Thought I’d ask this because I want to discover more foods from across the world
(Also I shouldn’t have to say this to americans, please state where you are from and state where you are from without acronyms or shortened names because I’ve seen US Defaultism on lemmy and not all of us are going to know your acronyms considering we’re global users)
I’m Belgian so only one answer is allowed
Belgian fries with mayonnaise and Flemish stew
I pick vol au vent. 😁
Allez, een Américain Frites alsteblief !
This interaction is basically me at a restaurant
Very admirable, it’s a good choice
If you take it with fries, of course 😁
Weirdly the replies to your comment won’t load on the lemmy instance I’m on, don’t know about other instances
They do seem to load on your instance so I’m thinking it’s some sort of federation issue
Anyways here’s a screenshot for anyone else who can’t see the replies
As neighbor Dutchy, I can agree! Delicious.
Northwest US: smoked salmon with a side of berries. Sockeye with little or no sugar added is the best IMO. The berries should be native varieties if you want to try for authenticity, though the invasive blackberries are really tasty, too.
merjimek chorbasy - is a lentil soup, I think it’s originally turkish. nohutli et - lamb stew with chickpeas. yantyq - pie with minced lamb fried in a pan without fat. I’m originally from Crimea, Ukraine.
Norwegian, here. Lutefisk is incredible if done right, but it’s easy to fuck up severely. So if someone were to try and cook something based on my recommendation, I’d suggest Fårikål or Pinnekjøtt instead, as they’re both incredibly easy to make and quite tasty.
Now I’m curious to try “good” lutefisk. I grew up hearing about how exceptionally awful it is.
Same. Didn’t try it until I was in my 30’s and it was kinda meh at best… until I tried a well made one later.
The difference between “meh” and “great” is in the quality. The difference between those and “get it away from me” is definitely in the eater.
Visited my norwegian family over the new year, and got to try pinnekjøtt. Very tasty, if a bit annoying to get the meat off of the bones.
In my opinion, that means it’s not done yet. Since it’s mostly a steaming process, you can leave it in as long as you want to. I usually put it on in the morning, and just add a little water throughout the day to make sure it does not dry out. Then 20 minutes in the oven before serving.
That way it usually falls off the bone easily.
Finland: only had it a couple of times 'cause it’s expensive, and takes long and is tedious to make, but loimulohi (fire salmon). It’s salmon nailed to a plank and then heated up by an open fire. Very tasty.
Pretty much any big enough fish can be made like that, but I’ve only had salmon.
I imagine there is something like this in a lot of languages, but it’s always amused me that Bulgogi (Korean BBQ beef/pork) translates literally to “fire meat”
I’m happy to learn Finns have a similar word!
here in the PNW (Pacific North West) of North America, we have lots of different kinds of salmon but wood fired salmon on a cedar plank (like a roofing shingle) is food fit for the gods
the natives have done it for ions and it is something you have to try if you like that fire salmon
also natives make salmon candy, which is dried salmon belly, dude its the best jerky ever made
That sounds amazing
In Japan, we usually trade that for skewers and have them staked in the sand around a fire, rotating them every now and again
Do you mean local like within my own city or regionally/by country?
Countrywide: Hotdogs are the first thing I think of when I think “American food.”
Statewide (California): The sour dough bread bowls at the San Francisco wharf are amazing as fuck.
In my city: The best thing here are taco trucks. There’s even a whole dedicated parking area for a bunch of them to gather downtown called “Grub Hubs.”
I almost mentioned the sourdough bread bowls because SF is known for their sourdough and those are tasty.
It’s really tourist food though. The local soup is Cioppino but I never see it served in a bread bowl.
There’s not a lot of things I’m envious about when it comes to the US
But good and cheap tacos are one of them
in Guatemala, the spicy rice tamales are probably my favorite thing here.
but today I’m getting the chipilin tamales, which have little leaves mixed into the dough and are also real good.
From approximately the french Alps: Ravioles du Dauphiné or Tartiflette
I’ve lived all over the U.S., so here are some of my favorites:
Texas:
- Beef barbecue. The classic is beef brisket, but a lot of places have great beef rib, too.
- Tex Mex: fajitas hit the spot every time.
- Breakfast tacos, especially with leftover smoked brisket from the day before, or some other smoked meat like smoked sausage. Undeniably Texas, undeniably delicious.
Louisiana:
- Boiled crawfish, with red potatoes and corn and andouille sausage. Some people overcook their potatoes and corn, but even then there’s still a charm to it. But the whole experience of a crawfish boil is everything great about food culture: socializing around a big table, making a big mess, teaching kids and newbies how do engage in that task of peeling crawfish. The Vietnamese riffs on these traditions are also great, and Viet-Cajun is a great genre of food in general, too.
The American South in general:
- American Southern style fried chicken. It’s just great.
- Pecan pie. Easily my favorite American dessert.
Southern California:
- Burritos. Something about the fresh made flour tortillas in Southern California are just better than everywhere else in the U.S. So a good burrito provides flavor from the fillings, and also flavor from the wrap itself, in a way that all the parts just complement each other.
- Ensenada style fish tacos (yes, I know this originates south of the border but it is “local” to the general region). There’s just something refreshing about fish tacos with a crunchy cabbage slaw, fresh lime juice, a crema-based sauce, eaten outdoors. Can’t beat it.
New York:
- Bodega style breakfast sandwich. The basic concept is universal across the U.S. (egg, a breakfast meat like sausage or bacon, and cheese on some kind of roll, bun, or even bagel, griddled with generous amounts of butter), but something about the New York bodegas just make these taste better when you’re on the go.
Chicago:
- Deep dish pizza. Looks kinda dumb, but it’s delicious.
- Chicago style, “dragged through the garden” hot dogs. Every component makes this ensemble great.
- Italian beef sandwiches. I don’t know why these aren’t more popular outside of Chicago. Get it dipped, get a little messy with it.
I’d go Chicago tavern style pizza over deep dish. Great list though
Mission style burritos are tasty.
I also like California style pizza so long as the toppings aren’t too weird.
The picture in the Wikipedia article for california style Pizza doesn’t look very appealing
Too much veg on that one. Scroll down for an egg pizza from Chez Panisse.
Hell yeah!
Philly area
Yes cheesesteak, hoagie, soft pretzels.
But I believe strongly that a roast pork Italiano sandwich loaded up with sharp provolone, roasted long hots, and broccoli rabe is the best Philly sandwich.
Go a little out into the suburbs around Norristown, and you’ll also find the “Zep” a sort of pared-down hoagie, one kind of meat, cheese, oil and spices, tomatoes, and plenty of onions.
I’m not going to wade into the minefield of which sandwich shops are best except to say Pat’s and Geno’s are garbage, but maybe worth it for the experience if you’re a tourist. Avoid anywhere that advertises as a “Philly Cheesesteak” look for cheesesteak, steak sandwiches, or even just steaks. For a Zep I don’t think it’s controversial to say Lou’s ro Eve’s are the places to go.
Tomato pie- close relative of pizza, thick sort of focaccia-like crust, square, thick tomato sauce, dusting of Parmesan cheese, served cold. Staple of many parties here.
Also in the suburbs - Franzones pizza, Bridgeport is the original location, but the original owner sold it to a relative and opened the one in Plymouth/Conshy location and another in Manayunk. You’re going to either love or hate the pizza, thin crust, very sweet sauce in a spiral on top of the cheese. There’s a few imitators out there but Franzones is the original.
This is the right time of year for them so “Irish Potato” candies. Sweet cream cheese and shredded coconut, rolled in cinnamon. Nothing Irish about them but they kind of look like potatoes.
Zitners Easter eggs- chocolate candies with various fillings.
Goldenbergs Peanut Chews- chewy molasses candy with peanuts covered in chocolate
Mallow Cups- like a Reese’s cup but full of marshmallow and coconut instead of peanut butter
Scrapple - don’t ask what’s in it, just eat it.
Pork roll (kind of a jersey thing, but ubiquitous in Philly too) it’s basically round spam
Pepperpot soup- this is old Philly food, like revolutionary war Philly, it’s damn hard to find these days but every few years some local restaurant gets the idea to recreate it. It’s a hearty, slightly spicy beef and trip soup. There’s some Caribbean pepper pot soups that are kind of similar.
I forgot about Irish potatoes. Those things are kind nasty, if you really don’t like coconut shavings like me. So why do I have positive memories of them?
Also, shout out for tomato pie.
I have a really complicated relationship with coconut, because I really like the flavor, but hate the texture. The flavor wins out for me but not by much.
And come to think of it, I think a lot of the commercially made ones use some sort of coconut creme filling instead of cream cheese so it’s more shelf stable and doesn’t require refrigeration. I like the cream cheese ones slightly more.
PORK ROLL!
I personally don’t like the stuff, but I’m obligated to endorse it lmfao.
Birch beer is also a thing here. And applejack!
Ah fuck, can’t believe I forgot birch beer.
Any time I manage to get someone with any influence at a local brewery’s attention I try to put the idea for a hard birch beer into their mind. I don’t think it’s taken root anywhere yet, but hopefully someday.
Applejack to an extent, I don’t think it has quite as much cultural significance to Philly, but maybe to NJ with Lairds.
While I’m on NJ, the Taylor ham/pork roll debate is weird to me, it says pork roll on the package.
And while we’re talking drinks, I suppose honorable mention goes to Yuengling. Pottsville is a bit outside of the Philly area, but it’s ubiquitous in and around the city, if you order a “lager” you get a Yuengling. Its a solid alternative to the Bud/Miller/Coors big brand beers, but really nothing too special. I avoid buying it myself anymore because Dick Yuengling is kind of a dick, and there’s plenty of other great beers being made in and around the city, but I’ve probably drank more lagers in my life than any other single beer.
EDIT: On birch beer, if you ever find yourself up to Ulysses PA in, I think, Potter County, they have the Pennsylvania lumber museum, they have a birch still there, and at least the one time I was there they had a guy talking about it with a little vial of birch oil from the still you could smell. He had a lot of cool information about birch trees/oil, turns out birch trees contain a compound that’s similar to aspirin. And the birch oil does smell very much like birch beer.
Oh, pork roll and applejack is NJ, I am NJ.
As for the debate, I agree its pork roll. It’s like calling all video game consoles a Nintendo when you call pork roll Taylor ham.
I will steal the cheesesteak to eat, if you don’t mind. I’ll only grumble mildly when y’all come to the shore in exchange.
I generally don’t let many people from Jersey know this, but you guys may have the best cheesesteaks with Donkeys Place. They’re a little heretical with the seeded Kaiser roll, but they’re damn good.
I’ll have to check it out! Seeded rolls don’t agree with me, but I’ll make them agree with me! I promise to keep it a secret!
Camden I think is the original location, but they have a couple other places now, Mt Holly and Medford I think?
Dick Yuengling is kind of a dick
That’s unfortunate. I always tried to getting some when I’m in the area, just because of the local history. I’m not a fan otherwise, but the brand has killer nostalgia
Meant to reply a couple days ago but forgot
Yeah, unfortunately he’s a trump supporting, union busting asshole.
I’ve heard, but have been unable to verify, that his daughters who are set to take the company over someday, may have their heads on straight. I hope so. There are absolutely far better beers in and around Philly (I’m happy to give a long list of recommendations,) and Yuengling isn’t anything too special as a beer. But it’s special for being America’s oldest brewery, and it’s certainly carved out a special place for itself in this area. Like I said, I’ve drank a lot of Yuengling in my life, odds are I have a few cans in my beer fridge right now because there’s a good chance that it’s what my friends grab out of habit whenever they bring beer over for a party, I’ve been to more than a few bars with “Yuengs and Wings” specials (which rhymes for those who aren’t familiar with it) and it does it’s job adequately of being a beer that tastes like beer for when you just want to have a beer, so I do hope that when Dick retires or dies his daughters make up for some of his bullshit. I’d like to have my old standby cheap beer option back in the rotation someday.
Thanks. While I’m always looking for tips on good beers, I’m not likely to be in the area anytime soon
Palt. Potato dumping filled with meat.
As an Australian, I’m going to say Pavlova because it’s the only thing that comes to mind when I think of favourite foods
I call bullshit on new zealand’s claim with their so called unnamed chef that probably didn’t even exist
I haven’t had pav in such a long time. I reckon it’s time I learned to make it.
Does chicken salt count as Aussie cuisine? Because who would ever go with regular salt if you’re given the choice?
Edit: I just thought of another one, more a Tasmanian specialty since moving here: scallop pie. It tastes luxurious and basic at the same time, subtle and flavoursome, a bit of everything in one convenient package.
Sarmale
A semi local but a “screamer” is pretty great, it’s a slush or slerpy with soft serve icecream on top or mixed in and probably the best answer to the flavourless ice you get at the bottom of the cup
Rootbeer is of course a great slush flavour for this
The screamer sounds a lot like the “gelati” from Rita’s from around Philly. Good stuff. But it’s all fruity water ice (AKA Italian ice).
