Doobie Doo
Veteran
As a food lover and one who dreams of traveling everywhere on the map and then some, I sought out the defining foods of the United States. Using an unscientific poll, I reached out to college students from across the country and did some research to determine what foods define America, going state by state. With almost 400 responses and hours of road mapping my taste buds, I present the unofficial foods that represent each state:
Alabama: Fried Anything
The fried green tomatoes in Alabama are legendary in their own right, and hundreds of slices are dished out daily throughout the state. To follow, fried catfish, country fried steak, fried dill pickles, fried okra, fried chicken, and fried apple pies are fan favorites that local Alabamans submitted as their defining state foods. For the best foods to bring to your next SEC tailgate, check these out.
Alaska: Local Cold-Water Seafood
As a centerpiece of Alaskan cuisine, local salmon is often served as smoked salmon, cured salmon, salmon jerky, and even sweetened salmon candy. The crab and halibut fishing industry also brings tourists from all over the world, as well as Alaskan hunted game such as moose, caribou, elk, and bear.
And of course there are the famous reindeer sausages, which represent the historic food sources of Alaskan natives when grounds were running dry. You can also find Alaska’s unofficial signature cocktail here.
Arizona: Chimichangas
Rooting from the Mexican cuisine indigenous to Arizona, chimichangas are pretty much burritos dropped into a deep-fryer. Stories go that it was invented in Tuscon, Arizona when a restaurant owner accidentally dropped a pastry into a deep fryer and stopped herself form swearing in Spanish by exclaiming, “chimichanga!” Arizona is also home to one of the best burgers in America.
Arkansas: Southern Fried Catfish
Thanks to the 9,700 miles of rivers, lakes, and streams that provide plenty of catfish a habitat in Arkansas, this dish is a standard on dinner tables throughout the state, usually accompanied by side dishes of hush puppies and green tomatoes.
California: Avocados
To represent the health-food trend of this sunny state, avocados encompass the mindset of many in California that Instagram kale and acai bowls as well. Avocados represent the overarching definition of health-conscious California that was overwhelmingly decided to represent the state.
Runner up: On the other end of the spectrum, In-N-Out,the popular food chain has been rated one of the top fast food chains out there are is a staple in Californian cuisine. Two words: animal style. For the full list of foods you can’t leave California without trying, click here.
Colorado: Chile Verde
Chile verde is a staple on menus all over Denver and throughout Colorado, even in some Wal-Marts where the chiles are roasted right in the parking lot. The chile is usually found in chilis (not to get confused for chile), tacos, burritos, roasted cheesy corn, or even a cheeseburger. Denver is also home to a craft beer that smells like weed.
Connecticut: Steamed Burgers
Louis’ Lunch, a New Haven burger joint, invented this Connecticut and American favorite in the late 1800s, and thank goodness the did. Now, over a century later, Connecticuters still celebrate its invention with steamed burgers as a principle menu item.
Runner up: New Haven style pizza is more of a regional representation rather than state-wide, but this white claim classic is one for the books in CT. For the restaurants that are Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives-approved in Connecticut, click here.
Delaware: Scrapple
A favorite all across the Mid-Atlantic region, scrapple is one of those foods which the ingredients are better off not being shared. But in case you were wondering, pork trimmings are combined with cornmeal and flour to form a loaf, which is then sliced and generally served on a sandwich or for breakfast. Delaware’s RAPA Scrapple company is the world’s biggest scrapple manufacture, and scrapple always makes its presence at the Delaware State Fair.
Runner up: Displaced Delawareans may find it difficult to cope with the idea that ordering fries doesn’t typically include vinegar, and that vinegar french fries are not a standard dish pretty much anywhere else. And don’t forget to stop by Milburn Orchards while you’re there.
Florida: Key Lime Pie
Named after the Florida Keys, where the pie was first invented, Key Lime Pie is not only the official pie of Florida, but a pie known around the world for its sassy and tangy flavor thanks to the Floridian citrus, which accounts for 80% of the US’ citrus products (shoutout to Florida oranges too). And if you happen to catch a football game while you’re in Florida, be sure to try this drinking game.
Alabama: Fried Anything
The fried green tomatoes in Alabama are legendary in their own right, and hundreds of slices are dished out daily throughout the state. To follow, fried catfish, country fried steak, fried dill pickles, fried okra, fried chicken, and fried apple pies are fan favorites that local Alabamans submitted as their defining state foods. For the best foods to bring to your next SEC tailgate, check these out.
Alaska: Local Cold-Water Seafood
As a centerpiece of Alaskan cuisine, local salmon is often served as smoked salmon, cured salmon, salmon jerky, and even sweetened salmon candy. The crab and halibut fishing industry also brings tourists from all over the world, as well as Alaskan hunted game such as moose, caribou, elk, and bear.
And of course there are the famous reindeer sausages, which represent the historic food sources of Alaskan natives when grounds were running dry. You can also find Alaska’s unofficial signature cocktail here.
Arizona: Chimichangas
Rooting from the Mexican cuisine indigenous to Arizona, chimichangas are pretty much burritos dropped into a deep-fryer. Stories go that it was invented in Tuscon, Arizona when a restaurant owner accidentally dropped a pastry into a deep fryer and stopped herself form swearing in Spanish by exclaiming, “chimichanga!” Arizona is also home to one of the best burgers in America.
Arkansas: Southern Fried Catfish
Thanks to the 9,700 miles of rivers, lakes, and streams that provide plenty of catfish a habitat in Arkansas, this dish is a standard on dinner tables throughout the state, usually accompanied by side dishes of hush puppies and green tomatoes.
California: Avocados
To represent the health-food trend of this sunny state, avocados encompass the mindset of many in California that Instagram kale and acai bowls as well. Avocados represent the overarching definition of health-conscious California that was overwhelmingly decided to represent the state.
Runner up: On the other end of the spectrum, In-N-Out,the popular food chain has been rated one of the top fast food chains out there are is a staple in Californian cuisine. Two words: animal style. For the full list of foods you can’t leave California without trying, click here.
Colorado: Chile Verde
Chile verde is a staple on menus all over Denver and throughout Colorado, even in some Wal-Marts where the chiles are roasted right in the parking lot. The chile is usually found in chilis (not to get confused for chile), tacos, burritos, roasted cheesy corn, or even a cheeseburger. Denver is also home to a craft beer that smells like weed.
Connecticut: Steamed Burgers
Louis’ Lunch, a New Haven burger joint, invented this Connecticut and American favorite in the late 1800s, and thank goodness the did. Now, over a century later, Connecticuters still celebrate its invention with steamed burgers as a principle menu item.
Runner up: New Haven style pizza is more of a regional representation rather than state-wide, but this white claim classic is one for the books in CT. For the restaurants that are Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives-approved in Connecticut, click here.
Delaware: Scrapple
A favorite all across the Mid-Atlantic region, scrapple is one of those foods which the ingredients are better off not being shared. But in case you were wondering, pork trimmings are combined with cornmeal and flour to form a loaf, which is then sliced and generally served on a sandwich or for breakfast. Delaware’s RAPA Scrapple company is the world’s biggest scrapple manufacture, and scrapple always makes its presence at the Delaware State Fair.
Runner up: Displaced Delawareans may find it difficult to cope with the idea that ordering fries doesn’t typically include vinegar, and that vinegar french fries are not a standard dish pretty much anywhere else. And don’t forget to stop by Milburn Orchards while you’re there.
Florida: Key Lime Pie
Named after the Florida Keys, where the pie was first invented, Key Lime Pie is not only the official pie of Florida, but a pie known around the world for its sassy and tangy flavor thanks to the Floridian citrus, which accounts for 80% of the US’ citrus products (shoutout to Florida oranges too). And if you happen to catch a football game while you’re in Florida, be sure to try this drinking game.
make sure you bring that Old Bay
