Recommended Regional Food Dishes to try

[StevesRedLens]

Kentucky Hot Brown is a great one.

Bobby Flay's recipe is great for it. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/kentucky-hot-browns-recipe/index.html. I suggest Texas toast as a good bread to use.

[Kali]

1. from Tucson

the Chimichanga:

geez, big enough pic?
edit for a different pic



The chimichanga, or "chimi," has achieved cult status in Tucson. A chimichanga is a burrito prepared with a choice of meat, vegetables, and spices. deep-fried to a golden perfection, and served on a bed or lettuce with cheese and mild sauce. The residents of Tucson take their chimis very seriously and prefer large, overstuffed versions. Every restaurant and mom-and-pop eatery has its own version of this favorite dish.

Culinary historians argue about exactly where chimichangas were invented. Several Tucson restaurants claim bragging rights. The strongest claim comes from the El Charro Cafe, the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson. Family legend say that Monica Flin, who started the restaurant in 1922, cussed in the kitchen when a burrito flipped into the deep fryer. Because young nieces and nephews were in the kitchen with her, she changed the swear word to "chimichanga," the Spanish equivalent of "thingamagig."

recipe: http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Chimichanga.htm

[StevesRedLens]

2. Yeah big pic

Yea, the big pic really jumps out doesn't it. First pic I've linked to on DU so I wasn't sure how to do it. Got the big one I guess. Oh well, I'm new...that's my excuse.

[Kali]

3. no - not yours

the first one I tried to link was REALLY big - I was just talking to myself - I edited to a smaller one

and welcome to DU, sorry this isn't getting more replies - c'mon people this could be a good drooling thread! What is your local dish?

[StevesRedLens]

7. Thanks for clarifying. Yeah, it's lonely being new on here :)

Thanks for the welcome!

[blueamy66]

5. Do you know the name of the great restaurant.

I think it's downtown....La Poca Cosa maybe??

[Kali]

9. hee hee that is a wide open question!

there is a Cafe Poca Cosa that is downtown (moved from original location a couple years ago)

http://www.cafepocacosatucson.com/

[blueamy66]

18. That's the one!

Thanks

[Luciferous]

11. Yum!

[fishwax]

24. wow, I haven't had a chimichanga in a long time

Used to have them a lot growing up because they were one of my dad's favorite meals--haven't had one in years. Now I'm hungry for one. :)

[Ptah]

4. The Sonoran hot dog:

The Sonoran hot dog, found in Tucson, Metro Phoenix, and in neighboring
Sonora, Mexico, is a hot dog grilled in a processor or on a griddle,
wrapped in Mesquite-smoked bacon, topped with freshly chopped tomatoes,
onions, shredded yellow or cotijo cheese, tomatillo salsa or red chili sauce,
pinto beans, mayonnaise, ketchup and/or mustard, and served on bread
and often with a fresh-roasted chili. It originated in Hermosillo,
the capital of Sonora.

Douglas is known for its specialty hot dogs, with hot dog trucks lining
many of the city's parks, the most famous being Rico's Hot Dogs who have
claimed the 10th Street Park as their domain.

[StevesRedLens]

8. Now that looks like my kind of hot dog!!!

[ohiosmith]

6. Poutine

Duck Poutine Lyonnaise with Shredded Duck Confit, Onion, Mushroom, Cheese Curd, Duck Jus, topped with a Sunny Side Up Egg.

[geardaddy]

16. Are you in Canada?

[ohiosmith]

22. Lived in Vancouver for twenty years.

[bif]

10. Detroit=Coney Island country

Invented here.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZeQpZiHbg3U/TGwF5PCf9LI/AAAAAAAACuU/sO5dja5bd0Y/s1600/CONEY+ISLAND+HOT+DOG.jpg

[Luciferous]

12. I don't have a regional dish to share, but welcome to DU!

:hi:

[geardaddy]

13. Matt's Jucy Lucy in Minneapolis

Jucy Lucy, fries and a cold Grain Belt.

It's a hamburger with cheese on the inside. Their motto is "Fear the Cheese"

[fishwax]

25. I'll speak up for the 5-8 version

Good stuff. As I understand it there's something of a rivalry there, but as far as I'm concerned it's hard to go wrong with melted cheese inside the burger. :)

[geardaddy]

40. I used to live right down the road from the 5-8.

I prefer Matt's, but you're right, it's hard to go wrong with cheese inside the burger.

[fishwax]

51. next time I get to visit the Twin Cities I'll give Matt's a try

I've only been to the area once and I'd read/heard about them both--it was just happenstance that 5-8 was the one we tried.

Incidentally, loved pretty much everything about the area, and hope I get a chance to go back again sometime soon :hi:

[geardaddy]

52. You'll have to let us know

and the local chapter can have an outing!

[geardaddy]

14. I've heard of this from that PBS sandwich show.

It looks and sounds delish!

[geardaddy]

15. Tater tot hot dish

A Minnesota favorite


Recipe: http://savorygourmet.blogspot.com/2011/04/good-ole-tater-tot-hotdish.html

[Angry Dragon]

26. Needs tater tots covering the top

[geardaddy]

41. It looks like they're covered by cheese, but here's another pic.

[tabbycat31]

17. porkroll, egg, and cheese

http://www.food.com/recipe/b-o-b-aka-pork-roll-egg-cheese-309485

ETA link about pork roll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_roll

[LiberalEsto]

35. In North Jersey they call it Taylor Ham

but it's definitely a Jersey specialty.

That and a hard roll with butter.

Can't get either one in Maryland.

[tabbycat31]

38. mmm buttered roll

I spent the better part of the last year on the road and I was so let down that convenience stores did not have them.

[Brother Buzz]

19. Hangtown Fry

Placerville (Hangtown) may be the home to this dish, but it is common fare all over Northern California.

[nolabear]

20. Carolina BBQ

Pulled pork, vinegar based sauce, coleslaw on the sangwich...drool... Smithfield if possible.

[GoCubsGo]

58. I prefer the mustard-based sauce from the local joint.

And, on a plate, not on a sandwich. With their hush puppies, rather than bread. They put just the right amount of onions in their hush puppies. I could eat a bag those by themselves.

[WinkyDink]

21. Zero! I hate Pennsylvania Dutch food!

[LynneSin]

45. You hate Shoo-Fly Pie

Why do you make Baby Jesus Cry?

[WinkyDink]

67. Ya got me there! That is a HUGE exception! Wet-bottom Shoo-fly pie!!

[femmocrat]

23. When in Pittsburgh...

You must have a Primanti's sandwich. It is mandatory! It comes with the fries and coleslaw piled on.

[Lady President]

30. Genius

I went to college outside of Pittsburgh. I can remember so clearly when some friends wanted to drive into the city for Primanti Bros. I couldn't believe people would eat a sandwich with cole slaw, fries, and a splash of hot sauce. Oh my lord! It's a beautiful thing.

On the other hand I never warmed up to pirogies.

[nolabear]

47. I used to eat the steak salads there. Salad, steak, gravy and fries all in a heap.

It was, astoundingly, delicious.

[distantearlywarning]

48. I was going to suggest Primanti's!

Looks like another 'burgher beat me to it!

:hi:

[Ohio Joe]

27. Something I only found in NJ/NY

Fresh mussels, well cleaned (very important they have no grit) topped with tons of thick marinara that is heavy on the garlic, toasted garlic bread on the side. Yummy :9

[WinkyDink]

68. OMG~~~~My relatives and I used to go to the BEST Mussels Marinara place in Bayonne, NJ!

A gigantic (no hyperbole) platter on the table was the appetizer!

[XemaSab]

28. Meth washed down with wood alcohol?

I don't think we have a lot of regional food up here. :P

[canoeist52]

29. Powdermilk Biscuits -heavens they're tasty and expeditious

[blogslut]

31. Here in the Panhandle of Texas, we serve our biscuits with gravy

White gravy, preferably chock full of pepper and pan leavings from last night's meat. :)

[Odin2005]

64. This Minnesotan loves Buiscuits-n-Gravy! *DROOLS*

It's my favorite breakfast dish! I always use sage-flavored Italian sausage, browning it and then dumping it, grease and all, into the country gravy.

[xmas74]

32. KC BBQ, of course!

Just open a phone book and point to a restaurant-they are bound to have bbq on the menu. Of course, if you're here you should go for the classics such as Arthur Bryants, Gates, etc. Oklahoma Joe's is very popular too.

I love the sauce on brisket!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

33. I think it's against the law in the Twin Cities to have an Asian restaurant

(whether Chinese, Japanese, Thai, or Vietnamese) without



cream cheese wontons

I don't know if they were invented here, but I don't recall seeing them in Asian restaurants in Portland.

Now about ten years ago in Portland, some food carts and small take-out places began serving skewered chicken on rice with a couple of little vegetable sides and calling it "bento," which is simply the generic Japanese word for a packed lunch. At the time I left, some of the people I knew were unaware that a bento could contain anything else. I can't find any pictures of a Portland-style bento, but I think you can probably visualize it.

When I was in graduate school at Yale, two of the favorite quick and filling meals were the eggplant grinder and the tuna grinder from Broadway and Yorkside Pizza. The eggplant grinder was essentially eggplant parmesan on a sub bun, while the tuna grinder was a uniquely delicious tuna salad with cheese, heated and served on a sub bun. I am unable to find pictures of either.

[Kali]

36. don't most places put a little bit of fake crab in those?

mmmmK-rab

[geardaddy]

42. It does seem like every Asian restaurant has those.

They used be called Crab Rangoon, but I don't think anyone puts crab in them anymore.

[Odin2005]

65. I love me some cream-cheese wontons!

[Godhumor]

34. well, Buffalo is famous for the real chicken wings, but I am going to submit Beef on Weck

Slow roasted rare roast beef, au jus, horseradish and a Kummelweck roll (Kaiser roll with kosher salt and caraway seeds).

[LiberalEsto]

37. Are there any vegetarian regional specialties?

Besides NY-NJ's marvelous pizza?

[geardaddy]

43. You can make tater tot hotdish without meat.

http://www.food.com/recipe/no-meat-tater-tot-casserole-vegetarian-27569

[DBoon]

39. Bacon wrapped hot dog...

[LynneSin]

44. From Central PA - Lebanon Bologna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon_bologna

Best sandwich meat out there EVER!!!

[Highway61]

59. Yum

With sliced FRESH Jersey tomato and a dot of mayo...best sandwich ever.

[WinkyDink]

69. True! Used to be my elementary-school lunch! With mustard, of course!

https://godshalls.com/store/Lebanon-Sweet-Bologna-Sliced-12-oz.-5880-535-001-O4I_123.aspx

[surrealAmerican]

46. When in Chicago ...

... most people will try to get you to eat deep dish pizza, but it's really the "Italian Beef" you won't want to miss.

[bif]

50. Wet or dry? Hot or sweet?

My friend told me how to order.

[fishwax]

56. +1

Hooray for Italian Beef. :woohoo:

I like the pizza, too, though. :)

[geardaddy]

49. Fried Cheese Curds

[Lydia Leftcoast]

55. One of my wicked vices

Their being available only at the State Fair was what saved me for years.

I'm doomed now that the new managers of the Lake Harriet pavilion have started selling them. :scared:

[geardaddy]

60. They have?

Uh oh.

Did you know the new manager is Kim Bartman of Bryant-Lake-Bowl, Barbette, and Red Stag fame? So, at least you know they'll be from a good source of cheese.

[Patiod]

53. Where to start? Cheesesteaks, hoagies, pepperpot soup & scrapple

[DoBotherMe]

54. When I still ate meat ... this was a favorite

Roseanne Barr and Tom wanted to open franchises across the US. But I think they lost interest. Dana ; )

Taylor’s does not serve hamburgers. Taylor’s serves the only “loosemeats sandwich” in this book. For those not familiar with the popular Iowa hamburger-influenced sandwich, a loosemeats, or Maid-Rite (and sometimes referred to as a “tavern”), is basically a deconstructed hamburger, or a sloppy joe without the slop. The recipe is simple: fresh ground-on-premises beef is steamed and crumbled in a cast iron cooker. Nothing is added but salt. Upon ordering, a member of the extended Taylor family or long-time employee grabs a bun that has been “doped” with pickle and mustard and with the other hand scoops up an impossible amount of the pebbly moist meat. That’s it, and there’s nothing else on the menu but shakes, ice cream, pie, and soft drinks, and they have been doing it this way since 1929. The order is wrapped up even if you are eating at the counter.

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2009/08/hamburger-america-taylors-maid-rite-in-marshalltown-iowa-ia.html

[RushIsRot]

62. We had a place in Louisiana back in the 50s that served those.

They called theirs "Beef Burgers." I still remember them fondly and have tried to duplicate them at home from time to time, usually with delicious results.

[eShirl]

57. Maine lobster. Informal: the lobster roll. Sit-down: the Shore Dinner

http://www.pressherald.com/life/go/its-food-for-hot_2011-05-26.html

[smirkymonkey]

61. +1

I am going to Maine over the long 4th of July weekend (go every year). The highlight of my trip is Lobster with lemon and drawn butter, Lobster Rolls, Lobster Bisque and Lobster Stew. Also love the steamed littleneck clams and the famous Maine Blueberries. Whoops, you can't leave out the Corn-on-the-Cob when you are having a Lobster diinner. :9

[WinkyDink]

70. Lobster roll = my fave lunch at Barnacle Billy's, Perkins Cove.

Actual BB roll:

The line at Red's Eats was way too long to wait, though, the one time I stopped there.

[Odin2005]

63. From Minnesota: WILD RICE HOTDISH!

[BreweryYardRat]

66. Po' Boy sandwiches.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Po%27_boy

Best in New Orleans, but you can get good ones as far north as South Carolina.

Shrimp and grits is also a pretty good regional dish.