# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/61 "2011-08-03T15:31:01Z")
> [@MikeG](#): > > I’ve never found an Italian beef that is anything close to what you get other than here in Chicago. I’m skeptical of gyros from outside the region as well. Although, out east I guess it’s all about the donair. ---
**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, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/62 "2011-08-03T15:34:12Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Frappes and jimmies. Someone should really start a thread about them! Would you like your coffee regular, or would you rather have a tonic? ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/63 "2011-08-03T15:38:30Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > 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’ll be in Ithaca this weekend, and I believe Wegmans carries Zweigel’s. PM me if you need me to pick some up and can meet me somewhere at a Red Line T-stop for the drop. ---
**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, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/64 "2011-08-03T15:47:23Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > I’ll be in Ithaca this weekend, and I believe Wegmans carries Zweigel’s. PM me if you need me to pick some up and can meet me somewhere at a Red Line T-stop for the drop. Done! ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/65 "2011-08-03T16:04:00Z")
In Oklahoma, typically at fairs, concerts, and sporting events, one can find the Taco in a Bag. A bag of Fritos (or Doritos) with a scoop of that greasy orange taco meat and several squirts of pump cheese dumped in it. Also from OK is the Onion Burger. It’s a hamburger cooked on a griddle alongside (or on top of) grilled onions. Not exactly revolutionary or unusual, but lots of people there think it’s some kind of unique regional thing. Strangely for its generally good food, the Dallas TX area does not seem to have any unique cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/66 "2011-08-03T16:13:09Z")
In North Central West Virginia we have [pepperoni rolls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepperoni_roll). They were originally created by Italian immigrants to take for lunch in the coal mines. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/67 "2011-08-03T16:24:12Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > Here’s a NJ one for you: [disco fries.](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=disco%20fries) Isn’t that [poutine?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine) French Canadians would argue with you about how unique that is to your area. [The caesar or bloody caesar cocktail](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_(cocktail)) was invented in Calgary. I keep trying to get you Americans to try it - it’s one of the few drinks I miss since I stopped drinking. More generally from Canada, there is [Hawkins Cheezies,](http://www.cheezies.com/index3.htm)[Nanaimo bars,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanaimo_bar) and [butter tarts.](http://www.joyofbaking.com/ButterTarts.html) ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/68 "2011-08-03T16:28:26Z")
For Nashville we have [Hot Chicken/Fish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chicken), the [GooGoo Cluster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goo_Goo_Cluster), [Rinderbraten](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinderbraten) and we have a special place for the [Meat’n Three](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_and_three). Here in the little town of Fayetteville, where I live now… the main thing seems to be the [Slaw Burger](http://www.food.com/recipe/the-famous-pool-room-coleslaw-burgers-13274) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/69 "2011-08-03T16:52:19Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > 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.) Cuban sandwiches are from Ybor City area of Tampa, of course. In addition to the above we also have Grouper Sandwiches. Gator tail is not unique to Florida but is more common here than most places. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/70 "2011-08-03T17:05:42Z")
San Antonio: [Barbacoa & Big Red](http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithalank/2098528521/) Big Red is a red cream soda and barbacoa is beef from parts of the cow you’d probably rather not think about too much. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/71 "2011-08-03T17:07:59Z")
Pittsburgh is the home of the Primanti’s sandwich: [Primanti Bros. - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primanti_Brothers) ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/72 "2011-08-03T17:15:15Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > For Washington DC, I can only think of mumbo sauce. > > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/mumbo-sauce-a-staple-for-many-dc-residents-popular-in-african-american-areas-of-the-city/2011/07/21/gIQABXjsRI\_story.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/mumbo-sauce-a-staple-for-many-dc-residents-popular-in-african-american-areas-of-the-city/2011/07/21/gIQABXjsRI_story.html) I was very surprised a few years ago to find out that [Half-Smokes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-smoke)were a DC-area thing and unknown elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/73 "2011-08-03T17:16:21Z")
My mother lives close to the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina and there are several places that have the [Indian taco](http://www.discoveringarizona.com/NativeAmerican.html). Per the website, it’s also popualr in Arizona, so there are probably a lot of places where you can get it though it doesn’t seem all that common. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/74 "2011-08-03T17:19:51Z")
The Lickety-Spllt Ice Cream truck. From April through October we get the best goddam soft ice cream on the planet. The stuff is so good people will stop their cars to get it when they see the truck. I have neighbors that I only see at the truck. It’s like old home week every time the truck shows up. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/75 "2011-08-03T17:20:03Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I was very surprised a few years ago to find out that [Half-Smokes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-smoke)were a DC-area thing and unknown elsewhere. I am also surprised, doesn’t everyone have half smokes? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/76 "2011-08-03T17:34:32Z")
An easy one I am surprised hasn’t been mentioned (unless I missed it): I live in NJ and every Diner serves Taylor Ham (AKA Pork Roll). That is definitely a regional dish. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/77 "2011-08-03T17:35:15Z")
Although they grow in other parts of North America, [huckleberries](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huckleberries) are generally associated with the Pacific Northwest east of the Cascades and the Northern Rocky Mountain region. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/78 "2011-08-03T17:35:20Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I am also surprised, doesn’t everyone have half smokes? they’re getting harder to find in the DC area, too. People keep trying to pass off a Kielbasa as a half-smoke, but it just _isn’t_. ---
**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, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/79 "2011-08-03T17:44:39Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Isn’t that [poutine?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine) French Canadians would argue with you about how unique that is to your area. Its the same family of dishes, but poutine is made with curds–it’s kind of a central defining factor of the dish, although I hear there are parts of Canada that do use grated cheese in their poutine. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229/80 "2011-08-03T17:52:39Z")
It’s not my area anymore, but [fry sauce](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fry_sauce) is mostly just a Utah thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-foods-are-unique-to-your-area/591229.md?page=5)