Is there a food that can only be found in your region, or that your region is known for?

Question

In my city, we have Persians - a cinnamon bun covered with strawberry icing. You can eat them as they are, or slice them in half and grill them (called a Toasted Persian, even if you don't actually put it in the toaster). Visitors to our city often buy them to bring home, or have friends and family send them by mail.

Is your hometown known for a special food? Is there something you always get when you visit another area?

This is in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Answer 1

Here's another vote for Vernor's Ginger Ale (made in Michigan, really hard to find anywhere else).

I lived in Virginia for 4 years, and was terribly disappointed to find that I couldn't find this most wonderful of beverages anywhere except for in the "International" aisle of a specialty grocery store. Since when are Michigan and Virginia considered to be in different countries?!?

As for specialty foods that I seek out when traveling: Vernor's in MI, locally produced wine in VA (especially the Chardonnay from North Mountain Vineyard), sour dough bread from San Fransisco, CA, any seafood I can get my hands on in MD (especially Phillip's crab cakes), Angelina's hot chocolate in Paris, France, and winter season mangos in Ecuador (possibly the best fruit I have EVER eaten!)

Answer 2

Maine Lobster
New England Clam Chowder
Boston Baked Beans
Cabot Cheese (Vermont)
Ben and Jerry Ice Cream (Vermont)
Maple Syrup

Answer 3

My city is Buffalo. The greatest city on the earth. For on the 8th day, God created Buffalo. For his viewing pleasure he created Niagara Falls. For his bathing pleasures he carved the Great Lakes. For his playground, Ralph Wilson Stadium. For comedic relief he created Canada. To quench his thirst, Aunt Rosie's Loganberry. And finally to quell his manly hunger, he created Buffalo Wings (no, they really don't taste the same ANYWHERE else), beef on weck, Chef's spaghetti sauce, Mighty Taco (the ONLY mexican fast-food acceptable), Jim's Steakout, Antoinette's sponge candy, as well as other local delicacies. No city in the world has as many unhealthy, yet amazing foods.

Answer 4

I'm from Rochester NY, so I agree, Buffalo is the only place to get good wings - although Pontillo's does them pretty good too. Can't forget about Ilio DiPaolo's sauce, and Oliver's sponge candy (in Batavia). Then there's Zweigle's White Hots, and Nick Tahou's Garbage Plate.

Answer 5

Here in Anchorage, Conneticut people regularly harvest pancakes from the Norwegian pancake mines of Pennsylvania. Our people started doing this on April 32nd, the original Pancake Day.

Answer 6

We have cheese curds. My relatives always buy some when they come to visit. I never knew they weren't familiar to other areas, until I went on a trip to the mountains, and asked for them in a grocery store when I couldn't find them, and everyone I asked went "HUH?" Also, when I visited South Carolina, I had boiled peanuts, which I had never heard of here in NY.

Spedie (sp?) sauce didn't used to be available here, we only got it when we went to visit other relatives in our state.

Answer 7

We have rivers to both sides of us that teem with catfish. The big thing here are whole catfish breaded and deep fried and catfish fritters, prepared the same way. Catfish fritters are catfish fillets cut into thin strips, breaded and deep fried. They are great.

Answer 8

Well this applies to Scotland- Haggis, neeps and tatties, ooh and as an added extra for after dumpling

Answer 9

tastykakes just used to be in the philly area i dont know if they have gone out of the area yet.

i can get ben and jerrys ice cream in jersey.

Answer 10

Im from Idaho. Baked potatoes. nuff said.