Regional foods you miss

[wallyj84]

I've been Asia for about two years now and dear god do I miss American food. The list of foods and restaurants that I miss is just too long to mention.

I think most of all, I miss pizza. I'm in Japan now and pizza here is just awful. They put crap like corn, potatoes, tuna and even eggs-over-easy on the pizza here. Don't even get me started on sauce.

Oh yeah, bread, I really miss bread. Yes, they have bread, but it's expensive and it sucks.

 

[justmeincal]

I'm in Japan now and pizza here is just awful. They put crap like corn, potatoes, tuna and even eggs-over-easy on the pizza here. Don't even get me started on sauce.

The egg on pizza reminds me of something that made me laugh my ass off. Many years ago, when I lived in northern California, one of my brothers and his wife came out from the midwest for a visit.

Of course, they wanted to go to Hollywood. So I flew us all down for a couple days. One day on Rodeo Drive or somewhere nearby, we stopped at a very expensive restaurant for lunch. They had a pizza on the menu with a poached egg on top.

My brother had never heard of such a thing and assumed that 'this must be how all the stars eat pizza'. Well, the waiter came for our order and my brother ordered the egg pizza. The waiter burst out laughing. He said 'I've waited 2 years for someone to order that pizza'.

 

[Bbucko]

I had Krystals twice and it is not half as good as White Castle. They do have WC frozen in the supermarket, but they are not very good.

Another thing I miss are good bagels and really good pizza. I've had very good Chinese food at a few places here in South Florida, but they sometimes surprise you with a strange twist on some classic dishes.

Sorry about the WC :frown1:

The pizza at Bona's on Wilton Drive is as close as I've ever found to NY style pizza down here, and they don't freak out if you order white pizza. We should try it sometime soon; you'll be surprised.

California: Dungeoness crab. You can get it on the east coast but not nearly as fresh and plentiful.

Chicago: Giordano's Pizza. Best stuffed pizza ever.
Harold's Chicken Shack. It's how Fried Chicken should taste.

Pittsburgh: Pierogies. Large Polish population so they're everywhere.

Finland: Viili. Similar to yogurt and kefiran. Pulla and/or korvapuusti, a sweet, cardamom-flavoured bread.

England: Abbot Ale. Red Leicester and Double Gloucester cheeses. Cottage pie.

Maine: Clam chowder and fresh broiled lobster.

The best bakery in Ft Lauderdale is good, but it's not quite 1/10th as good as a mediocre boulangerie in Paris. I remember lazy weekend mornings listening to music and splitting a pain viennois (a sweet egg bread with a soft crust and just a hint of cinnamon) with that insanely good unsalted artisan butter and strong coffee served in a bowl. That might have been the closest I've ever come to contentment in my life.

 

[Ethyl]

The best bakery in Ft Lauderdale is good, but it's not quite 1/10th as good as a mediocre boulangerie in Paris. I remember lazy weekend mornings listening to music and splitting a pain viennois (a sweet egg bread with a soft crust and just a hint of cinnamon) with that insanely good unsalted artisan butter and strong coffee served in a bowl. That might have been the closest I've ever come to contentment in my life.

*stomach rumbles*

Good butter makes all the difference, doesn't it? The only butter you'll find in my fridge is the unsalted irish butter from Trader Joe's. Remind me to pick your brain about France one day. I'd love to hear your stories. :smile:

 

[Mem]

The pizza at Bona's on Wilton Drive is as close as I've ever found to NY style pizza down here, and they don't freak out if you order white pizza. We should try it sometime soon; you'll be surprised..

Sounds good to me.

 

[Bbucko]

*stomach rumbles*

Good butter makes all the difference, doesn't it? The only butter you'll find in my fridge is the unsalted irish butter from Trader Joe's. Remind me to pick your brain about France one day. I'd love to hear your stories. :smile:

I've got a million of 'em :tongue:. Seriously, I should get some of them down on phosphorous. I kick them around my head enough. Anything I get I'll pass along.

Sounds good to me.

PM/text/call me.

 

[Mem]

Bbucko and I went out earlier this evening for pizza to a small Italian restaurant. He was right, the pizza was very good and tasted as good a NYC pizza.

 

[wallyj84]

The egg on pizza reminds me of something that made me laugh my ass off. Many years ago, when I lived in northern California, one of my brothers and his wife came out from the midwest for a visit.

Of course, they wanted to go to Hollywood. So I flew us all down for a couple days. One day on Rodeo Drive or somewhere nearby, we stopped at a very expensive restaurant for lunch. They had a pizza on the menu with a poached egg on top.

My brother had never heard of such a thing and assumed that 'this must be how all the stars eat pizza'. Well, the waiter came for our order and my brother ordered the egg pizza. The waiter burst out laughing. He said 'I've waited 2 years for someone to order that pizza'.

The egg pizza thing isn't really that bad. It's just... shocking when you see it. Especially when you don't realize that egg will be on the pizza.

 

[Drifterwood]

Gammon eggs and chips with several pints of Abbot, barrel hand pulled. MB lets make a date :smile:

Vietnamese spring rolls with N. Vietnamese rice wine.

Pad Thai

Brie de Meaux with a young Burgundy

Sashimi and Sake

Plat de Fruits de Mer with a crisp chilled Sancerre

Loukoumades with a coffee that you can stand the spoon in.

Tuscan bean stew with any number of incredible Italian reds

Canard Perigourdine with a big big claret

Sri Lankan King Prawn Curry

Lamb shank from the DW Aga bottom oven, too much rosemary and roasted root vegetables.

Pizza in Naples (though the best I ever had was in Milan)

Moules frites + mayo in Bruxelles

Paella in les Set Portes

Tarte Tatin, Bas Calvados on the side

Tajine in Fez

Belon, Fines de Claire with a young Chablis

Steak Tartare with a perfect Pomerol

Wild mushroom Risotto, strangely the best I ever had was in Puglia.

Algarve BBQ Sardines

My mate Abdul's Sea Bass

I could go on

 

[Viking_UK]

The foods I miss most from home are gannet, rowies and proper Scotch pies, not to mention fresh fish. If it's been out of the water for more than an hour or two, it ain't fresh.

 

[justmeincal]

From my college days, I miss the food at the tapas bars in Madrid and tortilla espanola.

 

[Principessa]

The foods I miss most from home are gannet, rowies and proper Scotch pies, not to mention fresh fish. If it's been out of the water for more than an hour or two, it ain't fresh.

Okay, what is a Scotch Pie? I'm guessing it has no actual scotch in it, :frown1: which is a shame. As a pot pie with a nice scotch broth would probably be divine.

I agree with you on the fish. Though for me it would have to be shellfish as that's all I eat from the sea. I grew up 20 minutes from the ocean and some of the best local seafood eateries. I remember one that was little more than a wooden shack on pilings that extended out over the water. If you looked down you could see through the floorboards into the inlet. :smile:

 

[Viking_UK]

It's just a meat pie, usually made with mutton or lamb in a water pastry. I can make it myself, but I'm getting too lazy these days, and our local butcher at home does a much better job anyway. I suppose it's comfort food in a way, memories of childhood and all that.

You can't beat fresh seafood. I grew up a five-minute walk from the shore, so we'd go fishing a few times a week and cook the catch almost immediately. We used to get lots of large crabs and lobster too, but they've been overfished these days, so the ones available now are tiny in comparison.

 

[D_Martin van Burden]

Collard greens and a good country-fried steak with gravy.

 

[prepstudinsc]

Collards are great! There's got to be a soul food place out there that serves them.

 

[mitchymo]

bread and butter pudding, ok so its not regional as such but i've not had it for 20 years, i can't find it. Just as well i enjoy rhubarb crumble these days instead.

 

[molotovmuffin]

Little tiny blue clams with white tails that I dug out to the bay of Manila....

 

[Principessa]

Collard greens and a good country-fried steak with gravy.

Keep eating like that and your cock won't be the only oversized thing on you. :biggrin1: :tongue:

 

[ZOS23xy]

White Castle are small square burgers with excess grease. They're referred to as "sliders'.

I can't get Manhatten Specials in Delaware. I can find Flamingo Coffee here either.

 

[nudeyorker]

OK all you White Castle lovers, miss them no more!

White Castle Sliders
Get a pound of 85% lean ground beef, and divide into 16 equal sized pieces.
Form each into a 2−1/2 inch square patties. Do this on waxed paper. Make
the patties very thin. Then "cookie−cut" five holes in each pattie.
(the pattern should resemble 5 on a dice) A CLEAN pen cap works nicely.
Freeze these 16 patties. (It'll make it easier later)
BUNS: the buns are also small. My grocer has dinner rolls the exact size
I need, but you might have to create your own using hot dog buns. One
hot−dog bun makes two White Castle buns. Simply cut in half (through top
and bottom) and then cut off the rounded sides to make them square.
COOKING: This is key. You need to finely chop a medium white onion.
On a pre−heated 375 degree electric griddle, lay about 1−1/2 Tablespoons
of onion for each patty you want to cook (generously spray with non−stick
spray like Pam first) The onions should only be "one deep" if you will.
Immediately place frozen patty directly on top of onions and press down.
Cook for about 4 minutes right on top of the onions. The holes in the beef
will allow the steam to cook the top side. (You don't flip)
Add a dash of salt and a pinch of pepper to each patty while they cook.
Remove and place on UNTOASTED buns.
PS Mitch when I get home I'll look up my Bread and Butter Pudding recipe and forward it to you!