The United Plates of America: What to Buy, Eat, and Drink in Each State

[fishwax]

Saw this slideshow in Bon Appetit magazine: http://www.bonappetit.com/tipstools/slideshows/2009/05/the_united_plates_of_america_slideshow

The slide show would certainly be better with pics of the food and drink in question, but I thought I'd see what DUers think about the choices for their own states. Have you tried any of their suggestions? Would you pick something else instead?

What say you, DU? If you were entertaining an out-of-state visitor, what food would you recommend they buy, eat, and drink?

[fishwax]

1. I haven't had a chance to look at all the states yet, but here are pics

of a couple of the meals that I've had the chance to try myself ...

Giordanno's Stuffed Pizza ("What to Buy" in Illinois):


and the Meers Burger at the Meers Store ("What to Eat" in Oklahoma):

[Lyric]

2. Fresh-baked pepperoni rolls and Oliverio's sweet pepper jars.

The peppers are AMAZING when you cook a few pre-seared italian sausages in them on low heat for about an hour. Mmmmmm. Stick those sausages and peppers on a big, soft hoagie roll and top with shredded mozzarella. Yum!

Pepperoni rolls are always best from the local Chico's bakery. They're made fresh right here in town, and they are SOOOO good.

Also: pepperoni cheese (WVians love pepperoni,) wild-gathered morel mushrooms and assorted tree nuts at the farmer's markets, locally-grown Golden Delicious apples (this type of apple was originally bred first right here in WV,) venison sausage, apple butter, wild hill ginseng that you've gathered yourself, and ramps n' eggs during ramp season (onion/garlic haters, stay away from the ramps.)

[blue_onyx]

3. I love pepperoni rolls

The best I've had are from a local place called Luigi's.

[Initech]

4. In N Out FTW!!!

[begin_within]

27. I think they are going downhill.

Last 2 times I was there I got a dry, tough hamburger. I don't think they really care any more.

[dana_b]

38. yuck

I can't believe they had this crap for California. I hought they'd have some sort of California cuisine to go with the cabernet. Not some nasty fast food burger.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. Olive garden is nice

I hear

[charlie and algernon]

6. how the hell do they not have Cheesesteaks for PA?

Or even Yeungling??? :wtf:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. or Rolling rock?

it's a fucking joke book

[charlie and algernon]

8. seriously

at least they managed to put crabs for maryland, lol.

[Initech]

13. Yuengling >>>>>>>>>> Rolling Rock

Both brewed in PA too.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

34. Yuengling is a about a billion times better than Rolling Rock

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

40. no argument here, but to ignore both?

ignorance at it's height

[bbernardini]

9. Probably better that way.

They would most likely end up featuring the xenophobic right-wing nutjobs at Geno's.

[Telly Savalas]

12. Perhaps for the same reason that BBQ isn't listed for KS or MO.

They don't know what they're talking about.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

19. dickheads probably never left NYC

if they don't have BBQ for KC

[AwakeAtLast]

10. Not listing tenderloin sandwiches for Indiana is blasphemy

The sugar cream pie is a good thing to list, but you can get good root beer all over the state, not just at Mug-n-bun. Oh well.

[cloudbase]

11. A meal at Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas.

In a state loaded with heavenly barbecue, this is worth the ride.

[GOPisEvil]

14. *nods approvingly*

Although, if you happen to be in Lockhart on a Sunday, only Black's is open. And that's not too bad. I think Black's sausage is a little better.

[Godhumor]

15. Wow, big shock. NYC represents all of NY's choices

There are other places in this state, you know.

[GOPisEvil]

16. I agree wholeheartedly with the Tito's Handmade vodka for Texas.

I would take someone to Threadgill's in Austin for the chicken friend steak, assorted veggies and pecan pie.

Then the next day, Lockhart for BBQ.

[Why Syzygy]

25. Have you had

the CFS at Hill's (SoCo)? I think it's the best!

When in Las Vegas, you can get an almost as good as Texas CFS at a little place on the highway out by Sam's Town.

[MajorChode]

17. For Texas, it's the Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville

The beer and beans are free and the Texas BBQ is excellent. They have golf carts at the airport to ride to and from the restaurant.

They did get the Tito's Handmade Vodka right at bon appe tit.

[OmahaBlueDog]

18. Omaha strip steak at Johnny's Cafe in Omaha

...or the veggie burger at Lazlo's (locations in Omaha & Lincoln; I'd recommend the Haymarket location in Lincoln) -- washed down with their Chaco Canyon Gold beer.

[hibbing]

21. Runza

Hi,
Odd, no Runza? Hehehe Have you been to the places in Omaha they recommend?

Peace

[OmahaBlueDog]

26. Runza is awesome

It is one my second favorite "found only in a region" fast food restaurant (my fave being Roy Rogers in the mid Atlantic states)

Breas stuffed with ground beef, cheese, and cabbage. Runza is very nice.

Another Omaha fast food institution -- Don & Millie's. Have you ever had a Frenchee? Basically, it's a battered, deep fried, grilled cheese sandwich.

[hibbing]

46. thanks for the tip on Don & Millie's

Hi,
Yeah, I have had a Cheese Frenchee, not from Don & Millie's though. There used to be a place here called The Pantry that made an awesome one. There is still a Pantry in town, but not sure if it is the same menu. There is a Don & Millie's in town, I'll have to give it a go one of these days.

Peace

[WorseBeforeBetter]

20. They left out LocoPops in North Cackalacky ... tsk.

http://www.locopops.org/

WHAT TO BUY: Country ham from A.B. Vannoy Hams (Never had)

WHAT TO EAT: Barbecue and stew plate at Allen & Son Barbeque (Yum)

WHAT TO DRINK: Cheerwine, a cherry-flavored soda traditionally paired with barbecue widely available (Barf)

[vixengrl]

22. Pretzel splits? Egg and cheese sandwich--Standard Tap?

Not Triumph? Not the Sam Adams? Not Monk's-which is a great place to get import beer and a hot, tasty menu of classic eats? Not Iron Hill, which boasts primo microbrews (I was there just a handful of hours ago, and was enomoured with their Pig Iron Porter and the Belgian Ale--they were, alas, out of the Abbey Dubbel. They also served one of the finest burgers I have had the pleasure to eat)? Are they unaware of the joys of a Jim's Original Cheesesteak from South Street? Do they not know that the best soft pretzels are flavored with exhaust and pee and are sold on the Boulevard (long story--which I will not explain.)

They don't know about the Amish shoo-fly pie and bitter cherry preserves. I can't help them with the search for the best diner scrapple (hint: just cruise along Frankford Ave in Philly for diners, and ask for Scrapple at every one. Also, once they call it Rt 13 as you proceed north, still order the scrapple. At least one of those joints-cough Golden Eagle--will singe it to your appropriate specifications).

I will tell you this about Pennsylvania--this is one of if not the best state to be a foodie and a drunkie in. I could tell you about this place called Wingwalker's Pub just a schlep up Street Road from me, where you can have a beautiful Rueben sandwich and ridiculously not-rubber calimari and hot, crispy seasoned pretzels with a beer menu of ballsy imports that would make you cry. Like cry with tears from your head.

I can't tell Bon Appetit about pub-crawls in Pittsburgh, how the Church Brewery (in a real, decommisioned church--wait, is that word "decommisioned"? Something like that.) is glorious. How I drank beer in Pittsburgh like a Eurotrash Viking, how the bar is an artform in that city. How bar-eats are transcendent in Steelers country. I can't describe how a reveler in West Chester puked in front of me, in a way that seemed like an advertisement for the Iron Hill there. I can't explain the tastiness of duck sausage or crab ravioli or whatever you might find at Odetta's on the way up to New Hope, while you look out the window at geese and stuff. (And their menu does change, and foodgasm never quite is the word.)

I could, with the right budget, give an out-of-stater a foodgasm everyday for a month. Especially if they liked beer and burgers and skinny-crust bar-eats pizzas, and loved them some jukebox.

[csziggy]

23. Delmonico steak for Florida? Gulf shrimp fresh from the boat, OK

But no Cuban food? ANYTHING from the Columbia Restaurant would fit the bill, especially the original in Ybor City: http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ybor.asp

Or the smoked mackerel from Ted Peter's Smoked Fish Restaurant on Treasure Island: http://tampabay.metromix.com/restaurants/seafood/ted-peters-famous-smoked-south-pasadena/427942/content

[XemaSab]

24. Not to sound all snobby

but narrowing down food and beverage choices in California is a lost cause from the get-go.

[begin_within]

28. They really botched California:

They should have chosen the fish tacos at the South Beach Bar & Grille on Newport Avenue, right in front of the pier, in the Ocean Beach section of San Diego. Classic southern California scene: hippies strumming as they sit on the sidewalk and suggest you toss some money into the coffee can... stray puppy sitting on the corner (but it turns out it was just waiting for its master)... eternal crashing sound of the surf just yards away... obsolete-looking tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare "green flash" at sunset... 1960s rock music coming from somewhere... muscled surfers silently walk to their cars a block away... handbills stapled to phone poles... and inside this bar, 5 or 6 beers you never heard of on tap and on special today for $1 a glass, and the world's best fish tacos, seafood tacos and assorted side dishes, all on happy-hour prices from 3 to 5, HD TVs showing the current sports events, odd and eclectic mix of forgotten rock and pop gems playing... needless to say the place is jam-packed and there is a line to get in... I never liked fish tacos until I went to that place.

[MajorChode]

29. I always thought "fish tacos" were a euphemism for something else

I didn't know there actually was such a literal thing.

[begin_within]

32. Yes, there is. Here is a photo from the web site of the place I mentioned:

Looks sloppy, but it's well-made, the fish is extremely fresh and the seasonings are just right, you can get them with grilled or fried fish, choose from mahi, wahoo, pollock, oyster, calamari, shrimp, lobster, shark, ceviche, or they'll make them with chicken, carne asada or a veggie version. I'm sure there are other places that make good fish tacos. But this place has the right location, literally steps from the ocean, and in San Diego's most "DU-like" neighborhood (I bet someone is buying a used LP copy of "Strange Days" at this moment, with just the right vibe and not stuck-up, touristy or pretentious at all. And at the happy hour all tacos are $2.

[dana_b]

39. much better than that nasty fast food burger. n/t

[lutefisk]

30. Popcorn is the best food to buy in Wisconsin?

How about bratwurst or sweet corn or, um, maybe cheese? And don't forget Nueske's bacon, or any of their smoked meat products for that matter.

[fizzgig]

31. i'm a bit suprised they didn't put bruce's bar under where to eat in colorado

they've been serving rocky mountain oysters for more than 50 years and people from all over the world have visited it. their guest book is quite impressive.

dale's pale ale is a pretty good beer, but i don't know that i would list it as what to drink either. tough call as to what i would put, though, because we have so many fantastic microbreweries here.

[quakerboy]

33. No, no and maybe.

[mnhtnbb]

35. Allen and Son Barbecue in Chapel Hill! Good, but c'mon, we have some

fabulous restaurants in the Triangle area.

[TZ]

36. gelato for Maryland?

:wtf: I've lived here for 30+ years and probably never EVER had gelato.
The blue crabs, yes I can see that...I'm not a fan but I would think they would list crabcakes or rockfish for food here...

[Marrah_G]

37. Their choices for Mass sucked

[Blue_In_AK]

41. This is probably pretty accurate for Alaska.

Orso's is a great restaurant, and Alaskan Amber is very popular. It's the only beer my husband drinks. I haven't tried the birch syrup, but I see a lot of it for sale at the farmer's markets and state fair.

[crispini]

42. The posters above me were arguing for BBQ representing Texas

but I'm going to have to go with Tex-Mex. I'd take my guest to any one of several yummy nummy Tex Mex holes in the wall locally. And it's got to be Shiner Bock beer for a drink.

[MajorChode]

43. The problem is...

The best Tex-Mex restaurants are places that look like you could get killed in them.

[KamaAina]

44. Huh? No moose for Alaska?

I'm telling Sarah right now!!

[KamaAina]

45. Where's D.C.?!

It's gustation without representation, I tell you!

[Flaxbee]

47. thanks for the article - I'll have to bookmark it

and go back to read it. Looks interesting! :hi:

[regnaD kciN]

48. You have GOT to be f'in kidding me...NATIONAL BOH???

For "what to drink" in Maryland, they recommend National Bohemian Beer.

I know National Boh well. It was the beer served at all parties at my college -- because it was, by far, the cheapest beer you could buy in kegs. And, in this case, you got what you paid for. You know how higher-quality brewers boast how they reject X% of their barrels as not being good enough to represent the brand? I think I know what they do to all the rejected batches -- sell them to National Bohemian, who then water them down and leave them out in open containers to "age" for a few months.

Seriously. It's the first beer I ever had -- and, probably, the reason why I still can't stand the stuff today.

And this is supposed to be "what to drink" for Maryland? Jeez, by those standards, I'm glad the group making up the list for here in Washington didn't recommend a McLatte at the golden arches...