Iconic Regional Foods + Recipes

I belong to a very large worldwide foodie group on Facebook called “The Cook’s Cook” with over 80,000 people participating. Every week or so there will be a debate about the best pizza or chili and people are quite passionate about why Texas Chili is the only “real ” chili because it has no beans and people from up north swearing by their chili con carne that does have plenty of beans.

I posted a question last week, “You haven’t been to ____________ (Insert your City/Country) until you’ve eaten ___________.”

I got dozens of responses as well as links to food bloggers favorite recipes for these iconic regional foods.

I will start with my beautiful state of Colorado. You haven’t been to Colorado until you’ve eaten our version of Mountain Mex Colorado Green Chili made with Pork and another member said Palisade Peaches and I have to agree with that. They are delicious just juicy over the sink, in a peach pie or cobbler, in a margarita or sangria, grilled and then frozen so you can enjoy them for a few months after they are gone. The peach season starts in late June and runs through early August.

You haven’t been to Belgium until you’ve eaten Vol-au-vent: puff pastry filled with chicken, meatballs, mushrooms, and carrots in a bechamel sauce with French (Belgian) fries on the side. I found a translated recipe for Volu-au-vent on Food Network Canada here. Vol Au Vents Recipe. This is also a favorite recipe for folks in Quebec. Visitors to Belgium thought first about Belgium Chocolate!

You haven’t been to Whitby, UK until you’ve tasted Fish and Chips with a cup of tea and white bread and butter. English Fish & Chips wrapped in newspaper will be my first meal if I ever get to England.

You haven’t been to Minnesota until you’ve tasted Tater Tot Hotdish. Diane shared her recipe for her version here.

You haven’t been to Minnesota until you’ve tasted (homemade) wild rice soup. Kennedy didn’t have a recipe but she said this one came close.

You haven’t been to Washington until you’ve tasted (My)Dungeness Crab Quiche. Robin didn’t offer a recipe but said her version uses egg, swiss cheese, green onion, Old Bay, cream and of course Dungeness Crab during crabbing season.

You haven’t been to Nashville until you’ve tried hot chicken! I’d never heard of this so Diane explained it is “chicken marinated in buttermilk with cayenne pepper, breaded in a breading mix with more cayenne pepper, and fried! Delicious on top of a biscuit with some honey drizzled on top! It’s not like buffalo wings, it’s a dry heat.” I think this would be delicious on waffles too.

You haven’t been to Ohio until you’ve had Buckeyes (peanut butter balls 3/4 dipped in chocolate).  I have a close friend who bakes 25 different cookies for every day in December up to Christmas and her husband is from Ohio so these are on her list. Sugar Spun Run has this easy to follow Buckeye recipe on her blog

Easy Buck Eye Recipe from Sugar Spun Run[/caption]

You haven’t been to North Carolina until you’ve had Eastern Barbeque

 You haven’t been to Ontario until you’ve had Butter Tarts. Rock Recipes shares this classic Canadian version of Butter Tarts.

Canadian Butter Tarts from Rock Recipe[/caption]

You haven’t been to Boston until you’ve had fresh Clam Chowder!

You haven’t been to Saskatchewan until you’ve tasted bitter cold winters & Regina-style pizza.  We couldn’t find any recipes for this iconic pizza pie but did find this video.

You haven’t been to Jersey until you’ve tasted Disco Fries – apparently, you can only get these in a diner in Jersey to be authentic. Center of the Plate blog explains that they are similar to Canadian Poutine but differ because of the cheese. Other Jersy natives claim they are better if you eat them in a diner after midnight. You can also post them

You haven’t been to San Diego, California until you’ve tasted fish tacos!

You haven’t been to St. Louis until you have tasted thin crust (like a cracker) pizza with Provel!  I found a recipe on Cookie for Keeps right here including the Provel cheese.

You haven’t been to South Africa until you’ve eaten Boerewors Pap and Tomato Smoor!

I found a recipe for this regional dish here on Food I Love.

You haven’t been to Alberta, Canada until you tried my Butter Tart Cheesecake! said Christine from Curiosity Fed the Cat and wow doesn’t it look delicious!

You haven’t been to NYC until you have tasted a New York bagel. I have to agree with that one, they are delicious!

You haven’t been to Florida until you’ve tasted Snow Crab Claws.

You haven’t been to Illinois until you’ve tasted ooey, gooey cheesy pizza on a thin, slightly charred crust.

You haven’t been to Minnesota until you’ve tasted Potatiskorv. I didn’t know that was so Janene explained ” It’s Swedish Potato Sausage. It is, as I understand, from one particular Swedish province (Varmland), and is made of ground pork, beef, onions, and potatoes. We usually have it throughout the winter. To prepare the sausage, you boil it until thoroughly cooked. We found a recipe on Foods of the World. 

You haven’t been to New York until to tasted N.Y. Pizza or Juniors Cheesecake

You haven’t been to Sussex until you’ve tasted Sussex Pond Pudding 

You haven’t been to Northern Ohio’s until you’ve had Ohio’s Lake Perch

You haven’t been to South Carolina until you’ve had Carolina style BBQ

You haven’t been to South Carolina until you’ve had BBQ Rice & Hash, Sweet Tea and Shrimp & Grits

You haven’t been to Los Angeles until you’ve tasted #19 at Langers