is a piece of sandwich bread covered with every fattening thing you can [imagine](https://www.google.com/search?q=illinois+horseshoe&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.50500085,d.cGE,pv.xjs.s.en_US.ciY8R2R6XC8.O&biw=1600&bih=782&wrapid=tlif137598477090910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=LtwDUqjvDemciALMg4G4BQ). > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Indiana? the tenderloin. > [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > I grew up in central western Ohio and my favorite food was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork\_tenderloin\_sandwich](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_tenderloin_sandwich). I had no idea it was strictly a regional thing until I moved to DC and no one had even heard of it. I’m now back in Ohio but, alas, it seems to be slowly disappearing as national chains take over. There are a few local restaurants that still produce a tenderloin worthy of the name but it’s getting harder and harder to find them. I didn’t realize until I move to Chicago that both of these were regional. I understand that the horseshoe is rare, but the fact that I can’t get a tenderloin sandwich anywhere is a damn shame. I always get one whenever I’m back in Central Illinois. (Also, my parents noted that after living in Chicago for so long, I now say “tenderloin sandwich” instead of just “tenderloin.”) ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/42 "2013-08-08T21:57:51Z")
You can buy pork tenderloin sandwiches in northern IA. I think they pound them flatter than they do in Ohio, though. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/43 "2013-08-08T22:11:16Z")
a street cooked hotdog…usually wrapped in bacon with a ton of onions on it is often called an LA dog. I assume it rose to prominence in Los Angeles. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/44 "2013-08-08T22:14:46Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I didn’t realize until I move to Chicago that both of these were regional. I understand that the horseshoe is rare, but the fact that I can’t get a tenderloin sandwich anywhere is a damn shame. I always get one whenever I’m back in Central Illinois. (Also, my parents noted that after living in Chicago for so long, I now say “tenderloin sandwich” instead of just “tenderloin.”) If you’re up north, you can actually find a decent one at [the Silo](http://www.silopizza.com/html/sandwiches.html) in Lake Bluff. It’s rather puzzling to me that the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich never really made it here. Seems right up a Chicagoan’s alley. (Although you can get versions of them at some Polish bars. I know Karolinka Club near Midway on Central has a pork tenderloin sandwich on their bar menu, but I haven’t tried it yet.) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/45 "2013-08-08T22:44:02Z")
I’m from SE Ohio and lots of people look at me weird when I say I miss chicken/beef and noodles over mashed potatoes. [Like so](http://www.savoryreviews.com/2010/04/17/chicken-n-noodles-over-mashed-potatoes/). What can I say? I’m German! ---
**Author:** ![Tara57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Tara57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tara57)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/46 "2013-08-08T23:29:14Z")
Southeastern US – black-eyed peas for luck on New Year’s Day ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/47 "2013-08-08T23:44:30Z")
I’m from Georgia, Atlanta to be specific, and the first things that come to mind are fried green tomatoes and sweet iced tea. However, when I go online, I find that Georgian cuisine includes such delicacies as Ajapsandali, Kartopili Kvartskhit and Mokharshuli Gotchi! My mother never made any of those dishes. I am quite confused. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/48 "2013-08-08T23:52:06Z")
> [@Tara57](#): > > Southeastern US – black-eyed peas for luck on New Year’s Day Don’t forget the turnip or collard greens! 🙂 > [@Gagundathar](#): > > I’m from Georgia, Atlanta to be specific, and the first things that come to mind are fried green tomatoes and sweet iced tea. Yes, lots of fried green tomatoes in Alabama too. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/49 "2013-08-08T23:54:38Z")
Your mama didn’t make you chakhokhbili and lobio growing up? You’re missing out! 😉 (But seriously, chakhokhbili is pretty awesome, as is Georgian food in general.) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/50 "2013-08-08T23:57:02Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Cincinnati also has goetta. I’m a Kansan, and I love goetta! I was introduced to it in Ohio though. I tried to make it once and it didn’t turn out so well, so I may try ordering it from Glier’s someday. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/51 "2013-08-09T00:01:50Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m from SE Ohio and lots of people look at me weird when I say I miss chicken/beef and noodles over mashed potatoes. [Like so](http://www.savoryreviews.com/2010/04/17/chicken-n-noodles-over-mashed-potatoes/). What can I say? I’m German! Yeah, I get funny looks too when I mention that (north central Indiana Amish country). I also didn’t realize that the breaded tenderloin was regional until I moved off. The one I popped in to mention is sugar cream pie. [Sugar cream pie - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_cream_pie) It was never one of my favorites, but sold out on a daily basis in the restraunts where I worked growing up. Outside of that area, you don’t hear much about it. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/52 "2013-08-09T00:18:03Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > a street cooked hotdog…usually wrapped in bacon with a ton of onions on it is often called an LA dog. I assume it rose to prominence in Los Angeles. Yeah. After big events in L.A., bacon wrapped hot dogs are a tradition. Add some green peppers wit the onions. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/53 "2013-08-09T00:59:27Z")
Another one that seems local to the Houston area is the kolache, a kind of roll, slightly sweet, wrapped around a sausage or filled with something sweet–like jelly donut filling. All the donut shops around town, and there are a lot of them, also sell kolaches. Apparently they are an Eastern European thing. My sister-in-law, who’s family had always cooked them, was surprised to learn they were common around here. ---
**Author:** ![BuzzSaw101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BuzzSaw101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuzzSaw101)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/54 "2013-08-09T03:05:41Z")
In West Virginia, we have Pepperoni Rolls. All it is is pepperoni baked into a soft roll. Yummy, yummy. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/55 "2013-08-09T03:40:34Z")
> [@Tara57](#): > > Southeastern US – black-eyed peas for luck on New Year’s Day My father used to make us eat that on New Year’s Day. We were in West Texas, but he was from California and his people from New York, so that might be more widespread. I never did like black-eyed peas though. Had to choke them down. Not a good start to the year. > [@bump](#): > > I think it’s more of a derivation when we’re talking about restaurants, but essentially the difference is that chicken-fried steak is battered and fried in the same manner as chicken- it’s crispy and has a batter coating, and is invariably served with cream gravy. In Texas anyway, it derived from the various sorts of schnitzel that the German immigrants ate in the old country, and adapted to local ingredients. Chicken-fried steak is something I have to give Texas credit for. It’s just plain good eatin’. The wife loved it when I took her there and she tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/56 "2013-08-09T18:58:20Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > Another one that seems local to the Houston area is the kolache, a kind of roll, slightly sweet, wrapped around a sausage or filled with something sweet–like jelly donut filling. All the donut shops around town, and there are a lot of them, also sell kolaches. > > Apparently they are an Eastern European thing. My sister-in-law, who’s family had always cooked them, was surprised to learn they were common around here. South central MN has a pocket of eastern European immigrant communities and Montgomery, MN celebrates Kolachke Days annually. Here they are stuffed with dried apricots or poppy seeds. An acquired taste, I think. I find them rather dry. My husband remembers that celebration well as it is the time he ended up wearing a Polish sausage necklace. He was still in college and driving a soda pop truck on weekends. Delivering to the town during the parade. Some drunk guy riding on a float was waving the string of sausages above his head and accidently let go. Come to MN where drunk Czechs fling food! Whee. ---
**Author:** ![MentalGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MentalGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MentalGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/57 "2013-08-09T19:46:45Z")
Owensboro, Kentucky is known for its [mutton barbecue](http://bbq.about.com/cs/lamb/a/aa102000a.htm). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/58 "2013-08-09T19:50:13Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > Another one that seems local to the Houston area is the kolache, Hardly local to Houston; they’re a Czech pastry, and are common all over Texas where there are Czech communities, including places like Caldwell, Snook, College Station, West and Ennis, and really most of Central Texas. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/59 "2013-08-09T20:01:30Z")
> [@MentalGuy](#): > > Owensboro, Kentucky is known for its [mutton barbecue](http://bbq.about.com/cs/lamb/a/aa102000a.htm). Also, the stew known as [burgoo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgoo) is another regional dish popular in that area, although it exists in other places in the US. I don’t think I’ve seen mutton barbecue outside of Western Kentucky and the very southern tip of Indiana (Evansville). ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699/60 "2013-08-09T20:51:48Z")
Eat the tenderloin sandwich for the entree, but you have to eat sugar cream pie for dessert in Hoosierland. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-food-traditions-around-the-us/665699.md?page=4)