State foods map and discussion

The humor website "icanhascheezburger.com" created an interesting map of the US with a food that the writers thought best represented each state.  I think they did a decent job on it, though I'm not sure about some of the choices... e.g. tomatoes for Tennesse? There's a pretty good discussion thread accompanying it. Thought people here might be interested.
 
http://noms.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/01/12/funny-food-photos-food-by-state/comment-page-1/#comments

New Jersey represents!

I see no humor.

Iowans and Hoosiers will both be disappointed in no mention of the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.

But is the loosemeat sandwich more "truly Iowan" than the BPT?
 
And Orville Redenbacher was from Indiana so I guess that accounts for the choice of popcorn.
 
Interesting that the term "dry barbecue" is used for North Carolina.  When I think of "dry" I think of Memphis-style ribs, so maybe in this case it refers to the preference of a thin vinegar sauce over a tomato-based sauce.
 
Brad

No Hotdish for Minnesota?
 
Some people may be pulling hair out of their heads since they chose burgers for Connecticut instead of California
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I see that they chose Chislic for South Dakota and Knoephla for North Dakota, both of which I enjoyed while Heartlanding through the breadbasket this past summer.

I thought tomatoes was a weird selection for Tennessee.  I have never heard of anyone traveling down here for them.  Elvis and barbecue - now that is another matter.

While one might not think of TN for tomatoes, while living there, I became a believer that Grainger County tomatoes are amongst the best I've ever had (red or yellow).  Since moving away, it's hard to eat any other store-bought tomatoes.

Hamburgers for CT?   That's strange.   Certainly (brick oven) pizza or hot-oven grinders should prevail. 

In my neck of the Volunteer State will have to say that Tomatoes are king. Green, fried, baked,stuffed, by themselves or on a sandwich. Eveyone has at least one plant in their yard and still go to the farms to buy.
We have growers in the state for Tomatoes. BIL is a truck driver and always hauling them North. People come from all over to buy 'Maters and corn when in season. People are really into growing heirlooms. Did not win but biggest one I grew was 4 lb 3 oz. I almost cried when we cut it.
 

I can see Hamburger for CT. What Louis' Lunch started or birthplace of Hamburgers.
The map is pretty much correct. Yes can pick a few different ones for each state, but sitting and thinking can see where they are coming from.
Tn could also be a Black Walnut Cake or a Coconut Cake. But can see where Tomatoes where picked. Pizza what started in NYC , moved as the people did. Now to say that CT started the hamburger, thats it.

Arizona - Fry Bread??
Well, OK I guess.
But there are a 1000 times more places where you can get Mexican food verses Fry Bread.
The Taco or Burrito or Enchilada would be more appropriate

mjambro


While one might not think of TN for tomatoes, while living there, I became a believer that Grainger County tomatoes are amongst the best I've ever had (red or yellow).  Since moving away, it's hard to eat any other store-bought tomatoes.

 
I agree.  Grainger county tomatoes are famous like vidalia onions in GA are famous.  I do not know why but they are delicious.  I have been several times to the Grainger county tomatoe festival and it is a huge event.  I always get their tomato sandwiches.
 
Obviously each person from each state could debate the selection and we always do but as one poster indicated, you have to sorta look where they are coming from.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN 

Sundancer7

mjambro


While one might not think of TN for tomatoes, while living there, I became a believer that Grainger County tomatoes are amongst the best I've ever had (red or yellow).  Since moving away, it's hard to eat any other store-bought tomatoes.

I agree.  Grainger county tomatoes are famous like vidalia onions in GA are famous.  I do not know why but they are delicious.  I have been several times to the Grainger county tomatoe festival and it is a huge event.  I always get their tomato sandwiches.

Obviously each person from each state could debate the selection and we always do but as one poster indicated, you have to sorta look where they are coming from.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN 

In what part of the state is Grainger Co. located? I lived in Williamson Co. for a number of years and my Daughter lives there now. My SIL is a native Orangeneck! He eats "Minter Cheese Samiches" from Henpeck Market!
I'd like to give her a heads up on where to get "them thar maters."
TN has more Counties than any other State in the Union!
On another note, I think the Country Ham should be the right food for TN! Or maybe Country Ham & Biscuits!
 

Grainger county admoins Knoxville county and is about a 30 minutes drive from Knoxville.  The main center is in Rutledge, TN which is a major tomato and sweet corn area.  The tomatoes are very famous like Vidalia onions.
 
http://graingertn.com/
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer7


Grainger county admoins Knoxville county and is about a 30 minutes drive from Knoxville.  The main center is in Rutledge, TN which is a major tomato and sweet corn area.  The tomatoes are very famous like Vidalia onions.

http://graingertn.com/

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

THANX #7!
 I sent the info to my SIL. They have a 42' 5th wheel camper so that would make a nice weekend trip for them. I also gave them the lakeside campground info. THANX! again

Crab puff? Jelly pie? Chislic? Knoeplah?

Davydd


Iowans and Hoosiers will both be disappointed in no mention of the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.

My thoughts exactly!

Coming back to TN almost 8 years ago, I always thought of TN as Bobwhite Quail, Bass and veggies of all types. But living here can say Bass is surpassed by Catfish. TX and Fl are also big Quail States. People here go crazy for tomatoes. Have not been yet to a small restaurant here in town that just opened. They do salads,soups and sandwichs. They advertise a green tomato slice with each dish. Have to get there.
WY, I always thought of trout, mostly Cutthroat Trout. Bison Burger can live with.
Living here and exploring around the border states can see Jelly pie for AR.
MT had the largest privately owned Bison herd in the US. Bison Rib Eyes  Had my first Ostrich Burger in OR. back in the 80's. Does this make OR. ostrich country.
Loose Meat Sandwichs is definitely IA. I have places in AL that do a better job at breaded pork Tenderlion than the three I'S. Granted the best/worst are there but have scooped out others. La Mars, IA  Ice Cream Capital of the World, Look at the signs. Delivered more cream to Blue Bunny than anywhere else. Think they are up to 5 plants now. I remember 1 then two then 4 . Have not been since the then.
Dry BBQ  in NC means they do not saturate the pulled pork with their sauce. You adjust the amount you want after purchase.
 
Me, NY is Philly Cream Cheese. Philly Cream Cheese was started there in Philly , NY and the plant for the cheese is in Lowville,NY down the road from Philadelphia, NY. In fact on the other side of Fort Drum, Southside. Next to the Brunswich Bowling alley wood plant. Loved to get the the Sunday loads of cream, Rest day. Get there Saturday Night and they are full.

Don't get me started on Alcohol or cheese. You would be surprised. Everything startes elsewhere.  
Just glad finally Califorina is advertising cheese. For I know of CA. has been making Cheese an put on trucks
taken to WIS. Slap a label on it and WIS Cheese, watched for 35 yrs of this. . Yes there are some good cheesemakers in the WS. state but what is sold to the general public is not WS Cheese. I am talking grocery stores where you live.
 

Curbside Grill

I have places in AL that do a better job at breaded pork Tenderlion than the three I'S.

Prove it! Show me a link.

Dont agree with you on the cheese, curbside.While this practice may occur with places like Sargento( they are simply a cheese packager) I have visited many, many of the cheese factories of which I can also purchase the cheese at my local grocery stores. The independent cheese makers in Wisconsin has grown twofold in the last few years.And its ALL over the place here.

Mud Pie for Mississippi? Bah! The actual name is Mississippi mud pie and I rarely see it on a menu, whether roadfood or white tablecloth. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw it anywhere.  How about catfish? Belzoni, MS, is the catfish capital of the world.

mbrookes


Mud Pie for Mississippi? Bah! The actual name is Mississippi mud pie and I rarely see it on a menu, whether roadfood or white tablecloth. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw it anywhere.  How about catfish? Belzoni, MS, is the catfish capital of the world.

 
Is it still?  I drove through there several years ago and I saw the ponds everywhere.  I thought I read that due to the cost of food for the fish that the industry had greatly diminished?  I do not know.  Downtown Belzoni was interesting with the museum.  I sorta hope it is still going strong.  I read how they trained the catfish to be top feeders instead of bottom feeders by giving them food that stayed on the top.  In addition, it was interesting how they kept the water fresh.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Davydd

Curbside Grill

I have places in AL that do a better job at breaded pork Tenderlion than the three I'S.

Prove it! Show me a link.

Seen how people on this site give great reviews of a place and others don't agree. If I am close to a place will try, but my likes are my likes. Will go local before taking roadfood preference. Sorry. Very seldom will I go to here . My locals and law people and escorts know better. That is if I was working. Have places all over the 48 that are no great places to look at but the food is unreal. Very few crop up here, but some have.
How am I going to prove it. Most of the places I eat at or have been to on the road and eaten at do not have websites.
My sources for food are from locals, and law enforcements that I have worked with over the years. Some local lineman in New York gave us the best southern food pick which we did not know existed. They don't have a website. I don't give out places to eat but in this case will try to accommadate. Around Culman , AL.  The best place to good local fair, burgers,cheeseburgers and fried Pork sandwich is Whitlocks. First time going there got lost and pasted the place. If you are a traveler and go by there you are lost. LOL
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=17372594392716623631&gl=us&dtab=2&vps=1&sll=34.18085,-86.854305&sspn=0.097845,0.222301&ie=UTF8
 
Also had to wait for someone to wake up. Knew they changed names but from what to what. She is better at names than I am.
Eat here almost every time we are visiting Oxford, MS Have family there. I know everyone is going to jump and scream.
Horseradish Sauce on a BPT.  IT WORKS.
http://blog.eatingoxford.com/2009/11/01/home-cookin-at-tallulahs/

Also when we pulled Brandy from CA to NY, Naples area was told of a restaurant that had good grits. We looked at each other and laughed, NY- Grits. Well we walked to the place. Named Bob and Ruth's. Went and ordered grits. Some really good grits. Come to find out Bob and Ruth where from GA. Moved there and started a restaurant. They where busy. No website either .No telling where you will find your favorite so called local/regional foods.
http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1T4GGHP_enUS368US368&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=bob+and+ruth's+restaurant+naples+ny&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bob+and+ruth's+restaurant&hnear=Naples,+NY&cid=0,0,7747420505497066281&ei=TMYzTc2xKojegQf3qLG4Cw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CC8QnwIwAw
 
 
annpeeples    yes I know you might not agree with me. But the practice went on for years. Haven't been to these places for awhile. probally going on today. I would see refrigerated trucks loaded with cheese, Big blocks and small packaged stuff. Get to talking with the drivers and they had regular runs. Get there in WS at the warehouse unload, pull to the other side of warehouse reload the same product but had labels on it now. Leave and deliver to Grocery Warehouses all over. There are all qualities of cheeses . Have hauled many a load of milk and cream to Butter plants, ice cream and cheese plant all over NY, WS  AND PA.  Bought many a cheese products and curds from them also before we left. Take dairy products in and whey out. I did not say it was the best. Look at the sliced cheeses in the grocery stores. Say's Kroger, Publix and whowever. People think that is cheese. I know people that think Velveta is the only cheese.
Now the big thing is 'Funny Honey'. They, local and Fed's are cracking down on imitation honey. We hauled this for years.  Never buy honey unless you know the source.
I am getting way off here. Sorry.
 
 
 

Davydd  I have a question. Around Butte,MT. They do a sandwich they call fried pork chop. There terminology.
To me it is a breaded pork tenderlion. They cut ,pound it out , and then each place like others have their own seasoning and coating. Each their own. What would you call it?

My MS wife claims she never heard of MS Mud Pie until she moved away and it started popping up on chain menus.   
 
How could there be any question that catfish should be the MS state food.  No question, typically the best anywhere.

mjambro


My MS wife claims she never heard of MS Mud Pie until she moved away and it started popping up on chain menus.   

How could there be any question that catfish should be the MS state food.  No question, typically the best anywhere.

 
Around here they just call it mud pie. Never seen Mud Pie in chains. Local small diners, yes.   Hell, I never seen Chocolate gravy and Biscuits till I moved here. LOL
 
Everyone likes their Catfish. All over the South. Not going to say TN is better than MS. My top two picks for Catfish in TN.
If you ever get down south central TN. Been reviewed on here. Not by me. Voted best Catfish Place in the US for years.
Less than two hrs. from me and been many a time.
http://www.catfishhotel.com/menu.htm
 
Also not far from there, they smoke and fry Catfish. It is for sale and just as good. Haven't been for awhile. Have to get back. Go early
 http://www.pickwickcatfishfarm.com/

  
 

Anyone know about jelly pie for Arkansas?  I have never heard of that before.  It sure does sound interesting.

Cheap filling.  Arkansas is Cotton. Where you find cotton will find the old cheap foods that these people lived on. Biscuits chocolate gravy, jelly pie. That is what I am finding. Now they would splurge and do pecan pie or other nut pies on Holidays. They could not afford to much. Jelly goes along way. The old locals tell of the foods they ate.