This is actually a reply to Jhenner re: regional foods (my original post)

[hlbones]

I know I can get most foods in most big cities. However, some foods are associated with particular areas, and the original is almost always better than the distant approximations, e.g.

Scrapple in Phillly
Soft shells and she crab soup in Baltimore
Lamb bbq in Tennessee
Boiled peanuts in Georgia
Pastrami sandwich in New York
Fish tacos iln LA
Fried clams and clam chowdef lin Boson
Conch salad in Florida
Cuban sandwich in Tampa

That's what I had iln mind.

[Alice Letseat]

As the other posters noted, this region is such a potpourri of transplants and transients, "regional" is almost a misnomer (for pete's sake, we have a "Hoosier Cafe" that's gone strong for years). HOWEVER - fry bread is distinctly regional, as are many Mexican restaurants, from Sonoran to Oaxacan to Guadalajran. You won't find anything like Los Sombreros elsewhere...or San Diego Bay, or a dozen others. For a truly regional experience, at the higher-end of the scale, go to Kai at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort. It's genuinely Native American updated for our times, and much of it is locally produced. There are also local wineries (Kokopelli has a store in Chandler), and there is also the Queen Creek Olive Mill - yup, real olive oil from Arizona olives. We have citrus orchards - find Carolyn's jams and jellies (Chowsers, does While Foods or AJ's carry them?) - or go out to Guadalupe Farmers' Market for a wild array of locally produced salsas, hot sauces, jams, jellies and honey. Mesquite homey is lovely...fairyflower honey is unbelievable.

[hohokam]

Interesting. I've never heard of fairyflower. Is that the same as Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla, pictured below)? Even if it is, I've never seen honey labeled as such. I'll keep an eye out for it next time I'm in the market for some honey.

[azhotdish]

I really love both Carolyn's and Terra Verda Farms. I've never seen either in a store however...

[ktmoomau]

Just an aside, in MD as I believe the harvesting of she crabs is illegal although at this point I don't think it is in VA and NC, so she crab soup would be a VA Chesapeake Bay thing. But Soft and Hard shells and crabcakes would be a Baltimore thing.