Local food you love or miss

dar512 · 07-06-2004, 04:21 PM

Inspired by the cheerwine thread.

What do you like (or miss) in the way of regional food?

For me it's

St. Louis-
- Toasted Ravioli (meat ravioli, battered and deep fried. Served with a marinara sauce)
- German Cheesecake - (a coffecake - more in common with a cheese Danish than, say, New York style cheesecake)
- Lion's Choice (very good roast beef sandwich chain)
- Steak & Shake (high quality burgers - missed 'em when I lived in Seattle)
- White Castle (greasy burgers aka sliders)
- BBQ especially ribs (when I moved to Seattle, I had to learn to make my own)
- Vess orange and cream sodas (the best of their type)

Chicago-
- Italian Beef (shaved beef in a heavily spiced au jus served on a hoagie bun)
- Portillo's (one of the region's best purveyors of Italian Beef)

glatt · 07-06-2004, 04:31 PM

Innsbruck: Jumpys, a paprika snack made by Funny-Frisch. There aren't enough paprika snacks in the US. Everything is cheddar, or some other kind of cheese. BBQ flavor is close, but no cigar.

Jumpy's are made of dehydrated potato powder, formed into the shape of a kangaroo, and coated with MSG, paprika, onion powder, and some other stuff. The closest flavor here is Pringles, but Pringles is a coarse, crude flavor in comparison to the light crispy treat that is Jumpys.

busterb · 07-06-2004, 04:56 PM

Chitlins

melidasaur · 07-06-2004, 04:59 PM

I'm with you on the Toasted Ravioli, Lion's Choice, Italian Beef and Portillos.

I love Portillo's - the bucket of coke is the absolute best! I also miss Giorodano's Spinich Pizza, Garrett's Popcorn (chicago staple) and Frango Mints from Marshall Fields.

You can buy most of this shit on the internet, but it's not the same as having it in the city!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

Inspired by the cheerwine thread.

What do you like (or miss) in the way of regional food?

For me it's

St. Louis-
- Toasted Ravioli (meat ravioli, battered and deep fried. Served with a marinara sauce)
- German Cheesecake - (a coffecake - more in common with a cheese Danish than, say, New York style cheesecake)
- Lion's Choice (very good roast beef sandwich chain)
- Steak & Shake (high quality burgers - missed 'em when I lived in Seattle)
- White Castle (greasy burgers aka sliders)
- BBQ especially ribs (when I moved to Seattle, I had to learn to make my own)
- Vess orange and cream sodas (the best of their type)

Chicago-
- Italian Beef (shaved beef in a heavily spiced au jus served on a hoagie bun)
- Portillo's (one of the region's best purveyors of Italian Beef)

elSicomoro · 07-06-2004, 09:33 PM

Dar, you're in the Chicago suburbs, right? Couldn't you just go into the city to get the Chicago items you listed? Not to mention, unless they've all closed recently, there are over 70 White Castles in the Chicago area.

I was just ranting about how we lost our last White Castle in Philadelphia recently.

I'll second you on all the St. Louis items you listed, and will add to that:

--Imo's and Cecil Whittaker's Pizza
--Jack in the Box (closest one to me is in Charlotte)
--Sonic (closest one to me is in Virginia Beach)
--Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper (only the diet version is available here)

A saleswoman from Chicago that I work with sent me Frango mints for Christmas this past year...damn, they were good. And I'm not a fan of spinach, but I do like Giordano's pizza...good stuff!

Beestie · 07-06-2004, 09:56 PM

I'm a breakfast nut. And a diner nut.

Diner on the [Rittenhouse] Square (Philly) - Chipped beef on toast.

Majestic Diner (Ponce de Leon; Atlanta) - 50's diner. Mighty fine omelettes served by waitresses with real beehive hairdos.

Virginia is too North to be Southern so no Southern breakfasts here and its too Southern to be Northern so no good Northern breakfast either.

wolf · 07-07-2004, 12:22 AM

I think there are a couple restaurants in the philly area that do the toasted ravioli thing.

There isn't really anything in particular that I miss in terms of regional childhood food. I guess I just had a bland childhood ... that and the BIG beloved items were imported from Philadelphia (TastyKakes). My uncle was Master Baker at Tasty, as was his father before him ... never returned to Chicago from a "trip back East" without bags full of culls.

I will confess to an occasional adult hankering for the Onion Rings from Capital City Brewing in Baltimore, though. That's more of a tourist craving, however.

melidasaur · 07-07-2004, 04:00 AM

Sonic rocks - apparently there is one close to me, but can't find it! Besides, only the Sonic's in Missouri have cheddar bites, the absolute best thing on the menu next to the fresh fruit slush.

I got a box of Frangos as a present recently and devoured them.l.. absolutely wonderful!

--Sonic (closest one to me is in Virginia Beach)

A saleswoman from Chicago that I work with sent me Frango mints for Christmas this past year...damn, they were good. And I'm not a fan of spinach, but I do like Giordano's pizza...good stuff![/quote]

dar512 · 07-07-2004, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamore

Dar, you're in the Chicago suburbs, right? Couldn't you just go into the city to get the Chicago items you listed? Not to mention, unless they've all closed recently, there are over 70 White Castles in the Chicago area.

I was just ranting about how we lost our last White Castle in Philadelphia recently.

I'll second you on all the St. Louis items you listed, and will add to that:

--Imo's and Cecil Whittaker's Pizza
--Jack in the Box (closest one to me is in Charlotte)
--Sonic (closest one to me is in Virginia Beach)
--Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper (only the diet version is available here)

A saleswoman from Chicago that I work with sent me Frango mints for Christmas this past year...damn, they were good. And I'm not a fan of spinach, but I do like Giordano's pizza...good stuff!

Yeah, the Chicago items are regional food that I love and would miss if we ever moved. [Not likely. My wife and I have moved eight times since we got married. It would take an act of congress to get her to move again.]

I missed the Steak & Shake and White Castle when we lived in Seattle. Sorry to hear about the recent dearth of White Castle in your area. Sometimes you just gotta have a slider.

wolf · 07-07-2004, 10:05 AM

Syc, try to make sense out of this one ... no Sonic in this area of high population density and restaurant penetration ... but I'm pretty sure I saw one up in Clark's Summit.

Hmmmm ... I can't find anything on their website about one being there, though. Perhaps it was an illusion?

BrianR · 07-07-2004, 10:06 AM

I miss Chicago Deep Dish pizza. Sonic too. I ate there in VA and FLA and loved it. Espesially the slushies on a hot day, of which there were plenty in Florida.

Brian

jane_says · 07-07-2004, 12:12 PM

Beestie, where in VA do you live? I am on the VA/TN border, and "Southern breakfasts" abound here. There are tons of little diner places and greasy spoons that even the most Dixie-esque of Southerners would be proud to chow down on.

jinx · 07-07-2004, 01:17 PM

Pretty much anything from Farm Restaurant, in the Adirondaks. Most especially the though, the

Farmer's Wife generous portion of homefries, covered with cheese, two eggs, and toast. :thumpsup:

elSicomoro · 07-07-2004, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Syc, try to make sense out of this one ... no Sonic in this area of high population density and restaurant penetration ... but I'm pretty sure I saw one up in Clark's Summit.

Hmmmm ... I can't find anything on their website about one being there, though. Perhaps it was an illusion?

I'd have to say it was an illusion. I look at their site occasionally to see if they're getting closer...Virginia Beach is better than it used to be (Bristol, VA).

Sonic didn't come into the St. Louis area until 1996. Prior to that, I had only seen them in smaller towns in Southeastern Missouri. Perhaps they employed a small-market strategy until the mid-90s.

cowhead · 07-07-2004, 04:49 PM

hmmm..

chicago style hotdogs... from a vendor.. (sure you never know really what you're getting...hmm? where did Jimmy Hoffa go?)

south carolina..
Huddle House grits and omlettes at 5:00 in the morning
real Jambalaya
okra and tomatoes
dafuskie island stew... sure I can make it.. but it's just not the same
fresh fresh shrimp and crabs.. caught that morning

new york style white pizza (we have a new york style pizza place here.. but once again it's just not the same as buying it from a little pizzaria in Brooklyn... luigis by Pratt art school to be specific)

here?
there used to be a place called tommy burger.. tiny little burgers..5 for a buck.. I still think they used crack somewhere in the process of making them

07-06-2004, 04:21 PM	#1
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Local food you love or miss Inspired by the cheerwine thread. What do you like (or miss) in the way of regional food? For me it's St. Louis- - Toasted Ravioli (meat ravioli, battered and deep fried. Served with a marinara sauce) - German Cheesecake - (a coffecake - more in common with a cheese Danish than, say, New York style cheesecake) - Lion's Choice (very good roast beef sandwich chain) - Steak & Shake (high quality burgers - missed 'em when I lived in Seattle) - White Castle (greasy burgers aka sliders) - BBQ especially ribs (when I moved to Seattle, I had to learn to make my own) - Vess orange and cream sodas (the best of their type) Chicago- - Italian Beef (shaved beef in a heavily spiced au jus served on a hoagie bun) - Portillo's (one of the region's best purveyors of Italian Beef)

07-06-2004, 04:31 PM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Innsbruck: Jumpys, a paprika snack made by Funny-Frisch. There aren't enough paprika snacks in the US. Everything is cheddar, or some other kind of cheese. BBQ flavor is close, but no cigar. Jumpy's are made of dehydrated potato powder, formed into the shape of a kangaroo, and coated with MSG, paprika, onion powder, and some other stuff. The closest flavor here is Pringles, but Pringles is a coarse, crude flavor in comparison to the light crispy treat that is Jumpys. Last edited by glatt; 07-06-2004 at 04:34 PM.

07-06-2004, 04:56 PM	#3
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Chitlins __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

07-06-2004, 09:56 PM	#6
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	I'm a breakfast nut. And a diner nut. Diner on the [Rittenhouse] Square (Philly) - Chipped beef on toast. Majestic Diner (Ponce de Leon; Atlanta) - 50's diner. Mighty fine omelettes served by waitresses with real beehive hairdos. Virginia is too North to be Southern so no Southern breakfasts here and its too Southern to be Northern so no good Northern breakfast either. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

07-07-2004, 12:22 AM	#7
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I think there are a couple restaurants in the philly area that do the toasted ravioli thing. There isn't really anything in particular that I miss in terms of regional childhood food. I guess I just had a bland childhood ... that and the BIG beloved items were imported from Philadelphia (TastyKakes). My uncle was Master Baker at Tasty, as was his father before him ... never returned to Chicago from a "trip back East" without bags full of culls. I will confess to an occasional adult hankering for the Onion Rings from Capital City Brewing in Baltimore, though. That's more of a tourist craving, however. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-06-2004, 09:33 PM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Dar, you're in the Chicago suburbs, right? Couldn't you just go into the city to get the Chicago items you listed? Not to mention, unless they've all closed recently, there are over 70 White Castles in the Chicago area. I was just ranting about how we lost our last White Castle in Philadelphia recently. I'll second you on all the St. Louis items you listed, and will add to that: --Imo's and Cecil Whittaker's Pizza --Jack in the Box (closest one to me is in Charlotte) --Sonic (closest one to me is in Virginia Beach) --Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper (only the diet version is available here) A saleswoman from Chicago that I work with sent me Frango mints for Christmas this past year...damn, they were good. And I'm not a fan of spinach, but I do like Giordano's pizza...good stuff!

07-07-2004, 04:00 AM	#8
melidasaur Traded your soul for pogs. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 646	Sonic rocks - apparently there is one close to me, but can't find it! Besides, only the Sonic's in Missouri have cheddar bites, the absolute best thing on the menu next to the fresh fruit slush. I got a box of Frangos as a present recently and devoured them.l.. absolutely wonderful! --Sonic (closest one to me is in Virginia Beach) A saleswoman from Chicago that I work with sent me Frango mints for Christmas this past year...damn, they were good. And I'm not a fan of spinach, but I do like Giordano's pizza...good stuff![/quote] __________________ I love England, what can I say?

07-07-2004, 10:05 AM	#10
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Syc, try to make sense out of this one ... no Sonic in this area of high population density and restaurant penetration ... but I'm pretty sure I saw one up in Clark's Summit. Hmmmm ... I can't find anything on their website about one being there, though. Perhaps it was an illusion? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-07-2004, 10:06 AM	#11
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	I miss Chicago Deep Dish pizza. Sonic too. I ate there in VA and FLA and loved it. Espesially the slushies on a hot day, of which there were plenty in Florida. Brian __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

07-07-2004, 12:12 PM	#12
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	Beestie, where in VA do you live? I am on the VA/TN border, and "Southern breakfasts" abound here. There are tons of little diner places and greasy spoons that even the most Dixie-esque of Southerners would be proud to chow down on.

07-07-2004, 01:17 PM	#13
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Pretty much anything from Farm Restaurant, in the Adirondaks. Most especially the though, the Farmer's Wife generous portion of homefries, covered with cheese, two eggs, and toast. :thumpsup: __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

07-07-2004, 04:49 PM	#15
cowhead halve your cake and eat it too. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Georgia.. by way of Lawrence Kansas Posts: 1,359	hmmm.. chicago style hotdogs... from a vendor.. (sure you never know really what you're getting...hmm? where did Jimmy Hoffa go?) south carolina.. Huddle House grits and omlettes at 5:00 in the morning real Jambalaya okra and tomatoes dafuskie island stew... sure I can make it.. but it's just not the same fresh fresh shrimp and crabs.. caught that morning new york style white pizza (we have a new york style pizza place here.. but once again it's just not the same as buying it from a little pizzaria in Brooklyn... luigis by Pratt art school to be specific) here? there used to be a place called tommy burger.. tiny little burgers..5 for a buck.. I still think they used crack somewhere in the process of making them __________________ no my child.. this is not my desire..I'm digging for fire.

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