Yesterday at the diner we went to for breakfast I elected to get sausage gravy and biscuits. My original intention was to get pancakes, but I can't resist the siren song of sausage gravy and biscuits. I mean, really, who can?
Well, apparently, the MiL. A. mentioned when I ordered my creamy fat on bread that sausage gravy and biscuits was totally unknown in this area until about ten years ago, when it migrated north from Pennsylvania. He sought confirmation of this fact from the MiL, who not only confirmed it, but added that the thought of sausage gravy was a scary one to her.
Obviously, this is a woman who needs to have a religious sausage gravy moment.
BUT ANYWAY.
This got me thinking about regional foods. Which leads us to . . . The Question of the Day! Yes, it's AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION DAY! WHEEEE!
I know, the excitement is overwhelming.
So, if I were to show up at your house demanding to be fed (which, quite honestly, is pretty likely--the demanding to be fed, not the showing up at your house, I mean), what regional food would you tell me I must sample? What food is so inextricably linked with your area that when you're away from home for any length of time, your first action upon returning home is eating that food?
Go on--make my mouth water.
P.S. The first comment made me aware that I was not entirely clear in my question. So, no, it doesn't have to be a breakfast item. And even if I were eating it for breakfast, it could still be anything, because I will very happily eat tuna salad or leftovers from an Italian restaurant (nothing like five cloves of garlic at 7 a.m. to wake you right up!) for breakfast. Those are not hypothetical examples.
P.P.S. I am now thinking of taking a cross-country road trip solely to visit all of you and eat your food. However, make sure when you comment you tell me where you are. How am I gonna know the regional food if I don't know the region? I mean, I can GUESS a brain sandwich is somewhere in the south, but where? I'm all about educated gluttony.
For Brekky???? Well it would have to be Vegemite on toast and a cuppa tea :0) Mmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, well being a South African where were actually genuinely have a National Braai Day (Check it out: http://braai4heritage.co.za/ It even falls on a public holiday-neat hey?), it would absolutely HAVE to be a braai. Please note, a braai is NOT a BBQ. Fundamentally, they may look the same but they are just not. Ok? Good. A braai is a social event. It's cultural. Upon arriving, you'd be invited to grab a beer/beverage of your choice. Meanwhile several manly types would use half a box of matches to set a forest-fire's worth of wood alight in a half-drum. In the kitchen, approximately half a sheep/cow/both (in chop/steak/large chunk form) is marinading in someone's super secret marinade and there'll be at least 1 mile's worth of borewors (Google it). When the coals are deemed to be 'ready' (this bit is the province of the braai-master and a closely guarded secret) the meat is brought out. The braai grid may or may not have been cleaned by this stage. The meat is slapped down on the grid, with a satisfying sizzle and the woman-folk scuttle off to prepare salads, homemade bread and other wholesome things that the men won't eat. Later one, you'll be summoned to bring your plate (usually paper-no washing up) and will be served you MEAT and then you re free to squeeze some salad etc onto the 2cm square you have left over. Add much laughter, discussions on the latest sports score/religion/political shennanigan/work/life/the fish that X caught last week/etc. adn there you have it. There also may be ice-cream or toasted marshmellows, or both... life is good :)
ReplyDeleteBeing from Germany (and Bavaria on top of that) it would definitely have to say Kloesse (potato dumplings) and a roast. Any kind of roast, but it helps if mom or grandma make them... :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to visit Tara.
ReplyDeleteSecond, if you were visiting the land of my birth, it'd be cheesesteak, hoagie, soft pretzel and lemon Italian ice. Maybe all at one meal, maybe spread out over the day.
Here in Cleveland? Hmm, I don't know. Maybe some fried fair food. There's actually a restaurant that serves all fair food, all the time.
A. We are in the middle of beef and corn, so a good home-grown steak & something corn-based.
ReplyDeleteB. Local quick-food (it's better than fast food IMHO)- Runzas! (www.runza.com/menu )
C. The home-grown pork is good here too. It's farm country. I do "farm-style" cooking. I'll make you biscuits & gravy in my "new to me" cast iron skillet.
Well for Missouri, more specifically Springfield, I'm supposing it will have to be cashew chicken. It just isn't the same anywhere outside of here. Believe me they do try though, so I ought to give points for effort. Anytime my husband comes home from a long work trip, that's the first meal he asks for. What a chinese junkie! :)
ReplyDeleteDUDE. I was born in Pittsburgh and moved to WV when I was 10. As such, I had never had sausage gravy, and was totally skeeved out by its whitish appearance, and refused to try it until I was in my 20s. And then, when I took my first bite, the heavens opened up and a chorus of angels rejoiced. SERIOUSLY. IT IS THAT GOOD, as you know.
ReplyDeleteWhen you come visit me in Pittsburgh (BECAUSE YOU WILL, right?!), I am taking you for some homemade pierogies stuffed with potatoes, cheese, sausage, jalapenos, sauerkraut - anything your little heart desires.
Fish tacos.
ReplyDeleteGod I miss Seattle...
Brisket smoked in the backyard, broccoli cornbread, dijon potato salad, bacon-wrapped green beans in vinaigrette and smoky baked beans. Homemade coffee ice cream for dessert. Ya'll come now, ya' hear?
ReplyDeleteWell, if you came to Minnesota, someone would serve you "hot dish." But we are more likely to force you to eat a braut.
ReplyDeleteDeep fried catfish fiddlers, pork tenderloin sandwich, brain sandwich, chicken livers. Grilled bbq chicken. Creek fried potatoes. Granny's green beans (bacon onion season salt fried then covered w/ water and finished off to almost dry). Oh, and yes ma'am...I do biscuits and gravy (homemade) don't any of you dare think that the mickeydees is 'real sausage gravy'. But, we would have to have pancakes because we make 'real maple syrup'.
ReplyDelete:)
If I was still up in Alaska I would have some smoked salmon for you. Now that I live in Wisconsin I would take you to a friends house and they would have brats and fried cheese curds.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! If you were to visit my birthplace I'd begin by serving you oysters on the half-shell just plucked from the ocean, a salad from my Dad's garden, freshly caught salmon cooked on a cedar plank, and finish you off with a freshly picked apple pie and homemade vanilla ice cream.
ReplyDeleteIf you were to track me down now I'd start off with salsa from the garden and then follow it wtih fresh sweet corn grilled to perfection, a juicy Berkshire pork chop, and a wild plum tart for dessert.
So when are you coming?
If you visited where I was born it would probably be fried potatoes with cornmeal gravy. If you visit where I live now I would certainly cook shrimp and grits for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really can't live without is good cheddar cheese, but can I come visit your you and your Dad, Phoo-D?
ReplyDeleteThe food I long for: the fresh, fresh sea scallops from Rye, England. Amazing.
Still scared by sausage and biscuits,
Mil
Now Kristin is going to guess where everyone is from, right?
ReplyDeleteA home cooked Dallas meal would be Brisket slow smoked over mesquite in the back yard with roasted corn on the cob, chunky mustard based potato salad, baked beans slow cooked with onion bits and brown sugar topped with chunks of bacon. Big thick slices of gooey pecan pie for dessert. All washed down with your beer of choice or a strong ( color of a dark molasses) sweet iced tea. Preferably served around the swimming pool.
ReplyDeleteAs for what regional food every Texas misses when away from home - well, that would be TexMex. This is NOT mexican cuisine. Not California style healthy fish tacos. This is a unique blend of mexican street food Americanized with a good portion of red-neck adjustments. Cheese enchiladas made with velveeta swimming in chili gravy covered in minced onion and finished under the broiler. Served with refried beans, guacamole and an orange (paprika?) tinted rice that is not a natural food. Barbacoa - slow stewed cow/goat/whatever head seasoned to perfection wrapped in a home pressed flour tortilla. Queso made in a crock pot with velveeta, pork sausage and Rotel (spicy canned) tomatoes dipped into with corn tortilla chips. Breakfast burritos made with scrambled eggs and whatever was left over from dinner. Greasy nachos piled high with taco meat or leftover fajita meat, beans, cheese, jalapenos and salsa.
Hands down it would have to be a Chicago pizza. It doesn't matter if it's thick or thin. Pizza from the Chicagoland area is GREAT. I know. We travel all over the country, and we just can't get good pizza like when we are HOME.
ReplyDeleteThe second choice would be a Chicago Hot Dog that is a steamed or boiled, a poppy seed bun, and topped with mustard, onion, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, and a dash of celery salt; sometimes, but not always, cucumber slices. Ketchup is never used on a Chicago-style hot dog.
Here in coastal NC, you would probably be greeted with homegrown cooked collards with fat back and dumplings and fried jumping mullets. If you're really special they might even break out some fried mullet row (yes that is the egg sack, aka, down east caviar). I dare you to find South River, NC on google.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Cincinnati and there it's Skyline Chili. Quite unique and delicious.
ReplyDeleteHere in NE Ohio, I don't rightly know if there's a particular "regional" food.
I'd probably feed you a Colombian meal (since I grew up there). It would consist of a chicken stew made with plantains, yucca, potatoes and a few spices. Then we'd follow that up with some slow roasted meat, salted potatoes, fried plantains, rice & red beans and perhaps a side item called an arepa, which is basically some steamed corn meal that mixed with cheese, shaped into a disc and griddle fried.
Here in southeast Michigan we have a lot of German and Polish influence. The dish I would serve you would probably be sauerkraut and kielbasa, and a side of German potato salad, and perhaps some pickled red cabbage.
ReplyDeleteHere in South Central Kentucky, I would recommend just good ol' Southern comfort food. Country ham, biscuits, white gravy, corn, etc! We would be thrilled to feed you. Just come on down!
ReplyDeletePupusas, hands down. Which, FYI, is a traditional dish from El Salvador.
ReplyDeletePicture this: Handmade fluffy corn tortillas stuffed (YES STUFFED) with most anything you want: beans, carne asada, shredded chicken or pork, cheese (always get some cheese, please), larocco (flower blossom), etc.
Then you get some spicy vinegar slaw, and refried beans topped with YES cheese.
Excuse me. I'm going to lunch now.
Brain sandwich---I am in southern Indiana as in down by the ohio river
ReplyDeletePizza. That might not be the classic answer and I'm sure I was supposed to say "cheese and pabst and brats!" but I have the good fortune to live in a town that has at least two dozen completely different types of pizza and none of them are a chain resturant. I grew up in the apex of pizza... I can think of at least five pizza restaurants that have totally unique crusts and methods within walking distance of the house my parents live in. I make a MEAN homemade pizza but you will still find me whining at 9 o'clock on a Saturday that no I don't want either of the two Durango's in a two mile radius from our house, i want the Henny Penny Chicken Durango's!
ReplyDeleteBeing that I live in Oklahoma now, it would be chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, /w cream gravy and fried okra. But what I love and Jeff loves a lot is chicken and dumplings. That is what I would make the second night you stayed w/us.
ReplyDeleteI must preface this by saying that I LOVE biscuits and sausage (or sawmill) gravy! Especially if you can get it from Cracker Barrel with a bowl of grits spilling over with melted butter. I envy your pregnant no-holds-barred status.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Maryland. Everyone associates MD with eating crabs, but really this is just an Eastern shore thing, and that's just a small part of Maryland. I don't think there's anything too specifically regional. It's fair to say that regionally, we're yuppies here. We live in the burbs, but close to DC, so we've got really nice restaurants. Lots of ethnically diverse foods. Within a mile's walk, I can have tapas, tex mex, taiwanese food, several sushi places, vietnamese (sandwich shop or noodle shop), several Indians, a vegetarian Chinese place, 3 Thai restaurants, and any American restaurant - bar and grill. I can even walk to a microbrewery. Most restaurants server many different types of cosmopolitans, and most are close to $10, and most are delicious. My most recent delicious drink was a lychee cosmopolitan. We also have lot so fusion type restaurants - vegetarian fine dining, Asian fusion, etc. My favorite restaurant of the moment calls itself a Mozerrella bar featuring soooo many varieties of fresh mozzarella you'd have to keep notes on them. My new favorite cheap place is an argentinian cafe where you can get the best coffee and dulce de leche.
I could also perhaps speak for Rhode Islanders, since I lived there for 4 years, and I'm not sure how many Rhode Islanders are here representing. RI is a tiny state with lots of little cultural pockets, so there's lots of great stuff like chorizo, stuffed bread, fresh . A cabinet is a great milkshake. A grinder is a great sub. Best of all, might be the New York System Hot Weiner. A greasy teenaged boy will line up little hot dog buns all up his arm. He'll load each one up with a (smaller than hot dog sized) grade Z meat weiner. It's topped off with celery salt, chopped onions, yellow mustard, and weiney sauce (made with ground beef cooked down with spices and some kind of reddish looking grease). This is some good shit. They also do clambakes in RI, which I never did partake in. Also famous are the Johnny cakes - basically little cornmeal pancakes. Their frozen lemonade is the best - Del's used to be the state drink. Oh, the best part of RI, is that if you go into a DUnkin Donuts (the new state drink), you just go up the counter and say with your RI accent (sort of like a NY accent), "give me a regulah (regular)". THis means, I would like a medium sized coffee with cream and sugar. It's so darn easy in RI.
Wendy, what about a coffee cabinet? Do those really exist? I was in a play once set in R.I. and one of the characters was talking about a coffee cabinet. I had to look it up.
ReplyDeleteHere in Iowa.... wow, not sure we have a regional cuisine that we're really known for. Sweet corn, I suppose, and beef or pork. There's a dairy in Des Moines that makes the BEST cottage cheese and everyone I've ever known who has moved away from Iowa always wants AE cottage cheese. We used to have to bring some down to my grandparents when they moved to Arkansas.
Well here in Sin City, one can choose a standard American Buffet, or a myriad of ethnic choices. Ranging from $3.99 and up, all the foods you can cull and consume! Lance
ReplyDeleteHere on the eastern shore of Maryland you would be ordering a bushel of streamed crabs. Then you could follow it up with Maryland fried chicken. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteTacos! Any kind. preferably from a funky looking taco truck.
ReplyDeleteRochester - Buffalo area. And the answer is white hot dogs (these are NOT 'brats' which were the indispensible food when I lived in mid-Wisconsin - I remember how thrilled I was when I first got the local free hand out advertising at a local church a "Christian Brat Fry" - I thought "At last!" until I found they were some kind of sausage). White hots - also known as pork hots were so common here back in the forties and fifties that when you ordered a hot dog the waitress would ask, "Red or White?" We always had both colors at picnics. I really love white hots. The best known (if not only) maker of these now is Zweigler's.)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was working in the Binghamton area it was 'speidies' which are small spicy chunks of meat marinated in God knows what. They even hold an annual 'Spiedie Fest' and one can always purchase spiedie topping on one's pizza. (Whether these are authentic Italian pizza toppings or no, I am not sure, but I have my doubts.)
Despite growing up less than 100 crow-miles from the spiedie area I never heard of them before I started working there.
German Potato Salad! My husband makes his grandmother's recipe, and it is so, so good. We'd probably serve it up with burgers or bratwurst and beer. You, in your gestational state, could have no-alcohol beer or microbrewed root beer.
ReplyDeleteTrue I am very late on this, having only today discovered this blog. In mid-Georgia (that's the southern state not the country!) I'd have to say we'd get you to try: deep fried fat back, fried green tomatoes, fried okra and if that isn't enough fried food for you I don't know what could be. Here in the South we love us some sausage gravy for breakfast, yes ma'am we do.
ReplyDeleteNow for true 'local' flavor, I'd have to run you down to the next county for a breakfast sandwich made by an elderly Mennonite woman. Two hard scrambled eggs, cheese slice and HOMEMADE fresh sausages on whole wheat bread slapped with a generous amount of mayo and salt and peppered liberally. You can't even eat the whole thing. And then there's a little greasy hole in the wall place that does an ultra cheap burger called Troy burgers. It took a long time for the grease to really get old again after the flood in '94, lol (no, I'm NOT kidding!) but the burgers almost taste the same once now as they did prior to the flood.