Here’s a great piece about iconic food items in each of our fifty states by David Rosengarten, a two-time James Beard-winning food journalist and the writers of Flavored Nation. Not sure if I can endorse all of them, but it’s always good to expand your horizons when it comes to unique recipes – which hopefully does not expand your waistline as well. Come to think of it, there’s a few recipes that I had no idea of either. Enjoy.
– Audrey
Alabama: Fried Green Tomatoes (Photo credit: Elise Bauer)
Arizona: Chimichangas (Photo via @macayosmexicanfood / instagram.com)
Delaware: Scrapple
Florida: Key Lime Pie
Georgia: Peach Cobbler (Photo by Ralph Daily, via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0)
Hawaii: Plate Lunch with Kalua Pig and Rice (Photo credit: Flavored Nation)
Illinois: Deep Dish Pizza (Photo by Manvi Mathur via Unsplash)
Indiana: Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich (Photo credit: Flavored Nation)
Iowa: Corn Dogs
Kentucky: Hot Brown
Maine: Cold Lobster Roll (Photo credit: Wally Gobetz / Flickr)
Maryland: Crab Cakes (Photo credit: Flavored Nation)
Massachusetts: New England Clam Chowder (Photo credit: Yelp/Summer Shack)
Michigan: Coney Dog
Minnesota: Wild Rice Soup (Photo credit: Emily Carlin / Flickr)
via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Missouri: St. Louis BBQ Pork Steak
Montana: Bison Burger with Huckleberry Barbecue Sauce
(Photo credit: jpellgen (@1179_jp) / Flickr)
Nebraska: Runza Sandwich (Photo credit: Daniel M/Yelp)
Nevada: Prime Rib (Photo by RightCowLeftCoast, via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0)
New Hampshire: Pumpkin Soup (Photo by Monika Grabkowska via Unsplash)
New Jersey: Pork Roll (Photo credit: John Yarusi)
New Mexico: Enchiladas with Christmas on the Side
(Photo by Mark Mitchell, via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0)
New York: Buffalo Chicken Wings (Photo credit: Duff’s Famous Wings/Yelp)
North Dakota: Knoephla
Ohio: Buckeyes (Plain Dealer file photo)
Oklahoma: Fried Okra (Photo credit: Flavored Nation)
Oregon: Marionberry Pie
Pennsylvania: Philly Cheesesteak (Photo credit: Dave H./Yelp)
Rhode Island: Johnnycakes with Maple Syrup (Photo credit: Flavored Nation)
South Carolina: Shrimp and Grits (Photo credit: Megg / Flickr)
South Dakota: Chislic
Tennessee: Nashville Hot Chicken (Photo credit: Peter D./Yelp)
Texas: Chicken Fried Steak
Utah: Artisanal Chocolate
Vermont: Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie
(Photo by jeffreyw, via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0)
Washington: Cedar Plank Salmon (Photo credit: Flavored Nation)
West Virginia: Pepperoni Rolls
Wisconsin: Bratwurst (Photo credit: Brat House Grill)
Japanese cuisine relies heavily on raw fish, rice, and seaweed, while pasta, risotto, and cheese are the fabric of Italian plates. But when it comes to American food, it’s not exactly easy to define. That’s why the culinary experts, chefs, and food writers at Flavored Nation pulled together this list of the best American foods. According to David Rosengarten, a two-time James Beard-winning food journalist and content director at Flavored Nation, they drew data from research, consumer input via social media, and conversations with state tourism boards.
”No one wrote a guidebook on how to authentically identify the United States’ most iconic foods. It’s been an amazing adventure and challenge,” Rosengarten said in a press release. Barbecue pulled pork, shrimp and grits, key lime pie, and lobster rolls are classic American dishes you can easily associate with a state or region, but other states that aren’t culinary destinations are harder to pinpoint. “Some states, like Louisiana, California, and New York, are well known for multiple dishes. For other states, like South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska, I personally drew a blank,” Rosengarten said.
So if you’re planning a trip across the country at any point, bookmark this story for the best American foods in every state. We hear North Dakota makes a mean bowl of potato soup and West Virginia has killer pepperoni rolls.
