For what special foods is your town/area known?

[Zkribbler]

Los Angeles - From the 40's: home of the French dip sandwich (now, the Freedom dip??); arguable home of the BigMac/BigBoy double-decker Hamburger.

Now: California cuisine: low-fat, often vegetarian stuff, for example, California Pizza Kitchen gourmet pizzas. And contrary to the low-fat motif, slices of avacado on everything! Oh yeah and salsa, lot of salsa.

[Flandrien]

Our local specialties:

stewed eel with chervil sauce and fries
mussels with musterd sauce and fries
steak and fries


ehm, just about anything with fries

[Tingkai]

Well, I guess for Hong Kong it would have to be civet cats.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Maryland: Seafood obviously, especially crabs.

I missed the Crab Festival down in Palatka this weekend. And I had a vehical too!

[Richelieu]

Ottawa is known for The Beaver tail!

So ... exactly what is a BeaverTail?

Named for their resemblance in shape and size to the water-slapping end of North America's favourite mammal, BeaverTails® are a fresh, hot pastry treat made; from a blend of whole wheat and other natural ingredients.

To make a BeaverTail we hand stretch our special whole wheat dough into the shape of a beaver's tail. Then it's float cooked on 100% pure soya or canola oil, and in some locations – baked in an oven, before being served hot and fresh with butter and a wide choice of top quality, mouth-watering, sweet or savoury toppings. There's one to suit every taste ... from the classic cinnamon and sugar to our special garlic butter and cheese.

With a hot chocolate after an evening skating on the Rideau canal.

[MRT144]

san francisco, bay area (6 days till im in seattle)

sourdough bread
wine
chocolate
garlic

[Dauphin]

I live in the county of apples, cherries, hops and women.

We specialise in fruits and ales.

[loinburger]

Chicago: Che's already covered it, except for ITALIAN BEEF!!!! Good Lord do I ever miss Portillo's.

Cincinnati: Skyline Chili and Graeter's Ice Cream (the fattiest ice cream in the nation).

[MRT144]

chicago also has vienna beef hot dogs with the neon relish

[chequita guevara]

I can't believe I forgot this one from Chicago.

Italian beef! I would have thought it was all over or at least in areas with lots of Italians, but all the Italian I talk with in Florida (who are from the NorthEast) have never heard of such a thing. Anyway, it's sliced roast beef simmered in au ju sauce with Italian herbs and served on a French roll with sweet peppers, peppercinis, or giardinera. You can also get it with spagetti sauce and mozarella or chedder chese sauce or a combo with Italian beef and Italian sausage.

Near as we can figure, it's only in and around Chicago. Theben and I used to go to a shack (literally) near our home growing up in the country suburb of Batavia, IL called the Elms. The owners were damned rude, but they had a great Italian beef. Not as good as Johnny's Italian Beef in Oak Park though. Amazing, and the giardinera is homemade and perfect!


Edit: and loinburger sneaks in while I'm typing.

[loinburger]

They had a show about American food on the History channel a coupla nights ago, and apparently Italian Beef originated in Chicago. That explains why it's impossible to find anywhere else (regardless of how many Italian immigrants were in the area). It's just a damn shame that it hasn't migrated elsewhere since its invention...

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by MRT144
chicago also has vienna beef hot dogs with the neon relish

It's called sweet piccili, and is basically sweet pickle relish with green food die added. Tastes good in that salad we put on top our dogs.

The Vienna Sausage factory at Fullerton and Damen (and Elston) has a deli you can get factory direct dogs from: cheap! You can also get hot dogs right there. Theben and my room-monster came home with a big bag of hot dogs. I think we must have eaten hotdogs for over a month.

Loinburger, Skyline chili rulez! Best coney dogs in the country.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by MRT144
san francisco, bay area (6 days till im in seattle)

Dude! Seattle has a killer fish taco. I'll see if I can remember the name of the best fish taco place there. The sushi is super fresh in that city also. My favorite eating joint as a place called the Hurracane on 8th Ave? downtown. Major punk hangout with great food. Seattle is salmon city, but it's best known for . . . COFFEE!

I went to the original Starbucks down by Pike Place Market. It's exactly the same as every other Starbucks in the world. Big deal. Never saw a Seattle's Best in that town. Biggest coffee chain downtown is Tully's.

If it weren't for the fact that the sun is super rare there, I'd be perfectly happy to move there. What other American city has a statue of Lenin!

[Ming]

Damn... you guys are making me hungry

[chequita guevara]

Heh heh heh heh.