What is something distinct to your area that you enjoy and/or recommend? Food items will likely be the go-to here, but other answers outside of food are welcome! (Bonus points if it's impossible/hard to get elsewhere) (Extra credit if you live somewhere different than where you grew up and really miss a thing particular to the area you grew up & can't get it elsewhere .)
Steamed blue crabs covered in Old Bay and Berger cookies are the two biggest things that come to mind for Maryland-specific foods. Folks also say that crabcakes outside of MD, even if they say "Maryland style" on the menu, still just aren't as good as ones from an actual Maryland restaurant.
Pittsburgh is known for having French fries on their salads. That was a VERY weird thing I came across the first time I ever ordered a salad at a restaurant here. I thought it was a mistake and the waitress kindly told me they come in literally every salad here. Weird.
Also pierogis are a huge thing here. With a huge polish population you can find amaaaaazing ones in the cultural district.
Oh and cookie tables at weddings! I had never heard of it so when H and I were getting married, MIL asked about the cookie table and I legit thought she just loved cookies. Come to find out it’s a whole tradition only in Southwest PA. It’s so dang cool though. I love it. We had hundreds and hundreds of cookies made by family, all different kinds. And guests can take goody bags home or eat them at the wedding. Super fun.
I mean the obvious one for Maine is Lobster as we produce 90% of the US’s lobsters.
One people might not know about is wild blueberries (the little ones). Maine produces most of the country’s blueberries. If you find a place that makes wildblueberry pie here it’s amazing!
Some of you from PA might disagree (and be wrong 😉) but the Whoopie Pie is also a Maine treat that is one of my favorites when I’m not dealing with aversions.
Fun non food fact, Maine supplies most of the toothpicks for the US.
I’m from upstate NY and one thing I miss is the garbage plates our city is known for. It’s burgers/hot dogs (or whatever you choose really, I used to get grilled cheese) on top of French fries covered in Mac salad and a special hot sauce (usually meaty but you can get a veg version). It looks like garbage but tastes amazing and is great for hangovers! I also miss a sub chain called DiBellas. DH jokes that it might be worth seeing my parents just for a DiBellas sub!
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
@varimama I have never heard of a "garbage plate" and thought you meant, like--garbage lol at first.
@miss.sally I've never heard of cookie tables at weddings but dammit now I want cookies.
@kailinae There are just some things that places outside of certain regions shouldn't try to replicate, you know? I don't eat meat, but all the "Philly" cheesesteaks down here aren't made with Amarosa rolls, and therefore they are NOT "Philly" cheesesteaks--they're weird Louisiana cheesesteaks. Just don't call them Philly cheesesteaks--or, to your point, Maryland-style!
So I really miss having the following things in my life bc they DO NOT EXIST or do not exist in any edible capacity in Louisiana, after having tasted them done to perfection where I'm from:
WATER ICE. There *is* a Rita's in Baton Rouge, and I am SERIOUSLY considering going there. But there's nothing like Water Ice Factory and some of the other non-franchise-able water ice places. I am DYING for a gelati. It seems like a cruel joke I am pregnant craving popsicles in Louisiana when water ice would do the trick and be 5391051 times more delicious.
Soft Pretzels. Can no one outside the Philly area get these right?! Always stale.
Um, IKEA. There's one in Houston----4 hours away. Like, really?
BAGELS. I would FIGHT SOMEONE for a bagel from anywhere in the Northeast.
Okay, and IDK how far this one goes, but potato bread does not exist in Louisiana. SERIOUSLY? I just want some goshdarn potato bread for my egg salad sandwiches, and that is... too much to ask apparently.
As for things I won't be able to get when we leave Louisiana: crawfish boil is probably the #1 thing. And like, free live music all the time everywhere. & people two-stepping and waltzing and dancing to that free live music all the time and everywhere.
@miss.sally We had a Pittsburgh cookie table at our wedding, even though we're in KY. We had a little poem on the table about the tradition, and everyone loved it!
As for KY cuisine, the number one thing is bourbon. I wish I liked it, but I do not. Then there's all the different things that come with that like mint juleps, blushies (bourbon slushies) and bourbon balls.
Of course, fried chicken.
There's also the Hot Brown, which is awesome! Here's a description... An open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich smothered in Mornay sauce (a rich, creamy sauce with shredded cheese folded in). Once assembled, the whole thing is then baked or broiled.
Derby Pie, which is basically a chocolate walnut pie.
Burgoo... which is kind of a BBQ stew.
Finally, benedictine, which is a cucumber spread.
Papa John's Pizza and KFC started here, so they're everywhere.
@miss.sally honestly everything I’ve had there is amazing, they make their own bread and all their ingredients are great quality and they don’t skimp on quantity! I used to be a vegetarian so I often got their cheese sub and they put so much cheese on it was amazing (unlike subway that puts like 2 slices on)! DH’s favorite is The Godfather which I forget exactly what’s on it but it has a lot of meat!
What major was your friend? I was at RIT from 2008 to 2013 for Microelectronic Engineering (so in their engineering college).
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
@kagesstarshroom when I used to work in an office, we had one coworker who would drive up near Philly to get soft pretzels for the office once every few months. So good! Even for having to drive them over an hour to get back to the office, they wouldn't be stale.
@miss.sally cool! I probably wouldn’t have known him since he’d have already finished his basic classes and I was mostly grouped with Electrical Engineers at that point but we’d have been in the same building a lot lol.
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
@varimama@WorkingOnMyNightCheese ahhhh my husband graduated from mechanical engineering at RIT in 2010! Small world! We took a trip up there for a wedding a few years ago and I tried my first garbage plate and absolutely loved it!
For all the Seattlelites on here: can you please mail me a piroshky? When I was last in Seattle I got a salmon one from Piroshky Piroshky and have been dreaming about it ever since. Have not found them here in Maryland.
As @kailanae mentioned Maryland style crab cakes (and crab soup and crab dip!) is really our claim to fame. We also have awesome breweries like Flying Dog and DuClaw. Fisher’s popcorn in Ocean City is a staple, and if you like thin crust, square cut pizza, Ledo’s Pizza originated here. You can’t stop eating once you start!
Kansas City BBQ, man. Forget Oklahoma or Texas or wherever you're from that thinks they make good BBQ 😂 we invinted burnt ends here, and every local BBQ joint is just fantastic, plus they're on every other street downtown. I don't know if KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce is a thing in grocery stores in other places, but don't let that fool you, that stuff is nasty and nothing like the real thing!
@varimama@miss.sally@creativesoul63 This is wild! I graduated in 2009 and majored in photography. But... I lived with a bunch engineers and computer science folks. Lived in the UC apartments when they were still the nicest ones there.
I'm from Central IL and our big thing is Horseshoes. I guess they're technically an open-faced sandwich -- two pieces of toasted bread, your meat of choice (I usually go with bacon, but most people do beef), covered with french fries and topped with a ton of melted cheese. SOOOOOOO GOOD. The smaller version is called a Ponyshoe. I'm starving now!
@miss.sally Oooh cookie tables at weddings sound amazing! When I got married, we had a sundae bar which was awesome, but a cookie table where the guests bring cookies and share just sounds so cute and fun!
@varimama I had no idea that Maine supplies most of the toothpicks for the US! That's crazy!
I'm from the Chicago suburbs, so I guess I have to mention deep dish pizza? Portillos too? I feel like most of our 'specialities' are just like typical American fast food fare tbh. And there's a strange heavy focus on not having ketsup on your hot dog. Avoid Malort though.
I'd also suggest Pączki in the early spring for Pączki Day (typically Fat Thursday around here). Other Polish foods like Pierogi and Kolacky (I'm Polish American and the Chicago area has a ginormous Polish and Polish American population).
I'm in Seattle and I would say my local favorite is sea food, but especially Dungeness crab and Salmon (Coho, King or Sockeye-- they're so much better than Atlantic Salmon IMO). And wine! There are 130 tasting rooms in my little town outside of Seattle. Most of the grapes are grown in eastern Washington in a town called Walla Walla.
@jenEP have you ever been to Pel Meni? They opened one in Fremont. I went all the time in Bellingham during college. They’re Russian dumplings and OMG I have been craving them basically since I moved away. I’ve thought about calling and begging them to mail me some. They do sell them frozen. Lol.
@aerie_star, my husband is from MI/Chicago and has literally ordered paczki (and paid $$$$ for shipping) to get them out to the PACNW. And he’s right — it’s always worth it!
@Malidocious Oh me too! There’s a location by us that my dad and I like to go to!
@pdx2020 Wooow! I can’t even imagine the shipping on them! But yes, completely worth it! They’re the one thing Polish that I really love that I also cannot make myself.
I love this thread! My #1 priority when I travel is eating what locals eat. This makes me want to travel!
The weird thing is, I couldn't really think of anything Seattle is known for, lol. I agreed with @jenEP about the salmon and crab. I guess we're known for coffee, but that culture has spread everywhere so it doesn't really feel like our own thing to me. We have a Seattle dog, which is a hot dog with cream cheese and grilled onions. Google says we're also known for geoduck (pronounced gooey duck) which looks like a suuuuper phalic giant clam, but I don't know anyone who actually eats it.
@keeksie84 haha I started this thread bc I have a whole laundry list of complaints of things I can't get where I live now compared to where I used to live--but I agree, it's a good reference for traveling too!
@miss.sally MMM hushpuppies. There's one place that makes them in the downtown area my university is near that kills it, and now I want to go there and order some. So thanks for that lol.
@aerie_star Literally have never heard of Pączki, but just googled it and now I want some.
This is sort of the opposite of local FAVES, but I thought of some more specific Louisiana things, but I don't like any of them lol: kolaches are like doughnuts, but can also be made savory! Also King Cake, which is a special Mardi Gras cake... I've never had a piece I thought was worth writing home about. Boudin is like, sausage with rice--it's a breakfast food. I guess I've never been a fan of breakfast meat products. There are a few from the Philly area that I despite as well, maybe even more than boudin lol: pork roll and scrapple--absolutely gross.
You’re all making me hungry and inspiring an culinary road trip!
in Canada the obvious is POUTINE! So damn delicious! But it’s best in Quebec and has to be made with squeaky cheese/cheese curds. I lived in Montreal for 5 years and we have some good spots for poutine in Toronto but man I miss me a Montreal Poutine. And Montreal smoked meat. And Montreal bagels! Soo yummy! Also Canadian maple syrup FTW and Nova Scotia lobsters are just 🤤 In Toronto we are known for hot dog/sausage stands called “street meat” and they are soooo freaking good. Not your typical hot dog stands, they are grilled and have amazing toppings and are delicious. DH often gets them, we had a great stand by our old place! Toronto is also super multicultural so we are lucky to have amazing restaurants and cuisines from all over! Im of Greek descent and the best Greek food I’ve had outside of Greece is in Toronto at a restaurant that makes authentic gyro. A lot of Jewish Delis and Filipino cuisine in the neighborhood I grew up in too. Nom nom nom!
I also lived in Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario (on top of Minnesota!) and I miss a couple of things from there. They were these mysterious things that were a cross between a cinnamon bun and a donut with strawberry icing, they are called “Persians” (I think they were names after someone) and there is a famous bakery called “the Persian man” lol! They are so delicious. Also they had a lot of Finnish Pancakes and they were BOMB! Can’t ever go back to regular pancakes now.
Chicago suburbs here and we can’t dismiss Italian beef sandwiches! I was a vegetarian for 5 years while living in AZ, and when we had plans to move back here I knew in my heart that my plant based diet was out the window. Because beef sandwiches are absolutely delicious. You’re supposed to get them “dipped” in the juice but I usually make them dry because I don’t like the soggy bread at all. But that is against the rules apparently, like putting ketchup on a hot dog. 🤷🏻♀️
@dunder_mifflin I feel like there's a "Montreal Bagels" chain in my hometown that my Mom & I have gone to on multiple occasions that is pretty good? But now I want a REAL Montreal bagel bc I know there's nothing like the Real Thing--Toronto sounds great too! I think DH & I watched a show set in Toronto and kept thinking it looked like a cool city from the show--Kim's Convenience? Cute show! IDK if you know if it's set in Toronto or not.
@uno_mas ...where is putting ketchup on a hot dog illegal haha--is that a Chicago thing? I've never heard that!
@kagesstarshroom yes! Kim’s convenience is filmed in Toronto! It’s another CBC show, like Schitt’s Creek. Kim’s convenience is in a really great spot in the city so it looks extra cool. Suits is also filmed in Toronto, more in the financial district.
Montreal bagels are awesome! Fairmont bagels and St. Viateur bagels are 🙌 if you’re ever there. More dense and crispy than New York bagels
All of the foods from American cities sound so bomb! I love how each region has a culinary specialty
@kagesstarshroom a Chicago style hotdog has way too much stuff on it but no ketchup 😄. Onion, mustard, tomato, pickle, sport pepper, cucumber and celery salt.
@uno_mas Both my parents are Chicago natives and I cannot stand Chicago-style hot dogs. I uh only eat them with ketchup. My father still refuses to get a hot dog for me when we're at a Blackhawks game.
Yeah I don’t get the insistence on no ketchup. Don’t like when there is too much stuff and the bun breaks too. I think a beef sandwich is the best thing we’ve got going around here. And now I want one 😆
@aerie_star lol omg i love that your dad won't buy you one at a sporting event as though your hot dog preferences are an embarrassment to him--i hope you also think this is quite funny.
@miss.sally my cookie table story is very much like yours!! Except our wedding was in Indiana so we had to host the cookie table in my MILs hotel suite down the hall from the reception bc the hotel refused to allow outside food in the reception room!! I honestly didn’t believe her when she said how many cookies would show up with the Pittsburgh guests! My Indiana guests LOVED it.
the only thing i will mention from my home state is Stake N Shake chili 5-way (chili, cheese, onions, SPAGHETTI, chili sauce) because I miss it so damn much and they don’t exist in eastern PA
@aerie_star I prefer ketchup on hot dogs too and DS says that it is acceptable for kids under like 8 only so he laughs at me every time. He usually doesn’t interfere unless we are going to the hotdog stand he used to work at in hs where they have a special sauce. I do actually like that sauce so it’s not a big deal there.
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Re: GTKY: Local F(l)aves
DS2 10/2017
DS3 due 03/2020
Also pierogis are a huge thing here. With a huge polish population you can find amaaaaazing ones in the cultural district.
Oh and cookie tables at weddings! I had never heard of it so when H and I were getting married, MIL asked about the cookie table and I legit thought she just loved cookies. Come to find out it’s a whole tradition only in Southwest PA. It’s so dang cool though. I love it. We had hundreds and hundreds of cookies made by family, all different kinds. And guests can take goody bags home or eat them at the wedding. Super fun.
One people might not know about is wild blueberries (the little ones). Maine produces most of the country’s blueberries. If you find a place that makes wildblueberry pie here it’s amazing!
Some of you from PA might disagree (and be wrong 😉) but the Whoopie Pie is also a Maine treat that is one of my favorites when I’m not dealing with aversions.
Fun non food fact, Maine supplies most of the toothpicks for the US.
I’m from upstate NY and one thing I miss is the garbage plates our city is known for. It’s burgers/hot dogs (or whatever you choose really, I used to get grilled cheese) on top of French fries covered in Mac salad and a special hot sauce (usually meaty but you can get a veg version). It looks like garbage but tastes amazing and is great for hangovers! I also miss a sub chain called DiBellas. DH jokes that it might be worth seeing my parents just for a DiBellas sub!
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17
EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Vermont stuff...
Ben and Jerry’s (but you can get that anywhere)
Cabot Cheese
Craft Beer
Maple everything
Apple crisp!
@miss.sally I've never heard of cookie tables at weddings but dammit now I want cookies.
@kailinae There are just some things that places outside of certain regions shouldn't try to replicate, you know? I don't eat meat, but all the "Philly" cheesesteaks down here aren't made with Amarosa rolls, and therefore they are NOT "Philly" cheesesteaks--they're weird Louisiana cheesesteaks. Just don't call them Philly cheesesteaks--or, to your point, Maryland-style!
So I really miss having the following things in my life bc they DO NOT EXIST or do not exist in any edible capacity in Louisiana, after having tasted them done to perfection where I'm from:
As for things I won't be able to get when we leave Louisiana: crawfish boil is probably the #1 thing. And like, free live music all the time everywhere. & people two-stepping and waltzing and dancing to that free live music all the time and everywhere.
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17
EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
As for KY cuisine, the number one thing is bourbon. I wish I liked it, but I do not. Then there's all the different things that come with that like mint juleps, blushies (bourbon slushies) and bourbon balls.
Of course, fried chicken.
There's also the Hot Brown, which is awesome! Here's a description...
An open-faced turkey and bacon sandwich smothered in Mornay sauce (a rich, creamy sauce with shredded cheese folded in). Once assembled, the whole thing is then baked or broiled.
Derby Pie, which is basically a chocolate walnut pie.
Burgoo... which is kind of a BBQ stew.
Finally, benedictine, which is a cucumber spread.
Papa John's Pizza and KFC started here, so they're everywhere.
Married: 10.15.16
DS BD: 8.20.17
TTC #2 1.1.19
BFP #2 7.3.19
EDD #2 3.13.20
What major was your friend? I was at RIT from 2008 to 2013 for Microelectronic Engineering (so in their engineering college).
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17
EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
DS2 10/2017
DS3 due 03/2020
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17
EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
For all the Seattlelites on here: can you please mail me a piroshky? When I was last in Seattle I got a salmon one from Piroshky Piroshky and have been dreaming about it ever since. Have not found them here in Maryland.
As @kailanae mentioned Maryland style crab cakes (and crab soup and crab dip!) is really our claim to fame. We also have awesome breweries like Flying Dog and DuClaw. Fisher’s popcorn in Ocean City is a staple, and if you like thin crust, square cut pizza, Ledo’s Pizza originated here. You can’t stop eating once you start!
This is wild! I graduated in 2009 and majored in photography. But... I lived with a bunch engineers and computer science folks. Lived in the UC apartments when they were still the nicest ones there.
@miss.sally Oooh cookie tables at weddings sound amazing! When I got married, we had a sundae bar which was awesome, but a cookie table where the guests bring cookies and share just sounds so cute and fun!
@varimama I had no idea that Maine supplies most of the toothpicks for the US! That's crazy!
@WorkingOnMyNightCheese I want maple stuff immediately now that you've mentioned it, lol!
@kagesstarshroom Mmmm water ice!!! Soft pretzels!! And WHAT?! No potato bread!? Rude!
@mrsvp614 Omg yummmm to the Hot Brown! I need it immediately!
@hellobabys Heck yes to Kansas City BBQ! Best BBQ ever!
I'd also suggest Pączki in the early spring for Pączki Day (typically Fat Thursday around here). Other Polish foods like Pierogi and Kolacky (I'm Polish American and the Chicago area has a ginormous Polish and Polish American population).
edited because typing is hard.
@pdx2020 Wooow! I can’t even imagine the shipping on them! But yes, completely worth it! They’re the one thing Polish that I really love that I also cannot make myself.
The weird thing is, I couldn't really think of anything Seattle is known for, lol. I agreed with @jenEP about the salmon and crab. I guess we're known for coffee, but that culture has spread everywhere so it doesn't really feel like our own thing to me. We have a Seattle dog, which is a hot dog with cream cheese and grilled onions. Google says we're also known for geoduck (pronounced gooey duck) which looks like a suuuuper phalic giant clam, but I don't know anyone who actually eats it.
@miss.sally MMM hushpuppies. There's one place that makes them in the downtown area my university is near that kills it, and now I want to go there and order some. So thanks for that lol.
@aerie_star Literally have never heard of Pączki, but just googled it and now I want some.
This is sort of the opposite of local FAVES, but I thought of some more specific Louisiana things, but I don't like any of them lol: kolaches are like doughnuts, but can also be made savory! Also King Cake, which is a special Mardi Gras cake... I've never had a piece I thought was worth writing home about. Boudin is like, sausage with rice--it's a breakfast food. I guess I've never been a fan of breakfast meat products. There are a few from the Philly area that I despite as well, maybe even more than boudin lol: pork roll and scrapple--absolutely gross.
ETA: spelling
in Canada the obvious is POUTINE! So damn delicious! But it’s best in Quebec and has to be made with squeaky cheese/cheese curds. I lived in Montreal for 5 years and we have some good spots for poutine in Toronto but man I miss me a Montreal Poutine. And Montreal smoked meat. And Montreal bagels! Soo yummy! Also Canadian maple syrup FTW and Nova Scotia lobsters are just 🤤
In Toronto we are known for hot dog/sausage stands called “street meat” and they are soooo freaking good. Not your typical hot dog stands, they are grilled and have amazing toppings and are delicious. DH often gets them, we had a great stand by our old place!
Toronto is also super multicultural so we are lucky to have amazing restaurants and cuisines from all over! Im of Greek descent and the best Greek food I’ve had outside of Greece is in Toronto at a restaurant that makes authentic gyro. A lot of Jewish Delis and Filipino cuisine in the neighborhood I grew up in too. Nom nom nom!
I also lived in Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario (on top of Minnesota!) and I miss a couple of things from there. They were these mysterious things that were a cross between a cinnamon bun and a donut with strawberry icing, they are called “Persians” (I think they were names after someone) and there is a famous bakery called “the Persian man” lol! They are so delicious. Also they had a lot of Finnish Pancakes and they were BOMB! Can’t ever go back to regular pancakes now.
@uno_mas ...where is putting ketchup on a hot dog illegal haha--is that a Chicago thing? I've never heard that!
Montreal bagels are awesome! Fairmont bagels and St. Viateur bagels are 🙌 if you’re ever there. More dense and crispy than New York bagels
All of the foods from American cities sound so bomb! I love how each region has a culinary specialty
hotdog has way too much stuff on it but no ketchup 😄. Onion, mustard, tomato, pickle, sport pepper, cucumber and celery salt.
Representing idaho over here! Home of potatoes and fry sauce!
the only thing i will mention from my home state is Stake N Shake chili 5-way (chili, cheese, onions, SPAGHETTI, chili sauce) because I miss it so damn much and they don’t exist in eastern PA
married 11.1.14
ttc #1 since 5.18
bfp 12.22.18 letrozole + progesterone
d&e due to trisomy 13/hydrops at 15wks
bfp 7.21.19 letrozole + IUI
little girl A born 3.26.20
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17
EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)