what foods does your city have that mine doesn't?

[atom1980]

i live in rochester ny and we have things like white hot dogs, franks hot sauce, a tons of other sauces for chicken wings, meat hot sauce, french onion dip, etc. etc.
my sister came to visit from south carolina. she brought some kinda cheese spread that i wish i could buy up here. it got me thinking that there has to be tons of foods in our country alone that arent in the major grocery chains. so here is the question. where do you live and what kind of foods does your area have? for example, rochester has a thing called a garbage plate. its 2 hots or cburgers with fries, mac salad with meat hot sauce all over it. perfect @ 2am. i'm almost positive that no place else has that. so....is there a spice rub that everyone in atlanta uses or bottled sauce that you can only get in say, utah.?

[miriamjo]

Pasties. At least in the UP. More dutch things near Grand Rapids.

[mountainmomma15]

One of the most delicious things to ever come out of West Virginia - pepperoni rolls.

[Ruthie789]

Well in Quebec we have dish called poutine. Not sure if it has become popular where you live. It is home fries, curd cheese and topped with steaming gravy.

[linguafood]

I believe poutine has been mentioned several times in this thread. Have you read it?

'-)

[borntolovefood]

Have not had the chance to read through all the postings yet. Surely someone mentioned SCRAPPLE before for Philadelphia/PA?

Just want to say I was fed the Stryker brand of scrapple last week, cooked properly in a skillet, till the slice is crispy on both sides with the center still moist and soft and so tasty. It was perfection and I was in scrapple heaven.

Checking the Stryker Farm website also suggested to me that perhaps next year I shall get my roasting pig from them (their site displays some good-looking pig photos):
http://www.strykerfarm.com/#!

[woodleyparkhound]

I recently had the chance to taste Goetta - the Cincinnati version of scrapple. Germans from PA who moved to Cincinnati missed scrapple, so came up with their own version, which changed a bit over the years and became known as Goetta. I can't really say I'll be seeking it out a second time. It has steel-cut oats in it which give it a chewy crunchiness. It was too fatty for me.

[linguafood]

Yep, think I'll pass on that one...

[Ruthie789]

After the fact yes. Do my best to read all threads but when busy I respond to the question only hope that is ok.

[Georgia Strait]

hello from BC to a fellow Canadian --- i think for its uniqueness, you have every right to reiterate a possible prev post --- after all - it's part of our historic Brit / French Euro contact here in N Am --- so from my POV poutine deserves more than just one "mention" --- the interesting thing is how it's become a "fast food" option --- and that some places (gasp) think that gravy and fries is "poutine" --- no, it has to have SQUEAKY curd --- even we out here in BC know that ; )

[Ruthie789]

Thank you for the moral support fellow Canadian and hello to you too!

[calmossimo]

Seattle style hot dogs -- polish sausage with cream cheese, sriracha, and grilled onions. Sometimes bacon bits, several other condiments/toppings are also available. Cream cheese is the most definitive part of it though. Sold at hot dog stands around the city, most frequently eaten by the post-clubbing 2am drunk crowd.

[hill food]

the cream cheese throws me, everything else but maybe queso fresca or sour cream instead and I'd be on board. and yeah 2 AM, drunk, if that's what it takes.

[existential_crisis]

oh no! how did i miss this when i was in seattle? I was deliberately looking for hot dogs and I was on the Seattle board... are these just sold as street meat?

[deet13]

Here in Tampa, Crab Chilau is one of those old recipes which is rarely cooked...

Here's one recipe, via Andy Huse...

http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives...

Also Crab Croquettes/cakes, and our version of the Cuban sandwich.

[DiningDiva]

Pretty sure Rochester probably isn't a hotbed for...

Uni (we can even get it at our local farmers markets)
Carne Asada burritos (meat + guac + pico, no rice, no beans)
California Burrito (same as above exept with french fries added)
Craft beer capital of the U.S.
Lamb barbacoa + huitlacoche tacos & quesadillas

[Jerome]

I'm assuming portland, but really no idea. Where?

[DiningDiva]

San Diego, CA

[KaimukiMan]

this posting is 4 years old and i never put my two cents (or 2 dollars) in on behalf of hawaii?

first we have spam. now i know you all think you have spam too. But in Hawaii we actually like it and put it in everything from musubi to saimin to omelets. Nothing like a spam and egg sandwich.

Then there are all the modern adaptations of traditional hawaiian foods. Lau Lau, kalua pork (steamed pork), pipikaula (jerky), poke (chopped seasoned raw fish) haupia (coconut pudding).

Then we have the hapa (mixed) foods like saimin, chicken long rice, lomi salmon, etc.

Then there are things that may be in your city but aren't too common like chinese cracked seed, pickled dried fruit, etc. I think Hawaii has more unique food per capita than almost any place else in the world.

[hill food]

I really must visit HI some day...

[KaimukiMan]

airfares are coming down.... LOL

[Jerome]

although I can get versions of ahi poke all over southern california (even in the South bay where there are significant numbers of people from Hawaii and Samoa), i really miss the aku poke.
LOVE IT.

[KaimukiMan]

yes, in LA or Vegas you can get almost anything you can get in Honolulu (except the weather and the blue blue pacific)

[Jerome]

LOL yes. you can even get king's bakery bread (baked here in Carson) with the injected tube of lilikoi.

[Bill Hunt]

Uh, "candied scorpions?"

Hunt

[don515]

Ditto on the pork roll. We rented a house on St. John from a retired couple from NJ we knocked on their door to get the keys and handed them a roll of Taylor Ham-how did you know! It's my favorite! Your from NJ.
Also no substitute for a Kellys in Neptune NJ Rubin

http://kellystavernjerseyshore.com/wp...

[Cameraman]

Nashville -- hot chicken

[CallAnyVegetable]

What is it?

[Leepa]

.

[Cameraman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chicken
The mild is hot, the medium is ridiculous, and the hot will make you wish you were dead.

[Lindseyup67]

Pasties and cudighi here in the U.P.

[Jerome]

Man - i had wonderful pasties up near houghton/hancock and ontanagon (sp?). Fantastic. what is/are cudighi?

welll, wiki implies it's an american version of Cotechino.

[pinehurst]

Cretons, but many cities in New England with large French Canadian populations have this. More of a regional thing than a city thing.

[piccola]

And anywhere with a Cora's outlet has them too! (Though they seem less popular the further you get from Quebec...)

[CanadaGirl]

I can get cretons in Halifax too :)

[prima]

And I can finally get Halifax-style donairs in Toronto! ;-) New shop opened up- haven't tried it yet, but there's a thread on the TO board.

I thought it was messed up to see Calgarians lining up for poutine at Stampede.

2 foods I saw at Stampede that I haven't seen elsewhere (yet). Maple syrup bacon funnel cakes and cotton candy cupcakes. Didn't try either, so I have not idea how they taste. Wouldn't be surprised to see both show up at the CNE in TO next month.

[CanadaGirl]

I wonder if they're actually like a Halifax donair. If they are, I'm sure they'll be very successful. Do you recall the advertising campaign Tourism NS did a few years ago with a replica 401 E sign with "Donairs" as the location? I thought it was brilliant!

[prima]

I missed that campaign some how. ;-)

Here's the new place, serving Halifax-style donairs with the sweet sauce- it's keeping former Haligonians happy, as far as I've heard:
http://thefuzzbox.ca/

[Ruthie789]

You can make cretons, so easy to do and really good in comparison to store bought, pork, cream,breadcrumbs and spices.

[emu48]

Ikra ... the Romanian/Israeli version of taramasalata. It's a spread or dip that tastes like cream cheese and lox. What it actually is is a mayonnaise, only made with minced onions and tiny fish eggs instead of chicken eggs.

[Jerome]

No one is speaking up for Nag's Head, North Carolina. It's not my city, but when I visited and went to just the local little cafe on the pier that had no tourist draw, I had not only I believe rice grits but eggs with either herring roe or the local blueback herring - (maybe not local anymore but still eaten), which had been preserved by salting and then soaked for use. Wasthe most japanese tasting non-japanese thing i've ever eaten.
And delicious.

[MonMauler]

I love this topic and strive to try all of the regional specialities whenever I travel. It sounds like there are so many delicious places I have yet to visit. That said, although it is mentioned previously in this thread, I think we have many unique options in and around my home in Pittsburgh. The most distinctly mentionable, to me, would be:

Primanti's Sandwiches - originally devised in the Strip District, as a handheld meal for truckers, this sandwich consists of meat, cheese, fries, coleslaw and tomato, all between two thick slices of Italian bread.

Chipped Ham - Isaly's deli serves their deli ham, which is not particularly distinctive, sliced thinly and chopped. The preparation of the ham is unique to Pittsburgh and is the definitive choice for another Pittsburgh tradition: ham BBQ, which is Isaly's chipped ham stewed in BBQ sauce and served as a sandwich, in a burger bun, often with a slice of American cheese.

Turkey Devonshire - This open face turkey sandwich is very similar to the Hot Brown out of Louisville and consists of roast turkey on a slice of toast smothered with cream sauce and topped with several slices of bacon.

Heinz Ketchup - The Heinz company has gone global, so to speak, but they started here, still make their corporate headquarters here, and make the only ketchup worthy of consumption.

Klondike Bar - this chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream bar has also found its way across much of the country at some point in the not-too-distant past, but the treat originally called Pittsburgh home.

City Chicken - is actually pork skewers, usually breaded and baked. This should've never become a thing.

Iron City Beer - The main brewery, here in Pittsburgh, is actually not operational, though several plans to restart it have been discussed, but the beer has a strong heritage in Pittsburgh. Iron City Lager, IC Light, and their related brands, are all actually produced about 30 miles away, in Latrobe, PA, at the original Rolling Rock brewery.

Duquesne Beer - "The Prince of Pilsner." It's back, baby!

Pittsburgh Salad - This behemoth of a salad includes greens, meat, french fries, cheese, bacon, hardboiled egg, onion, tomato, bread crumbs, and often a host of other ingredients, usually with a healthy dose of ranch dressing.

Pittsburgh Rare - is a common way to order steak. It's not particularly unique to the city, but the term has gained general acceptance throughout much of the country, in my experience. The steak is scorched, actually burned, on the outside, bloody and rare on the inside.

Wedding Soup - I doubt the veracity of this, but I have heard Italian Wedding Soup described as a dish originating in southwestern PA. It's basically greens cooked in chicken broth with meatballs and, oftenly, small pasta such as pastina.

Wedding Cookies - This food tradition, which consists of tables full of cookie trays set out at weddings, is certainly unique to this region.

Smiley Cookies - A staple of Eat n' Park, a Pittsburgh institution, the cookies are sugar cookies with white icing and a smiley face painted on with icing.

Fried Fish Sandwiches - are particularly loved around here. Usually it's cod, battered and deep fried. The filet is usually around a foot in length and overhangs the traditional hamburger bun substantially. Most often the sandwich gets a healthy dose of tartar sauce.

Eastern European foods - are, generally, much more prevalent around here than elsewhere in the nation. Specifically, I'm thinking of pierogies, kielbasa, haluski, stuffed cabbage, and sausage & peppers.

Clark Bar - this chocolate-coated candy bar was created by the Clark Co., here in Pittsburgh.

Pepperoni Rolls - while not unique to Pittsburgh, I think the dish actually orginated in the region but further to the south, the delicious cheese and meat creation, baked in pizza dough and served with marinara sauce for dipping, is certainly popular here, and Mancini's makes a great variation.

Coney Dogs - this tradition is actually from a bit to the north, New Castle, to be specific, and not terribly distinctive. There are similar forms of this hot dog with meat sauce creation to be found in Cincinnati, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and in many other places throughout the country, BUT ... the meat sauce is absolutely unique to New Castle.

Big Mac - McDonald's signature sandwich was invented less than ten miles north of the city, in the North Hills of Pittsburgh.

[prima]

What a great list for Pittsburgh :-) Another regional specialty for Western PA and parts of Oho are the cookie tables at weddings and funerals, sometimes with boxes ready to pack, so you can take some home. I associate pumpkin roll and banana roll with Western PA, too.

[MonMauler]

Yeah, I actually mentioned the cookie tables in my screed. They are ubiquitous at weddings around here and absolutely unique to the area.

I can also relate to your comment on zucchini and banana bread. I'm not sure how either is unique to the region, but two weeks never went by before one would be on the table in my parents kitchen. In fact, there was a loaf of banana bread sitting on my parents counter when I stopped by there last week.

[buttertart]

Mmm...my mom made banana bread in Ontario in the 1950s and I made many a loaf of zucchini bread in California in the 70s. You can't claim everything for the Burgh!

[kattyeyes]

I think it's generational--Nanny, my mom's mom, ALWAYS made banana bread. God forbid we Yankees we should waste overripe bananas, I'm sure. ;) My mom makes it, too, but my cousins and I always associate it with Nanny. Oh, and I'm chiming in from Connecticut, MonMauler.

[kubasd]

I've never thought of banana, zucchini, or pumpkin bread as regional. I hail from Connecticut and my mom made a couple loaves of one of them pretty much weekly!

[kattyeyes]

Right, not regional, but generational. Our moms and grandmas made it more frequently than we do (or surely more than I do). Do you bake it, kubasd? I inherited the oatmeal cookie gene, but have never been moved to make banana bread. :)

[MonMauler]

Woah there buttertart and kattyeyes, I never claimed zucchini and banana bread as unique to our region. I was responding to prima's post, where they say they had a lot of those two delicious breads growing up. I specifically said, "I don't know how either is specific to the region." I was relating to prima because I had both breads alot growing up as well.

In actuality, I would imagine both items to be more generational than regional, as you're saying.

[prima]

Just to clarify, by "pumpkin roll" and "banana roll", I'm talking about a pumpkin batter or banana batter baked in a jelly roll pan, rolled jelly roll-style, with a cream cheese-based frosting as the filling. I'm not talking about regular banana bread or zucchini bread. While it's quite possible pumpkin roll and banana roll are generational and/or available throughout North America and beyond, I've only had pumpkin roll and banana roll baked and assembled by Baby Boomers, and I've only eaten pumpkin roll and banana roll in western PA and upstate NY.

[MonMauler]

See, I didn't even read your response to my post correctly!

Banana bread was not a treat that I've ever had, although I will shortly. I love banana bread and cream cheese and the combination sounds awesome.

Pumpkin roll, though, was something that made a frequent appearance at family gatherings and in my home. It is my one aunt's favorite treat, and I've made her one for her birthday the past few years. Very good.

[kattyeyes]

No offense intended, MonMauler, so I hope none taken. It just struck me how much I associate banana bread with Nanny (she'd be in her 90s if we were lucky enough to still have her with us) and how it seems that particular item is truly of an era. As to pumpkin roll and banana roll, I've never had either, but, boy, does it sound delicious! I was a big fan of banana bread sandwiches, filled with cream cheese, however. :)

[MonMauler]

Absolutely no offense taken, kattyeyes. I just was trying to prevent this subthread from devolving into a discussion about how these breads aren't from the Western Pennsylvania region, which I wasn't claiming at all.

Actually, though, like prima, pumpkin roll was a staple in our family, as well. In fact, it is my one aunt's favorite treat. I made one for her birthday last year. It's just pumpkin bread spread with cream cheese and rolled like a jelly roll...at least that's the version we always had and the one I made.

I've never had banana bread sandwiches, though. They sound delicious! I'm gonna have to take the basic pumpkin roll idea and substitute in banana bread sometime soon. Back in the day one of my favorite treats were something called (I think) Banana Splits, which, IIRC, was banana bread filled with banana icing. My grandmother would buy a big box, and whenever we went over her house she would give me one of the individual packs.

[kattyeyes]

Pure, old-fashioned, old-timey deliciousness! :) Those banana splits sound great, too!

[buttertart]

Oopsie. Definitely generational. I haven't seen the rolled versions anywhere.

[egg75]

Smiley face cookies originated at Busken Bakery, a Cincinnati chain, not at Eat n Park. Busken opened and began making the cookies in 1928; Eat n Park didn't start making the cookies until 1986.

http://www.amazon.com/Have-Crumby-Boo...

[MonMauler]

Hi egg,

I'm actually not sure that's true. I remember reading somewhere that the smiley face didn't even appear in print until the 50's sometime. The guy that brought the cookie to eat n park said he used to get them as a child at a bakery in his hometown north of here sometime in the late 50's or so and later teamed up with that same bakery to bring the cookie to all eat n park outlets about thirty years ago. I remember because eat n park did a big promotion for their 25 year anniversary about five years ago.

My guess is this bakery in the town north of here was the first to create such a cookie.

But it doesn't matter. I didn't think this thread was about the origin of food dishes or items, which always devolves into a mess, and I never claimed the cookie originated here. I was pointing out that the smiley cookie is ubiquitous around Pittsburgh and particularly associated with eat n park, who actually holds a trademark on the design. I have never seen as much passion and attention devoted to the smiley cookie anywhere else. Apparently, they are loved in cincy, too. Didn't know that.

In any event, you guys can take credit for inventing the smiley cookie...you can be the smiley cookie capitol of the world. All I want is one Skyline chili outlet somewhere within half an hour drive or so.

[kattyeyes]

Literally LOL on the first sentence of your last paragraph. :) Way to start the morning with a smiley, shall we say?! Reminds me of Seinfeld's "look to the cookie" wisdom here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR9wi3...

HAPPY FRIDAY and keep smilin'!

[MonMauler]

A classic Seinfeld clip is another way to ensure starting the morning with a smile, as well.

Happy Friday to you too, Kattyeyes!

[egg75]

Busken has been making them since the late 20s/early 30s, so they still preceded them even if the cookies were made near Pittsburgh in the 50s. There's poignant history tied up in them; they were created for children as a reaction to the Depression. I realize you didn't say they originated here, but most people in Pittsburgh do believe that, and claiming them as a regional specialty perpetuates that. They are quite ubiquitous in southern Ohio as well, and in recent years ad campaigns featuring them have won national awards.

I'm a Pittsburgher and I love the food here -- much to be proud of (not sure my arteries would agree!) This is one that I always have to speak up on, though, because that product very much originated somewhere else, and most people here are not even aware that it exists.

[milkyway4679]

Found a great Post-Gazette piece about this:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/l...

It sheds some light on the topic!

[truman]

what an awesome list for my hometown! Though we referred to "pepperoni bread" rather than pepperoni rolls. I'd also add the fries from Kennywood Park's Potato Patch - but that might just be nostalgia talking, as everyone everywhere can get great fries.

[MonMauler]

Yeah, I wouldn't call Kennywood's Potato Patch fries distinctive or unique to the region. I've seen similar fries served all over.

That said, they are delicious. Everytime I go to Kennywood (hopefully again soon) my meal consists of Potato Patch fries (naked with the little cup of vinegar, with gravy or with cheese), followed by a twenty yard walk up to the confection stand for some funnel cake. That stand is the first place I ever had funnel cake, and I've loved it ever since.

[Jackie007]

Green chile...with or in basically everything.

[Perilagu Khan]

I take it you don't live in Duluth.

[Jackie007]

Nope, southern NM. We even green chile wine & beer. I miss the food I could get in NJ, but man I fell in love with green chile when I moved here.

People here literally buy it by 20lb burlap sacks when the harvest season starts, stand in long lines in front of the supermarket to get them roasted (then, they are dumped into black garbage bags) and then freeze it to last them the year.

[Perilagu Khan]

Oh, I know full well of southern New Mexico and its cuisine. I've been visiting Ruidoso since approximately 1972, and I've spanned the entirety of the region from Silver City to Socorro to Clovis to Las Cruces. With any luck I may retire there.

PS--If you find yourself in Roswell, make haste to Martin's Capitol Cafe and order two bowls of the green chile stew. I asked them for the recipe and they rightly told me to go to hell.

[Jackie007]

Yeah, I'm in Las Cruces.

Don't have much need to go to Roswell, but if I make it up there, I'll check that place out.

[Perilagu Khan]

Oh, you have need to go to Roswell, 007. You have need...

You need to try that green chile stew.

[shnoopy]

Boiled peanuts. All over Georgia.

[buttertart]

All over China too :)

[James Cristinian]

I went to my beloved Astros v Braves back in the 80's. They were selling peanuts outside Fulton County Stadium, and they were the best I've ever had. Just a casual observation from a visiting Houstonion. Shnoopy, do you suppose these were your famous Georgia boiled peanuts?

[shnoopy]

If they were served warm and soft and tasted more like a bean than a peanut then yes. You still have to shell them, but they are more akin to the true legume a peanut is. Peanuts are actually not nuts.

[James Cristinian]

No, they were more like what most think of as a peanut, not soft at all, but they were still delicious. I am aware that peanuts are not nuts, my uncle grew them on his farm, and I toyed with the idea of growing them in my garden, read up on them quite a bit, but never got around to it.

[KaimukiMan]

very popular treat in Hawaii too. star anise is a secret ingredient

[Perilagu Khan]

Lubbock, Texas:

August Fried Pies in about eight different flavors

Goodart's Peanut Patties

Lots of good, but not spectacular BBQ

Chicken fried steak was supposedly invented 50 miles south of here in Lamesa. It's certainly a local fav, and many places make a very good CFS.

According to many well traveled Texans, Lubbock has the best Thai food in the Lone Star State.

Green chile chicken linguini at Orlando's on Avenue Q.

The pizza at One Guy's on 50th.

Carnitas at Cancun on Slide.

The Smokin' Mad Jack sandwich at Gardski's Loft.

The Chicken 65, Chili Chicken and spinach pakoras at Sri Maharaja. I've been to Indian restaurants all over the western hemisphere, and I'm not sure I've found a better one than Sri Maharaja.

There are many classic Texas burger stands in Lubbock. A classic Texas burger features a thin, wide patty; lots of mustard; diced onion; minced iceberg lettuce, and a slice or two of tomato on a lightly toasted bun. Samburgers makes the best example of this specialty, IMO.

The enchiladas here are superb. Plain ol' beef or cheese are featured.

[kattyeyes]

Fried pies? Sigh. No one craves a fried pie more than I.

[Perilagu Khan]

Heh heh. You sound like you've got it bad.

The acme of the fried pie in this region is the apricot fried pie. Aficionados of this genre insist that my grandma (deceased in '87) made the world's best AFP.

[kattyeyes]

I am sure (re world's best!). :)

[JenJeninCT]

In the town I live, Clams (for the picking, if you so desire)Oysters and Lobsters right off the boat. Arguably the best pizza is in nearby New Haven, with white clam casino pizza a local specialty.

Foxon Park sodas, made in East Haven- still made with real sugar

Hot buttered lobster rolls in CT and all seafood, often fried, are regional staples.

[Jerome]

Completely forgot... (old thread though)... chili size. (just a few places still serve this).
that's all. a dish called "chili size."

[kattyeyes]

What is it?

[Jerome]

A method of serving chili and a hamburger.
The bun is halved and toasted. One half is placed on the bottom of the serving plate (more bowl like but not a true bowl, but plates are used some places). The patty of beef is placed over the toasted flattened 1/2 bun. A large (chili size) ladle of homemade chili is poured over the patty - usually beanless chili. Grated cheese and onions are spread across teh top. The second 1'/2 of the toasted bun is cut in semicircular halves and placed atop the concoction like a garnish.
Chili Size.

[kattyeyes]

HOO-AHHH! That sounds great!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q_wgw...

[Jerome]

best place i've found that still serves it (it's endangered in a land of counting carbs and fats) is Beeps, a stand in the san fernando valley portion of Los Angeles, corner of Woodley and Sherman Way.

[rasputina]

I used to eat the chili size at T-Bows in the valley as a teen. There was also a location in TO. Doubt they are still in business, this was back in the 70's

[plasticanimal]

Toronto - The Jamaican beef patty. Ground beef and spices in a yellow semicircle pastry. Cheap, tasty and ubiquitous .

[buttertart]

All over NYC too.

[prima]

In addition to TO and NYC, Jamaican patties can also be found in London, Calgary, Montreal and Jamaica. I'm guessing they can be found elsewhere, too. ;-)

Arva, Ontario: Chocolate dipped buttertarts

Toronto: Greek fries (although it's possible they're available elsewhere- I've only seen them on menus in TO)

Calgary & Toronto (although maybe these are showing up everywhere these days): maple bacon donuts.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Maple bacon doughnuts - can't say about everywhere, but been around for a good while in San Francisco.

[prima]

Argh. Go figure that the Canadians are late jumping on the maple bacon donut bandwagon.

I don't think they've been available in TO for much more than 12-18 months, but I could be wrong. Not sure about Calgary.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Maple bacon everything seems to be a thing. There was a place that was doing maple bacon lattes in SF (was visited on an Anthony Bourdain show a few years ago).

[buttertart]

It kills me to hear Arva mentioned (old stomping grounds on the way to the cottage!) It's amazing no one thought of that before.

[prima]

I know! I'll try one this summer, and let you know how they are.

Something that can be found in TO and Greece, but isn't extremely common, as far as I know: chocolate-dipped baklava.

[buttertart]

I've seen the baklava here too. Pretty much anything that can be held down gets chocolate on it!

[Blush]

Oh my. I must know where in Arva the chocolate dipped buttertarts are sold!

[Matt H]

Considering Jamaican Patties are basically in every Grocery Store now frozen, they are hardly a tough find in any major city. Plus the Jamaican diaspora is large in South Florida, NYC, Hartford, Philadelphia, DMV, Boston, London, etc...

Now I will say Toronto does have some great patty shops (Randy's, Allens, Micidean and Tinnel's to name the best)

One type of food I did not find until I moved to the Boston Area 5 years back was Cape Verdean Food, cant say I have seen that available anywhere else I have lived.

[minibrings]

When I lived in Adelaide, South Australia, the locals were fond of pie floaters, especially after the pubs closed and you needed food in you prior to going home. Take a traditional meat pie, flip it upside down on top of pea soup and splash tomato sauce (catsup) on top. Yum. When I get the craving I go to the Tuc Shop in NYC and ask them to float my pie. Heaven.

[Antblanks]

Gardena, CA
A suburb in Los Angeles with some of the best delicious/authentic hawaiian and japanese food in the states including hand rolled udon, homemade tofu, yakitori from every part of the chicken imaginable, Takoyaki something usually not found outside of Osaka, shabu shabu, fresh cut sushi from Marukai market. For Hawaiin food we have King's (hawaiin bread french toast!), Bruddahs, and a locals only place at Gardena Bowl. I'm not even asian but I miss my hometown foods :-)....live in boston now

[thew]

come to NYC - we have takoyaki and yakitori aplenty

[Leepa]

That "some kind of cheese spread" your sister brought up is likely pimento cheese. Always better homemade than bought. A search here on Chowhound should produce great recipes for you to try.

That is... in case you haven't already in the last three years. ; )

[Sue in Mt P]

Minna cheese is easy to make. However, (I may have to duck) I have found a great store brand that fools even the most minna cheese picky people: Palmetto Cheese.

http://www.palmettocheese.com/testimo...

[Leepa]

I love it, too. that's the only one I'll buy.

[Sue in Mt P]

Shrimp and grits. Delicious.

[alliegator]

*sniffle* I want some from Hominy Grill. even though I just pick off the shrimp and skip the grits, that's on of life's best eats!!

[Sue in Mt P]

Try Atlanticville-the BEST. I'll go with and eat yer grits : )

[steve h.]

Stamford, Connecticut has the Colony Grill. The Colony is a neighborhood bar that came up with a cracker thin, hot oil pizza.

The Colony has been around since the 1930's. They sweep the place out every now and then.

Edited to add: seems I responded a few years back.

[hamboney]

Des Moines area;
Taylor's Maid-rites in Marshalltown, Pella Dutch letters & ring bologna, AE cottage cheese, dips, sour cream, etc. (I ship to my sis in Vegas), Grimes sweet corn. Maytag bleu from the farm-store in Newton.

IMO, the best local is Graziano Brother's Itailian sausage and South Union Bread.
Hammy

[Passadumkeg]

Jesum boom, sounds yust like like Lancaster Co, Pa. How are the pretzels and scrapple?

[verily]

Got family up that way. I always miss A-Treat spicy ginger ale, Amish vanilla pie, Guers iced tea, and whoopie pies sold by an Amish feller in a black hat and a big ol' beard who always gives this young lady a disapproving look even as he takes my money.

[Passadumkeg]

I miss Postie's soda and Gibbon's Ale. In Hazelton, Pa. is a quasi pizza/bread called pitz. It's one of those things that locals that have moved away carry on the the plane back to their new home. My cousins hand carries it back to San Francisco.

[tatamagouche]

The Italian-American tradition in Des Moines is way underreported, I think. Some great little red sauce joints/pizzerias, and yes, that sausage is great.

[Forrys Store]

I agree the AE cottage cheese is great, How about cheese crust pizza.

[Passadumkeg]

Christmas every day of the year! In New Mexico, if one is asked if they prefer red or green chile on their enchilada, burrito, stuffed sopaippila, etc. and one answers, "Gimme Christmas", it means both read and green chile.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Dumkeg

[CanadaGirl]

This is an old post, but I'm from Halifax and need to add donairs to the list. Other places have something they call donairs, and some people say it is the same as a Gyro, but anyone from Halifax will tell you they are not the same anywhere else. It is the sauce that is different, as here it is sweet and vinegary but NOT garlicy at all. Yum!

[piccola]

You can find Halifax-style donairs in maybe one or two take out joints in Ontario. Mostly run (or advised) by expats.

[CanadaGirl]

Maybe the ones you've seen do it "right", but I've tried a few places in my time living in Ottawa and there was always something wrong. I attribute it to them being made more like a shawarma, which is good, but it's not a donair.

[piccola]

No, no, not in Ottawa. But there are a couple places in the GTA that come reallllllllly close. Oh, and there's Pizza Delight in Fergus and Smiths Falls.

[CanadaGirl]

Good to know. But, I don't consider Pizza Delight to be a good example.

[piccola]

It's definitely not high-quality, but it's accurate. At least, so tell me all the expat New Brunswickers I know -- I'm veg, so I've never actually had donair. (I have, unfortunately, tried donair sauce, though.)

[CanadaGirl]

There's the problem ;). As a Haligonian, I think donairs from other places are "wrong". We make them different here.

[Jerome]

How does it differ from the basic turkish Döner kebab ? I know in Germany they serve the Döner kebab differently. Even in LA there are places (beyond the armenian or lebanese or israeli place that serves shawarma) selling Döner kebab as such... e.g. Spitz Restaurant, http://www.eatatspitz.com/. So just am interested in a canadian version (gyros I think is linguistically the same thing in greek as turkish döner kebab).

[CanadaGirl]

I'm not really sure how it's different, but I can provide details. The type of donair in Halifax was created by Lebanese immigrants, so it's probably closer to a shawarma than a Turkish doner kabob. But I've had shawarma, and they are quite different It is made from ground beef (usually) and spices, cooked on a vertical spit. It is sliced off thinly, put into pita with onions, tomatoes and sauce. The sauce is made of evaporated milk, sugar, and garlic. Yum :)

[linguafood]

That's very interesting. Shawarma - as served in Germany - is *always* massive slices of meat that have been marinating and are then put on the vertical spit. The ground meat/spam-type kind is more often found in döner kebabs here.

And true Greek gyros is like shawarma - no ground meat either.

[CanadaGirl]

Shawarma is made from chunks of meat here too. But I wouldn't call Halifax donairs "spam-like", as the good places mix it from scratch and cook it fresh. I know the place near us that I prefer for my infrequent donairs purchases its ground beef from the same butcher I purchase my meats.

I've not really had similar types of food in many other places, but anyone who as had one will attest that our donairs are not like other places. They are not authentic to anything except Halifax :)

(I didn't read any implied insult with your "Spam-like" comment, FYI :). )

[linguafood]

Well, the döner's not totally spam-like either. It's just a consistency I don't prefer with grilled meat. Like friend bologna. And I actually *like* bologna (well, to be honest, it's gotta be pistachio mortadella).

But I'd take a shwarma or gyros over a döner any day.

PS: I've never even tried Spam. Ha! :-)

[CanadaGirl]

I've never had Spam either. Not something I'm upset about.

You may prefer shawarma or gyro to a döner, but you'll have to visit Halifax so you can decide where to rank a donair ;)

[linguafood]

Some day....

[buttertart]

I believe the sauce is on the sweet side, no? Not your kind of thing, methinks.

[piccola]

It's very, very sweet. And garlicky. All at once. So yeah, an acquired taste. :)

[linguafood]

Ah, yes. Sweet is my least favorite flavor. Maybe the garlic would make up for it.

[CanadaGirl]

I would say the sauce is way more sweet than garlicky.

[prima]

I can barely taste the garlic, the few times I've had it!

[piccola]

Really? I've always had it pretty garlicky - though it's a garlic powder flavour, not the raw bulb.

[CanadaGirl]

You've had it really garlicky in Halifax? Because one of the things I think other places do "wrong" is that the sauce it too garlicky and not sweet enough. In my experience, the sauce on a donair in Halifax has hardly any garlic. The meat on the other hand.....

[piccola]

No, in New Brunswick. And to be fair, I've only had it on bread because I'm vegetarian, so maybe it tastes more garlicky without the meat flavours interfering.

[existential_crisis]

The garlic content really depends on the place. The place I used to work at put zero garlic in it. But I've heard of places putting more or less garlic into it. So it just varies.

[CanadaGirl]

Out of curiosity, where did you work? Just trying to see if we have the same reference points!

[existential_crisis]

I worked for Big Red's Pizza in the south shore. Just used evaporated milk, white vinegar and white sugar. I've seen recipes call for garlic powder, but I don't know how common it is. I've also noticed differences in consistency. At Joey's Pizza in Sackville, NB they use this amazing whipped donair sauce. Other places appear to cheat and use condensed milk, which gives it more of a yellowy "pudding" consistency. This is the stuff you'll find in the grocery store, and what they served us in meal hall at my university. The stuff I made at Big Red's was just carefully stirred and curdled. The consistency could get dangerously thin without proper care.

[piccola]

We mostly got it from places like Greco and Pizza Delight in Fredericton. And even then, it wasn't totally consistent on the garlic level.

[CanadaGirl]

Oh; that clarifies things. What one gets when ordering a donair at Greco or Pizza Delight is not at all the same as a Halifax donair. Cousins maybe, but not closer than that, IMO.

[piccola]

Mystery solved! :)

[existential_crisis]

Pizza Delight has a unique style of donair where they use kind of a flat pizza dough shell on which to compile the ingredients. They don't use a thin Lebanese pita, which is the standard. As for their donair sauce, it's ok. Actually, Big Red's uses pizza dough too, which they fold over the meat and bake in the oven. Then they put the donair in a bowl and douse it in donair sauce. I haven't eaten at Greco in forever because I loathe their pizza, so I doubt their donairs are anything to write home about. My favourite place is Venus Pizza on Barrington St.

[Ruthie789]

Agree with you Canada Girl. We often ended up at the King of Donair? on Spring Garden after a night out on the town! Think this got a writeup in the Globe and Mail awhile ago.

[Cinnabon]

Knott's Boysenberry punch
Boysenberry pie
Clearmans cheesespread. Okay so it's available in markets now but it started in the area.
http://www.clearmansrestaurants.com/c...

[chuckaukau]

OPIHI!!!!

[YAYME]

Stewart's ice cream, yum! I love the carrot cake flavor! Afghan cuisine, also very yum! Savory crepes, that you can't find anywhere south of Monteral. And White Eagle hot dogs with the sheep casings yummmm..... the hot dog so good it doesn't need anything on it.

[Lindseyup67]

I live in the U.P of Michigan, and it would have to be cudighi's and pasties!

[trishyb]

i'm a lifelong californian, but lived temporarily in utah from january through mid-may. i discovered fry sauce, which i have never seen anywhere else. it's a ketchup-mayo mix with spices served with french fries. it's sold in stores there and served in all restaurants. families even have their own recipes.

[Jerome]

it's sounds like a simple spicy thousand island. i grew up in LA with thousand island as a dipping sauce for french fries.

and as the "secret"sauce on burgers.

[nvcook]

I've had to give this a lot of thought. It's not just northern Nevada but also cities in the west with large Basque populations (of which we are one). Picon Punch - bell shaped glass with ice, a little grenadine, picon liquor, soda water and a float of brandy. Garnished with lemon peel. Deadly - but oh so good. The other would be solomo. It is a sliced pork loin whose preparation I can't really figure out that is covered with roasted garlic cloves and roasted red peppers. My favorite thing to order when we go out here.

[trishyb]

no, it's not thousand island... less mayo-y and no relish/pickles in it. and other than people requesting the sauce from in-n-out for their fries here (i'm an angeleno, too,) i have never seen thousand island as a fry condiment. ranch is always offered.

[Jerome]

never saw ranch until relatively recently.

fisher's burgers on 3rd st (formerly on fairfax) always had 1000 island for fries. And 1000 on burgers is ubiquitous as a topping. Isn't the latter your experience as well?

[trishyb]

sure, thousand island on burgers happens all over the place. my original post was about this specific condiment called "fry sauce" that i have only seen in utah. (there are even a variety of brand names.) even other out-of-state transplants to utah told me that they had never seen it until they moved to utah. you had likened it to thousand island, and i tried to explain that it differed. they only use it for fries - not on their burgers.

i'm surprised that you have only noticed ranch for fries recently... i have seen ranch offered with fries for at least the last 15 years or so.

[ekammin]

Fiddleheads
Caesar (Bloody Mary with clam juice)
Poutine (French fries, cheese curds and gravy - OK, this is mainly Québecois)
Fish and Brewis (Ditto, from Newfoundland - absolutely poisonous, salt cod, hard bread, and pork bits and fat - but delicious!
Peameal back bacon - not the stuff called "Canadian bacon" in the US)
Coffee Crisp

[Passadumkeg]

Sounds like your neighbor,here in Maine. Pickled Winkles? Salt fish & potatoes w/ pork scraps? Fish cakes & beans for breakfast? Finn Haddie?

[LJS]

St. John, New Brunswick? or TO, but then I still don't know where you are getting the fish and brewis from unless you cook it up yourself? BTW in my hometown (in NL) the 'pork bits' were scruncheons.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Fiddleheads? Perhaps you have more in Ontario, but they're common if not exactly ubiquitous in season in the eastern US, and perhaps in other areas, too.

[huaqiao]

Unless you live in East Asia, your city probably doesn't have an okonomiyaki place where you cook it yourself on a teppan grill!

[bigfellow]

Montreal doesn't, I can't find an okonomiyaki. But they have a place in Toronto called okonomi that does them well.

[Jerome]

actually i believe it does, kinda. the city would be gardena but it's close enough.

[huaqiao]

Actually, Gaja-moc is in Lomita. That's the one I was refering to. :P

[Jerome]

sand dabs
real cobb salad
real french dip sandwiches (just at COle's or Philippes)
Koji truck tacos with bulgoki
Grapefruit Cake (brown derby style)
date shakes

[JBC]

I believe the city you're referring to = Los Angeles ?

[Passadumkeg]

Albuquerque. The Frontier Restaurant on Central Ave across from UNM: a bowl of green chile or a green burrito for breakfast. Soppapaillas and green chile stuffed soppappailas. We will be there this Saturday!

[cycloneillini]

These are somewhat more regional than city-specific, but a few I thought of are Maid-Rite sandwiches in Iowa (Rosanne called them loose meat sandwiches); horseshoes in Decatur, IL (open faced sandwhich - usually hamburger or ham - topped with french fries and drowned in chees sause, aka melted CheezWhiz); toasted ravioli in St. Louis. 20 years ago there used to be a lot more, but now it seems like you can get almost anything anywhere.

[KevinB]

I scratched my head reading through this thread, and I have to say, as enormous as the Greater Toronto Area is (population around 6 million), I can't think of anything that is uniquely Toronto. Other posters have mentioned peameal (or "back") bacon, but that is available all through Ontario, and certainly didn't originate in Toronto. Ditto for butter tarts (and the best aren't found in Toronto, as a search through the Ontario board will show).

We have a wide variety of tremendous food in Toronto from all corners of the globe, but the closest thing I could think of to a truly unique Toronto food was the apple fritters at Tim Horton's pre-Wendy's. They were big, filled with apple chunks, and delicious. The smaller version with less fruit now available is a pale comparison to the original.

[bigfellow]

Montreal, land of poutine, smoked meat, tourtiere, steamed hot dogs, maple syrup - sugar - butter, REAL bagels,

[kattyeyes]

I'm being nosy now since your city has steamed hot dogs and mine has steamed cheeseburgers (and I had one yesterday--mmmmmm--with McAdam sharp!). Do you steam them in a steamer box as we do our cheeseburgers? If so, do you make the burgers, too? So tasty.

[bigfellow]

We don't have the burgers. What we have is a large rectangular steamer that holds a few dozen dogs on one side and a couple of dozen buns on the other. They are everywhere here.

[kattyeyes]

Large and rectangular sounds like the same steamer box they use for the burgers. Maybe all you're missing is the trays for the meat and the cheese? Does it look like this?
http://steamcheeseburgerchest.com/buy...

[bigfellow]

No, it is recessed into or placed on the counter and is all metal. I'll try and find a photo.

[kattyeyes]

Bummer 'cause you would LOVE steamed cheeseburgers!!! But will be interested to see what it is if you find a photo.

[bigfellow]

A counter top steamer and a meal called a trio here in french. It consists of a steamed hot dog (steamee) and a poutine and a soft drink.

(A trio is actually any main, fries and a drink)

[kattyeyes]

How cool--I'm sure the trio is really good, though clearly it is really bad! ;) Isn't that always the way?!

[schrutefarms]

Have'a Chips.

[Querencia]

SOUTHERN-STYLE PIMIENTO CHEESE: Process in Cuisinart 8-12 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese with 3 oz cream cheese, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, 1/2-1 tsp dry Coleman's mustard powder, a pinch of hot red pepper. When it's smooth, add 1/2-1 cup canned pimientos and process briefly to whomp them up. Taste and correct---should taste intensely cheesey and have a little bite to it. This is addictive. You will not be able to walk past the refrigerator without grabbing some.

[Querencia]

Atom, I lived in Rochester for two years as a child and my memory is that sometimes Rochestarians didn't necessarily eat different foods but sometimes called them by different names (different to my Midwestern ears). A hot dog was a hot or a Texas hot. A doughnut was a fried cake. There were wonderful sandwich steaks called Dream Steaks and a frozen confection called Frosted Malted that I have never found anywhere else. At a bakery my mother used to buy spice cake with chocolate icing, something else I've never run into since, and very good. And all the kids I knew ate salt on apples and pretzels with ice cream. Re the cheese your sister brought, I wonder if it may have been Pimiento Cheese, very popular in the South. If so, I can post a recipe for it.

[kattyeyes]

Middletown, CT is the home of steamed cheeseburgers and scacciata (Melilli, Sicily is our sister city).

Here's some steamed cheeseburger history for ya! My uncle's place (Alfredo's Riverside, now closed) used to make them. Brian O'Rourke of O'Rourke's Diner still does.
http://davescupboard.blogspot.com/2008/06/in-praise-of-steamed-cheeseburgers.html

And that's one more thing Middletown has that your city may not--the best little hometown diner in the world--one that literally rose from the ashes after a tragic fire, rebuilt with help from the local community who rallied to make it so. Brian O'Rourke has an exceptionally creative culinary mind and a big heart...a part of which goes into all of his creations. As you'll hear him say about his specials, "There's a lot of love in that dish!"
http://www.roadage.com/portfolio/subp...

[Passadumkeg]

We did used to eat at Afredo's when visiting Wes., great old place by the river off rt 9. Sorry it's gone.
O'Rourke's is more than a diner.

[Sam Fujisaka]

OK, here's some more: smoked shark, roasted white maize (on sticks), sandwich Cubano, borojo drinks (a foul fruit that makes you "strong"), champurado, and pan de bono made from cassava. Worst is "salsa rosada" a nationally manufactured "pink sauce" that is a mixture of mayo and ketchup. Best is that people know how to eat whole fish - although it is often deep fried tilapia.

[sunangelmb]

Another vote for pork roll
and of course Disco fries

[Passadumkeg]

More Jersey:
And a slice of tomato pie!

A Kaiser roll w/ butter.

Soft shell crab sandwich.

[sunangelmb]

There is something about a kaiser roll with butter from krausers that makes me so happy. Better than any gourmet breakfast!

[don515]

Ditto on the pork roll. We rented a house on St. John a couple from a retired couple from NJ we knocked on their door to get the keys and handed them a roll of Taylor Ham-how did you know! It's my favorite! Your from NJ.
Also no substitute for a Kellys in Neptune NJ Rubin

http://kellystavernjerseyshore.com/wp...

[Chabales]

Meat Pie floater. Chunky steak meat pie in a bowl of pea soup, brilliant

[purple goddess]

Are you from Adelaide?

[umbushi plum]

i was going to ask that to, are you thinking of a restaurant on henty beach that serves it, or maybe several places in the garden city do?

[minibrings]

Its not really a pie floater unless you get it from the pie cart in front of the Railway Station in Adelaide.. alas, these have been removed due to the Tram extensions onto North Terrace. But the 24 hour bakery on O'Connell St in No Adelaide makes a nice pie floater, and I have mine with tomato sauce on top. Lets see other South Australian yummies would be Balfours Frogs, Coopers Beer, Farmers Union Iced Coffee (which I crave here in America)... people have already mentioned vegemite and tim tams. But I think what South Australia does really well are wines.. I miss driving weekends to the Barossa (Shiraz), Clare Valley (Reisling), McClaren Vale (Shiraz) and the Adelaide HIlls (Sauv Blanc). South Australia rocks!

[Passadumkeg]

Salt fish & potatoes w/ pork scraps; old style Maine, hard to find today. Fried calms, lobster roll, bean hole beans, red snapper hot dogs.

[umbushi plum]

i'm not in america can i still play? obviously here in oz we have vegimite, tim tams, vanilla slices, lamingtons, ausome meat pies, sausage rolls, sausage sizzles, etc but here in Melbourne we can get fresh castlemaine dips with 100% real ingredients (there hummus is mostly chickpeas with just a little garlic and lemon) and we have some awesome local cheeses such as meredith dairy producers (oh my the feta) and holy goat goat cheeses, and we have lots of amazing artisian and organic bread makers ( phillipas, purple goddess you probably know what i mean!) and we have some beasutiful fresh fish such as blue grenadier and nile perch as well as sydney rock oysters and tassie ones too! Go Melbourne!

[JBC]

Los Angeles - Sand Dabs = a West Coast fish of the Flounder family. Not fantastic, but very enjoyable. I've done a food search for it on Menupages in NYC and no place has it.

Next Time you watch the "Spirit of St. Louis" with Jimmy Stewart, you see the head of the airplane manufacturer co. cooking them up on a piece of sheet metal using a blow tourch.

[EWSflash]

Tucson has its own style of Sonoran Mexican food. It's a little bit different everywhere else. Not to say that it's al the same everywhere else- every area has its own style.

Does anybody have a cheese tostada/cheese crisp (big flour tortilla broiled or fried with melted cheese and sometimes green chiles on top) available at restaurants? It's served on a raised tray over the center of the table. Huge gut bomb and it's the absolute best.

[bermudagourmetgoddess]

Oh I will eat anything with Cheese! That sounds so yummy, must get to Tucson one day!

[goldendawn7]

Easter North Carolina BBQ baby! And the best damn Eastern European food this side of Berlin at J Betskis.

Steve Chernick, Raleigh, NC

[Sean]

Gaggers (Hot Weiners)
Saugies
Clam cakes
Doughboy's
Del's frozen lemonade
Coffee syrup
Stuffies

[ejs1492]

I cannot believe that someone from St Louis has not mentioned Provel Cheese....unique to "St Louis Style Pizza" which is to die for. (Unless you're not from St Louis, in which case you'll find it vile.)

Alas, I live in Arizona now and have to have my St Louis Style pizza with Provel cheese FedEx'd to me.

[lemons]

Not only provel cheese.

Gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli and pork steaks, the St. Louis trifecta.

[hill food]

you 2 are playing with fire. the un-convinced have no end to their objections.

[purple goddess]

Vegemite
Meat pies
Chicko rolls
Pine Lime Splices
Chokito bars
Violet Crumble
Yabbies
'Roo
Emu
Buffalo

[umbushi plum]

go autralia! check out the post i did on melbourne below you might find some of your favourites ;-)

[Caitlin McGrath]

Buffalo is pretty universally available in the US, actually.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Good chance that pg is referring to water buffalo found throughout S and SE Asia and not to bison.

[Sal Vanilla]

Olympic Peninsula, WA: Salmon Jerky. Not as vile as it sounds.
Lotsa places also serve freshly shucked oysters in a silo cup with very horserashy cocktail sauce layered in. SO good.

[lost squirrel]

Japanese food and Indian food. Rochester has it, but it's not that great.
I lived in the ROC for about 7 years and I really miss The Flour City Diner and Pellegrino's.
Oh yeah, you have greek places that we don't. Although I heard Mykonos went to new management and is now half italian/half greek and all bad, true?

[easily amused]

Smoked Goldeye,......... From the Province of Manitoba, Canada

[salsailsa]

Ditto on that one fellow 'toban!

Also love La Cocina tortilla chips and Old Country weiners.

[LadyCook61]

Do you have Taylor Ham ? It is also known as Pork Roll.

[MattInNJ]

Taylor Ham is just a brand of Pork Roll
We also have the NJ Sloppy Joe.

[bermudagourmetgoddess]

Just to name a few of our islands local favorites

Bermuda Fish Chowder
Cassava pie
Codfish and Potatoes topped with bananas
Shark fritters or hash
Wahoo
Codfish cakes (BIG on Good Friday)

[EWSflash]

Wow- I clearly need to visit Bermuda.

[cavandre]

There's a local deli here in Melbourne, FL that carries Taylor Ham...now if I could just find a NYC Hard Roll!

[the_MU]

In Rochester you folks actually do pretty well. What in the world is out there that you can't get at Wegmans? Hmmm.

You can't get decent fried clams, that's for sure.

[cigarmedic4]

In the Rochester NY area there are also Beef on Weck, Loganberry drink, Salt Potatoes ( I think originally from Syracuse) State Fair Chicken, and more fish frys than you can shake a stick at.

[bflocat]

You're not too far from Buffalo, where we've got real chicken wings (sadly not those at Anchor Bar), real frozen custard (such a hard find elsewhere!), Weber's mustards, and of course Beef on 'Weck!

I used to live in Lafayette, LA, where we had Turducken for Thanksgiving and boiled crawfish with special dipping sauce every day from February through June...Also, some good dirty rice with a deep, dark roux-based gumbo? Delicious!

[cavandre]

As an ex-NYer now living in Central FL...the humble NYC hard roll.

[steve h.]

hot oil pizza at the colony in stamford, connecticut.
it is unique.

[lynnlato]

Please elaborate, it sounds interesting!

[steve h.]

colony grill is a hoot. it's a low-rent place/bar on myrtle avenue that's been around for generations.

the pizza has a cracker-thin crust. i'm sure there's some sauce there just like i'm sure there's some vermouth in some of my martinis. the cheese is somehow infused into this bed of deliciousness. hot oil (think hot asian oil) is splashed all over the pie. i like my hot oil pie with pepperoni.

some thoughts: you'll need a few hundred napkins to wipe off the excess oil ( a good thing) from your hands and face. cash only.

[Stillwater Girl]

The deep-fried cheese curds at the Minnesota State Fair!!!!! They just drip grease but they are heavenly. I find it terribly hard to believe that there are areas of this country that don't have cheese curds but I've heard they exist.

[sbp]

From Buffalo, live on Long Island. Buffalo has better wings than anywhere else (at least true Franks Hot Sauce Buffalo wings -- Rochester has great alternatives like country sweet); also Sahlens/Ted's hot dogs, Anderson's custard and curly-q fries, beef on weck, sponge candy, Friday fish fry with Haddock as the fish. Long Island - Pizza's pretty good, but not really unique.

[Potomac Bob]

Pimiento cheese - never met anybody from outside the South who knew what it was - but they take to it on introduction. Brunswick stew. Muffaletta sandwiches. Gumbo. Calas (sweet rice fritters) from New Orleans, chess pie, ramps, grits, country ham, biscuits 'n' gravy with sausage, pralines, chicken-fried steak, catfish 'n' hushpuppies, sorghum pie, fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, cream of peanut soup, pepper vinegar, cracklin' cornbread, pickled peaches, saw mill gravy, fried pies, beignets, stack cake, breakfast shrimp, she-crab soup, sweet potato pie, Moon Pies, jambalaya, poke, shuck beans, red beans 'n' rice, Key Lime pie. I cheated, in that I didn't limit it to a single city.

[JungMann]

I grew up in the North eating pimiento cheese on rolls for breakfast and tea. Now in NYC I occasionally splurge on a package of freshly made cheese from my local market (where I can also buy Moonpies, which are ubiquitous as ramps). Deviled eggs were a regular treat around Easter and fried pies were as common as sweet potato pie in Chicago, too, which is to say they were available at chain grocers, just as much as the pepper vinegar which was typically homemade but also available at the local Filipino market. When we traveled outside the city and headed either south of Kankakee or west of Belvedere it became country cuisine all the way: biscuits and gravy, fried green tomatoes, CFS -- my favorite part of family road trips. The rest of your list, however, belies a terrific life of regional good eats!

[Potomac Bob]

Belies?

[MMRuth]

One of my favorite words:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/belies

To show to be false, etc.

[Potomac Bob]

I know what it means. Just surprised to see such a hostile reaction and wondered it that's what was actually meant. Unless I'm still misunderstanding.

[mrbozo]

Not to worry. It seems that the original use of "belies" was likely inappropriate and unintentionally so. The response was meant in a tongue-in-cheek way, not maliciously. I waive all fees.

[JungMann]

How embarassing. I'd like to blame the mistake on being only half-awake after coming in the office. I think the word I meant to use was "betrays" ( as in "reveals"). I am starting to regret revealing my other life as a writer in another thread because that error would seem to belie my abilities!

[Potomac Bob]

JungMann
Not to worry. I've often used the wrong word. Or the almost right word. Remember Mark Twain: "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is like the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."
Cheers

[YAYME]

My Dad made Brunswick stew for me, thought neither of us is southern from a recipe he got. I love the stuff!

[SonyBob]

I live in the Detroit area now where Vernor's ginger ale is unique However, I was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas and I still crave Ott's salad dressing. It is made in Carthage, MO. and there's nothing like it. It's kinda like French or Russian but special. I've never seen it out of the Kansas City area. We mail order it.
Bob

[menuinprogress]

Ahh, Vernor's. My family comes from the Detroit area, and the two things I remember as a kid when visiting the grandparents are Vernor's and Sanders Hot Fudge. Good stuff.

[Blush]

Vernor's was/is also popular across the border in Southwestern Ontario. I have a case in my pantry right now. It doesn't taste the same as it used to though.

[Caitlin McGrath]

You can buy Vernor's in other areas. It's in Northern California supermarkets, has been since I was a child in the '70s.

[Clarkafella]

Pig ear sandwiches- never seen 'em outside of Mississippi. Same thing with Koolickles...

[LJS]

OK, Clarkafella: I'll bite, are they actually made of pigs ears? Gulp?

[Clarkafella]

Yep:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepfrie...

I went in to the Big Apple Inn one time for some tamales, and they were making up a bunch of sandwiches- they had a huge pot full of boiling pig ears! I started to try one but chickened out...

[silleehillee]

Clarkafella, you can always try a banh mi sandwich with head cheese. The head cheese is made with pig ears.

LJS, they're more of a crunchy protein texture than an actual taste - though perhaps my palate isn't as refined as Clarkafella's.

[Clarkafella]

Actually, I like head cheese- I get it from a place in Picayune,MS from a guy that used to be in St Bernard parish before Katrina- great stuff! So maybe I've eaten pig's ears after all...

[LJS]

I like head cheese, too, and black pudding and tripe sandwiches (in Italy, don't seem to be able to re-create these at home...). I think I will try to get me some PIg Ear Sandwiches if I get to Mississippi! And if you go to Newfoundland you can try Seal Flipper Pie!

[James Cristinian]

I'll give a couple of examples of food two cities have that nobody had, but now everyone has. I live in Houston, and in the late 70's and early 80's I visited Rochester and upstate New York on numerous occasions and had heard of Buffalo wings. Naively, I asked in Rochester where to get them, and was told Buffalo, go figure. Anyway, I went to Anchor Bar in Buffalo, wonderful. At the same time, beef fajitas were becoming popular at a hole in the wall called Ninfas, on Navigation Blvd. in east Houston. At the time they were called tacos ala Ninfa and were made with ribeye and would melt in your mouth on wonderful soft flour tortillas. They actually migrated from south Texas/northern Mexico but were popularized here. By the way, there is no such thing as a chicen or shrimp fajita, it is a misnomer, named by whom, I don't know.

[MattInNJ]

NJ sloppy joes.
Pork Roll.
Italian Hot Dogs.
Italian Subs. (HSP let, tom, onion, O&V, S&P, Oregano)

[swsidejim]

i would think any city that has a large italian population, and itlalian delis/meatmarkets can do an Italian sub

My local favorite: Mortadella, Hot Capicola, Salami, Provolone, lettuce tomato, onion, hot peppers, and the o & v sauce.

[MattInNJ]

I agree with you, but everywhere I go, it just isn't the same. My original post should also include awesome Jewish Deli's..

[swsidejim]

I see your point, you are correct.

[bobfxd]

You forgot Italian hot dogs

[lattelover]

Peter Lugar's steak sauce - not available outside of the NYC region. All my friends who have moved away from the area request it everytime I visit.

[MattInNJ]

Which, strangely enough, should never be used on steak!

[duck833]

I have Peter Lugar's steak sauce air freighted to Eugene, Oregon, have three full ones left in refer. BBQed some tenderloins this weekend, went great with them and fresh salad.

[bermudagourmetgoddess]

We can get Peter Luger's Steak Sauce in BERMUDA !...For the Bermudians, Market Place carries it! I love it!

[lynnlato]

What's in a NJ sloppy joe? Just curious as I'm originally from PA and my mom always made sloppy joes for us as kids and no one I know does that. If they do anything, it's a MANWICH - ugh. But hers were very basic, browned ground beef and onion, ketchup, sugar, a little mustard, worcestshire and cider vinegar. Simmer on low for a half hour. We called it hamburg bbq.

[swsidejim]

The only thing Chicago has, that I cant find a good version of anywhere else, is the Italian Beef Sandwich, or the Beef and Sausage Combo, both with sweet and hot peppers.

Many people think Chicago is pizza and hotdogs, I dont.., every city has hotdogs, and pizza, and I dont think Chicago's pizza is anything special.

[cycloneillini]

I know it's not all that far from Chicago (3 hrs), but Mr. G's in Decatur had amazing Italian Beef and Beef/Sausage Combo just like you describe. Of course I never ordered it, because I could never get out of there with anything other than their Chicago dog and fries.

[thew]

nyc - the egg cream (but it's going the way of the dodo i fear)

[lynnlato]

The cheese spread your sister brought up was likely pimento cheese. Very common down here in the South.

In my hometown in central PA, every Italian resto and family cans their own Italian peppers. These are banana peppers sliced and cooked w/ garlic and spices. Some folks add sliced olives & mushrooms. You then can them w/ an olive oil blend. They are served w/ italian bread to start a meal. They are also eaten on salads and hoagies. I'm fairly certain that you can't find these peppers anywhere else. It's just a regional pa thing. It's funny b/c everyone swears they make the best peppers. People talk about each other's peppers. It's a competition.

Shoe Fly Pie!

[SiksElement]

as a resident of sw pa, i am also aware of shoe fly pie. sometimes i forget that it exists, then i go home to moms house and there it is. may be one of the ultimate comfort foods in my book!
we also have primanti brothers in pgh. best sandwich ever. they have multiple options, but the big thing is every sandwich has the french fries and cole slaw ON it. vinegar based dressing on the slaw, not mayo.

[duby]

in cleveland i remember a sandwich with the fries and vinegar cole slaw (sometimes a fried egg) they called it a panini. It was great if your heart survived

[Bunnyfood]

*Maple candies(ok , you can get these in NH and VT as well, but they're definetly a Northeast thing) One of my favorite sweets...
*Italian sandwiches- don't know why they are called that, but that's what the sub shops in Maine call deli meat, cheeese and veggies in a sub roll with oil, salt and pepper.
*Lobster rolls at McDonald's.

That's all I can come up with at this moment in time!

[OldGrayWolf]

OH yeah; the Maple candy company up in St. Johnsbury that makes and sells it; nothing can beat their stuff. "Lobster rolls" from NH would be a 'grinder' in Michigan or a 'sub' and most would call it a sub. The lobster would be hard to find here, though!! Definitely not at McD's. We do have a thing called crazy potatoes in this village...shredded fries, cheese, mushrooms (w/or w/o) and maybe something else, but I don't order them so can't remember...

[Passadumkeg]

Don't forget maple sugar candies from Skowhegen, Maine.

[gaffk]

I love those maple sugar candies . . . have to have them every Sep\Oct

[LJS]

Both my home towns:

Corner Brook, Newfoundland (Canada)-cods' tongues, cod's cheeks, seal flipper pie
Toronto-Butter Tarts, Tiny Toms Hot Donuts

[mrbozo]

And the ubiquitous yet commercially near invisible pea meal bacon sandwich (which IMO is what Americans ought to be referring to as "Canadian bacon" rather than the delicious in its own right smoked pork tenderloin that seems to have been stuck with the moniker but is not called bacon up here).

[LJS]

Oh absolutely!-a peameal bacon sandwich: how could I miss that? especially consumed at the St. Lawrence Market at 8am!

[EWSflash]

What to heck is peameal? Never heard of it.

[Wahooty]

Peameal is ground dried peas. Peameal bacon is a brined pork loin, rolled in cornmeal (originally peameal, but I have never had peameal bacon that was actually rolled in peameal), and sliced and fried. The fat is trimmed fairly lean - just enough left that the cornmeal gets nice and crunchy when you fry it up. Good next to eggs, better (IMO) piled on a kaiser with a healthy smear of good mustard.

[jeanmarieok]

I was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago and my first stop was to the market for a 'peameal on a bun' with HP sauce. I don't know why I love them so much, but I was sorry I only managed to eat one the couple of days I was there. It's my 'Toronto food' and I have only ever had it in Toronto.

[EWSflash]

Thank you, I'd never heard of it.

[Ruthie789]

It's a Toronto thing! We don't really have this in Quebec!

[hill food]

wait, dredged and deepfried bacon? you people are brilliant.

[Wahooty]

Sorry to disappoint, hill_food...it's pan-fried, not deep-fried. And it's a cured pork loin, not regular bacon. I have heard tell of deep-fried bacon, but peameal ain't it.

[hill food]

a guy can dream...

[Wahooty]

Ya gotta chase yer dreams, baby.

[Fydeaux]

I moved from Milwaukee to Rochester in 1965 when I was 11. I can still remember going to Don & Bob's for the first time, seeing the white hots on the griddle and thinking, "Cool! They have bratwurst here!" My parents did their best to convince me that I shouldnt order one, but I would have none of that. Well, a white hot is no bratwurst. Their burgers were great (I think--it's been 40 years since I've had one), and fondly recall the counter people yelling back to the grill people, "TWO GROUND, TWO! ONE RED HOT, ONE!"

I also remember ball donuts, something I have not seen in any other city to this day.

While there are brands that are unique to the Milwaukee area (I returned here in 1969), I cant think of any products that are strictly unique. Being a dairy state, there will be more varieties of cheese than average; with a German/Polish heritage, there are more varieties of sausage; the Catholic heritage has left a legacy of Friday Night Fish Fries (and church bingo games). They still brew some beer here.

But I have never had a creme puff like the ones at Wisconsin State Fair anywhere else.

[Jen76]

I've never found kringle anywhere else. Milwaukee is where I was born and raised. I miss kringle.

[Fydeaux]

Ah, I keep forgetting about kringle! Although I grew up here, I never tasted one until I was an adult, so I tend to forget that they are more or less indigenous (actually from Racine, arent they?)

[Jen76]

Yeah, they are. ;) Was gonna mention that, but felt too lazy to edit.

[Stillwater Girl]

I lived in Racine for a short while and forgot about kringle! I LOVED that stuff! I do also fondly remember the Friday Night Fish Frys. "Cod for God" I believe it was called around lent. I had no idea how hard it was to find good, fluffy-battered, fried fish after living there for awhile.

[Jen76]

Oh yeah, nothing like a Wisconsin fish fry, especially during Lent!

[cycloneillini]

I'm pretty sure that the only people I know who relish cheese curds are from Wisconsin. Even being from NE Iowa, cheese curds never seemed to have made it over the border. Now thanks to Culver's (based somewhere in Wisconsin I believe), I can finally get walleye and a great tenderloin (along with cheese curds if I wanted them) in Houston. I remember the first time I went to a Sonic and tried to order a tenderloin you'd have thought I had a third eye or something. No respectable "drive in restaurant" in the midwest would think of not having tenderloins on the menu.

[bigfellow]

In Quebec ( the province, not the city) cheese curds are a must. How else can we make poutine!

[CallAnyVegetable]

Cheese curds are eaten by hand in Quebec, just like chips - available by the cash register in every good store

[ORLYFACTOR]

Beijing duck

[Jen76]

Rattlesnake, locally harvested mesquite honey, cactus pads sold in the produce section, locally grown black sphynx dates (which are positively to die for), olive oil produced from locally grown olives.

We also have Frank's hot sauce though (that stuff is awesome and in my pantry), Lebanon bologna (also awesome), Wisconsin cheese curds.

[chicaraleigh]

Eastern NC bbq (vinegar based)
Mt Olive pickles

[achicken]

I am looking forward to visiting West Virginia this weekend & eating pepperoni rolls. :-D

[Suzy Q]

Chitlins...boiled peanuts...Sun Drop.

[chicaraleigh]

oh boiled peanuts...should have added those to the "don't open the bag....." post. I really really miss those road side stands in Florida!

[tatamagouche]

Green chile, thin or thicker, with or without pork.

[Chew on That]

Actual, authentic, delicious deep dish pizza from guess where! :)

[abduction51]

Too bad I can't get roasted green chile here in Chicago...have to lug it back with me every time I see family.

But one thing you can't get in NM is a good hot dog.

[JungMann]

I worked in Rochester for a bit and had a hard time finding decent Indian or proper vegetarian fare other than the bottomless salad bowl at Olive Garden. But once I returned home to NYC, I was fixated on the garbage plate and white hots. I have been looking for a place ever since then to feed my addiction!

[LaLa]

Ale 8
beer cheese

[lynnlato]

Oooooh, you're from Kentucky! I used to visit friends in Winchester KY when I was a kid. I loved getting Ale 8's and the beer cheese is delicious! I always look for it when I'm in a new grocery store, but have never found it anywhere but in KY. Sadly, I haven't had any since, oh, 1986. :-(

[LaLa]

Your right you can't find it anywhere. I have recently moved to SC and I have to have my mom bring a cooler full everytime she comes. I am going to have to just start making it myself.

[going nowhere]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with the cooler-toting parents. River Rat beer cheese (better than Hall's.) and Ale-8s in proper bottles. My old school wooden Ale-8 cases are well-traveled to say the least. I'm in South Florida.

[amyzan]

I grew up in Lexington. When i moved to Dallas, I discovered you can make beer cheese with a food processor. BUT, and this is a big caveat, you're going to have to futz with the recipe quite a bit to get it to taste right. The recipe givers never seem to give up all the secret ingredients, which is I suppose, understandable, since it's a competitive and lucrative business. It's been years since I made it, as my ex was from central KY, too. Since we broke up, I honestly hadn't thought about beer cheese, but we sure enjoyed it in our younger days. Our friends in Dallas loved it, too, as it went so well with Shiner Bock, probably because it's a little spicy with the sweet beer. Well, and because Shiner is cheap and we were in our twenties...

[the_MU]

When I lived in Rochester there were a couple of really good Indian places, including a vegetarian South Indian place at Clinton & Goodman Sts. Is India House gone, or just gone downhill?

[mrbozo]

Pad Thai with ketchup added.

[fallingup]

Cheerwine.

[linguafood]

Currywurst. Döner Kebab. Eisbein mit Sauerkraut. Schrippen (crappy breakfast rolls).

[shoelace]

what's a white hot dog?

[sbp]

A pork based hot dog, but with much more flavor than a Bratwurst.

[Fydeaux]

Make that a DIFFERENT flavour than a bratwurst. Unless you're eating really bad bratwurst.

[sbp]

I'm SURE I've only been getting pretty lame brats, because they've almost always been sooooo mild. And I do have a memory of really tasty ones. But white hots I think by design are more strongly flavored -- that's not a critiscm of bratwurst. It's like saying hot Italian sausage is spicier than sweet.

[vvvindaloo]

Welcome to CH, atom1980.
I've never been to Rochester, so I couldn't say with certainty, but...
Bagels with smoked whitefish
True Neapolitan-style pizza and NY-style pizza slice

I imagine there are plenty of things that NYC generally does better than Rochester, but as for foods you absolutely couldn't getup there, I bet the list is short.

[hill food]

thankfully we still have regional differences.

if I wanna eat at home - I'll stay at home.

but the mash-up possibilities are interresting. Cinci Chili in Berkeley, fish tacos on the Youper? NOLA Schnitzel?

I might try 'em.

[kpaumer]

Lebanon bologna & sweet Lebanon bologna, Tastykakes, hoagie spread, PA Dutch Chicken Pot Pie and all the UTZ's snack foods I can eat. Plus when deer season is in
deer bologna and deer jerky.

[CoteGal]

Do you have HIPPY'S ring bologna and Good's Chips? Those are the BEST!

[kpaumer]

Hi CoteGal,
I'm not familiar with HIPPY's ring bologna, Kunzler is a big fave for ring bologna here and Yes! we do have Good's Chips, Yummy!

[hyacinthgirl]

You're from my home town! You also have Gibbles chips, oh, and Gazebo Room Greek dressing, and yuengling! Those are the things I stock up on when I go home...

[Passadumkeg]

Yuengling, Potsville is the county seat. Apple butter, Posties sodas, wos wit canned foods. Pitz in Hazleton & Yacco's hot dogs in Allentown. Good kolbasi too.
The McAdoo Kid

[lost squirrel]

Yuengling is available at Beers of the World in Rochester!

When I first went to college, I checked with the brewery every week to see when a distributor in NY would start selling it. It's been about 4 years now, but I bet it's even more available now.

[Passadumkeg]

Funny when I was in college in Allentown in the 60's, we refused to drink Yuengling; thought it was a cheap coal miner's beer (which it was) and we thought Henniken was the ultimate in cool.
A Yuengling was my roomate.

[lost squirrel]

Really? That's funny. It's a favorite of mine now, Keystone is the cheap-o beer, and as far as I know there aren't too many coal miners anymore.

I don't drink happo-shu here in Japan, it's poor old man's beer. :)

[Passadumkeg]

When my dad died I had to go into Pottsville on business, took my older kids, got personal tour of the brewery and was give a couple cases of beer. I enjoy it now, but can't get it. Oh, the joys of forbiden fruits.

[lost squirrel]

We're a bit off topic aren't we? oh well.

Forbidden fruit is right, it's been over 2 years since I last had a Yeungling and I can't wait. On April 28th around 5pm I'll be able to have my first in a long time!

[TampaAurora]

Yuengling is also bottled in Tampa around the corner from Busch Gardens. It's my husband's go-to beer but I can only drink it when I'm smoking a cigar.

[hyacinthgirl]

I have to wait til June 12th!

[Passadumkeg]

April 25. How many cases of Black & Tan can I fit in a Miata W/ PASSENGER?

[hill food]

Passadumkeg: remember high school and remove them from the case and get creative about storage. I used to be able to carry almost a 12-pack in an overcoat, or stow a case in an almost empty refrigerator and it still looked empty.

the containers aren't open, you're not drunk, so what if there are beers under the seats, in (what little) trunk a Miata offers. glove compartment, etc.

but be careful under the driver's seat, I once had an empty coke can roll forward and jam under the brake pedal. my habits changed after that.

[Passadumkeg]

My grandfather died in the mines and left behind a widow and 5 kids, each of whom earned degrees, from a nursing degree through 2 Phds.

[midcity]

My mom's from the Mahanoy City / Gilberton area. I live in a great food city (New Orleans) but as it's Holy Saturday, I'm thinking of home and wishing I was back up there eating pizza with all my cousins after blessing baskets at church. Don't forget:
--Bleenies at church picnics and football games
--Tastykakes
--A-Treat grapefruit soda
--Sweet lebanon bologna
--Pierogies [happily, I can buy Mrs. T's at Winn-Dixie]
--Kielbasi [I'm wearing a Kovalonek's T-shirt as I write this!]
--Birch beer
--Costas Peanut Butter Club Sandwiches!!!

I miss Yuengling too [the brewery tour is great!] but have found that an Abita is a decent substitute . . . and while po'boys are good, you can NOT get a decent Italian hoagie here! Berrigan's in Bloomsburg is always my first stop when I'm home.

[dougny]

I love hippy's. Do you know any place that ships it?

[Forrys Store]

Yes I live close to you now. I lived in Iowa for awhile and was surprised how much I missed the PA Dutch food and varieties here. Chips were the biggest here is Martins, Herrs, Utz, kay & Rays, Gibbles, Goods and many snack foods but there only the national brands like Doritios.
1 Thing in Iowa I miss is Casey's Pizza and fresh off the line Krispy Kremes.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Arepas, sancocho, smoked lung, aguardiente, tamales in banana leaves...

[southernitalian]

Lung of what???

[Sam Fujisaka]

Beef

[laliz]

I live in the Los Angeles area. I would imagine it is a different as night from day from Rochester NY

I was in Buffalo NY last year. The dinner served us (ox roast?) was something we have never experienced before.

[jeanmarieok]

was that Steve's Pig and Ox Roast - I haven't been there in years!!

[Lucia]

This recent thread answers your ?:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/530977