# What foods are unique to your area? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229 "2011-08-02T22:40:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/41 "2011-08-03T05:09:41Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I think the others have Chicago covered, so I’ll mention that I grew up in Peoria, which is on the northern edge of [horseshoe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_sandwich) territory. I didn’t even realize they were a local thing until a couple years ago when I heard someone talking about how they had an “Illinois Horseshoe.” This. I am an Illinois native, and hadn’t had this until a few years ago. Heart attack on a plate. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/42 "2011-08-03T06:18:27Z")
I just remembered the Irish breakfast pizza, an abomination if ever there was one. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sealemon2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/43 "2011-08-03T06:57:23Z")
I suppose I’d have to go with Tex-Mex. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/44 "2011-08-03T11:23:50Z")
Heh, let’s take a trip east of the pond: [ul] [li][Lutefisk](http://www.aperitif.no/images/99211/tradisjonell-lutefisk-225b.jpg) with stewed dried peas, fried bacon, mustard and potatoes on the side[/li][li][“Komle” AKA “raspeball” AKA “klubb”](http://gfx.nrk.no/PkRzwvT5N7XmYqrqxFl8igySXT-g6LjMgRIli06M7ehA.jpg) (Potato and barley flour dumplings) served with cane syrup, with either unsmoked bacon chunks inside the dumplings or fried unsmoked bacon on the side[/li][li][Skreimølje](http://oslopuls.aftenposten.no/multimedia/archive/00004/_14022008164522_jpg_4842d.jpg) (Poached (not boiled, poached carefully in salted, almost-boiling water) cod, so fresh it’s almost still wiggling when you slice it and dump it in the water, with cooked cod roe and cod liver on the side)[/li][li][Fenalår](http://sukkertoppen.mystore.no/users/sukkertoppen_mystore_no/images/111_jens_eides_slakteri_fenalar1_1.jpg) (Cured leg of lamb) (think cured ham, but from a plump, tasty and tender lamb instead of a big ol’ pig)[/li][li][Morrpølse](http://www.matvareguiden.no/bilder/4860.jpg) (Thin salami-type sausages made from lamb meat and offal)[/li][li][Cooked salted meat with mashed rutabaga](http://cdn.matprat.no/sitefiles/site4/files/artimg/salt-kjott-med-kalrotstappe473.jpg) and yellow split pea soup[/li][li][Pinnekjøtt](http://www.jan-mayen.no/nyhet/2010/12_desember/e-fest/pinnekjott2.JPG) (Cured side of lamb, steamed and served with mashed rutabaga)[/li][li][Smalahove](http://www.dinmat.no/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/finn-oppskrifter/oppskrifter/middag/kj%C3%B8tt/lam/smalahove-kalas/645882-1-nor-NO/Smalahove-kalas_large.jpg) (Cooked salted - sometimes smoked - head of lamb)[/li][li][Ptarmigan breast in a cream sauce made on sour cream](http://multimedia.dn.no/archive/00179/D2-sm_rvenn_179377a.jpg)[/li][li][Soft waffles](http://gfx.dagbladet.no/pub/artikkel/5/53/539/539668/vaffel_1214895886.jpg) with brown cheese, or with heavy sour cream and strawberry jam[/li][li]Lefse with _[gomme](http://www.dinmat.no/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/finn-oppskrifter/oppskrifter/forretter-sm%C3%A5retter/annet/gomme-som-hos-tante-elisabeth/29090-3-nor-NO/Gomme-som-hos-tante-Elisabeth_large.jpg)_ (cheese curd cooked with the whey until it caramelizes slightly)[/li][/ul] And FYI, these are very, very Norwegian dishes 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/45 "2011-08-03T12:06:00Z")
Omaha Nebraska is home to a ground beef and cabbage sandwich we call a Runza. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/46 "2011-08-03T12:20:50Z")
> [@Sealemon2.0](#): > > I suppose I’d have to go with Tex-Mex. Where do you live? Tex-Mex is found all around the country, although quality definitely varies. (Even here in Texas, it varies considerably. Then there’s Mex-Mex, Interior Mexican ($$$), etc.) Houston is a culinary crossroads with food from everywhere. Check out [BB’s Cafe](http://www.bbscafe.com/cafe-menu.php)(which just opened a branch in my neighborhood) for [one shining example](http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/06/robb_walshs_100_favorite_houst_80.php). > [@](#): > > “The Tex-Cajun Virgin” at BB’s Cajun Cafe is a plate of hot, crispy, shoestring French fries topped with thin roast-beef slices, chile con queso and brown gravy. In this amazing triumph of Gulf Coast folk cuisine, BB’s owner Brooks Bassler has concocted a Tex-Mex Cajun version of poutine. When I congratulated Bassler, he told me he had never heard of poutine, the famous Québécois snack of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. > > “I got the idea from a restaurant in New Orleans called Domilise’s,” Bassler said. Domilise’s is famous for its roast beef poor boy and for shoestring fries with gravy. “While I was sitting there, I saw a lot of people ordered a side of roast beef on top of the fries and gravy.” As a long-time Texas resident, Bassler had the bright idea of adding that quintessential liquid cheese, chile con queso. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/47 "2011-08-03T13:16:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > In addition the Italian beef mentioned by **MikeG** , there’s it gluttonous sibling, the [Italian beef combo, or simply “combo”](http://s3-media3.px.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/IRySCw2_ubgr7bX2MxFYfg/l.jpg), an Italian beef sandwich with an Italian sausage in it. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > For a second, I actually thought that was one of the pictures _I_ took that we sent in to the producer. When I got back to work (the pictures are on my work computer) I pulled up my the photos I took at his restaurant that day. [Here’s](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/JoeyJoeyPP/combosmall.jpg) the picture I took. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/48 "2011-08-03T13:23:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I believe pasties originated in Cornwall (at least by that name - the idea of putting a meat filling into a baked crust probably originated in Sumeria) so pasties are presumably local cuisine any place where Cornishmen (Cornwallers?) settled. Yeah, but as far as I know, we’re the only area in the US where they are ubiquitous. My small town has two full-time pasty shops that I can think off offhand, at least 1 or 2 other places that do them as a side (like delis and such). Church groups will often bake them for fundraisers. Are there really other places in the US besides da UP and surrounding areas where you can get a pasty as easily as you can get a burger? And no, they’re not native to here, they come from Cornwall. But neither are a lot of the foods listed in this thread - most have origins that can be traced to other areas. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/49 "2011-08-03T13:40:11Z")
The media here in Little Rock say cheese dip, but I’ve never looked elsewhere for it, just assuming it’s standard. It is weird how many non-Tex-Mex places serve it, but I’ll let y’all tell me that you can get it where you are. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/50 "2011-08-03T13:44:12Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Are there really other places in the US besides da UP and surrounding areas where you can get a pasty as easily as you can get a burger? No that is definitely a UP thing. And the [pasties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_patty) are delicious. Reminded me of a [Jamaican patty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_patty), which I guess has similar culinary roots. Jamaican patties are easy to come by here, but not the UP-style pasties. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/51 "2011-08-03T13:48:07Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=618677), > I live in New Jersey now but don’t really know any foods unique to here. I’m sure someone will enlighten me though! 🆒 Here’s a NJ one for you: [disco fries.](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=disco%20fries) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/52 "2011-08-03T13:52:50Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Yeah, but as far as I know, we’re the only area in the US where they are ubiquitous. My small town has two full-time pasty shops that I can think off offhand, at least 1 or 2 other places that do them as a side (like delis and such). Church groups will often bake them for fundraisers. Are there really other places in the US besides da UP and surrounding areas where you can get a pasty as easily as you can get a burger? What’s your small town? We used to get them when the ex and I would go up to her mom’s hometown of Munising for family reunions. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/53 "2011-08-03T14:25:43Z")
The chicken biscuit. Oh, wait, I guess that’s not unique to Georgia any more. See that’s the trouble. When we invent food it’s so good that _everybody_ wants some. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/54 "2011-08-03T14:34:37Z")
Others have already mentioned spiedies and grape pies, so I am contributing [Salt Potatoes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_potatoes) for the Finger Lakes. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/55 "2011-08-03T14:36:42Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Freihofer’s Chocolate Chip cookies. The best in the world. Does Freihofer still make jelly donuts? Used to love those! The only thing we get this far east from Freihofer is bread. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/56 "2011-08-03T14:37:02Z")
South Floridian checking in… [Stone Crab](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_stone_crab) [Key Lime Pie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_lime_pie) [Cuban Sandwich](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_sandwich) …along with other imports from Cuba (cuban coffee, ham croquettas), Jamaica (jerk pork/chicken, rice & peas, beef patties), and the rest of the Caribbean, Central & S.A. (conch fritters, ceviche, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/57 "2011-08-03T14:57:20Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Rochester is known for [white hots](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_hot). > > Go farther down into the Finger Lakes and you’ll see [grape pies](http://www.naplesvalleyny.com/grapePieCapitol.pdf), especially in Naples, NY. I no longer live in that area, but I was going to mention Zweigel’s. There’s nothing else on this Earth that compares. Too bad they charge a liver and two kidneys to ship. I’ve tried making grape pie, but concord grapes are kind of hard to get around here. One thing that’s unique to here is chow mein sandwiches. And that’s not in the area, but one particular restaurant. People that grew up in that town just assume that they’re a traditional szechuan dish, and are shocked – SHOCKED, I tells ya – that other Chinese restaurants don’t serve them. ---
**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 3, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/58 "2011-08-03T14:59:12Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > When I got back to work (the pictures are on my work computer) I pulled up my the photos I took at his restaurant that day. [Here’s](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/JoeyJoeyPP/combosmall.jpg) the picture I took. They do look remarkably similar, except–what the hell is cheese doing on that thing? (Yes, there is something called a “cheesy beef” that some stands will sell you here, but I’m morally opposed to it. I’ve actually never seen a cheesy combo.) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/59 "2011-08-03T15:04:16Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=618677), I’ve decided to start an opposite one. What foods are common in your area, but relatively rare elsewhere? > > I’ll start with the area I grew up in, Rhode Island: > > [Frozen lemonade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del's) > [Coffee milk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_milk) > [Pizza strips](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_strips) > [New York System](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_york_system) weiners > [Dynamites](http://www.quahog.org/factsfolklore/index.php?id=131) Don’t forget: [Johnnycakes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonnycake) [Saugies](http://www.saugy.net/) (hot dogs made with natural casing) [Rhode Island clam chowder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clam_chowder#Rhode_Island_clam_chowder) [Clam cakes](http://www.newenglandcooking.com/cookbook/viewrecipe.php?id=1098495448) Also, in Rhode Island, when you order steamed clams, you get [soft-shell clams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft-shell_clam), not quahogs. Soft-shell clams are much tastier. (Some of these are not unique to Rhode Island, but are more of a New England regional thing.) ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/60 "2011-08-03T15:20:50Z")
Pasties are big in Sierra Nevada mining towns- especially Placerville. I haven’t lived in Sacramento for a long time, but summer always makes me crave a Merlino’s Orange Freeze. I was also surprised when I moved to the East Coast that sourdough is not he default bread everywhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229.md?page=4)