Regional Favorites

[GingerFoxx]

I have always been adventurous when it comes to trying new foods. When I became vegetarian as a teenager, that sense of adventure was shifted to new and diverse vegetarian fare from different cultures. What I am interested to know are the foods unique to the state, country or region where you live, food you might take for granted that the rest of us might not have tried. And if they are not inherently veg*n, what are recipes or alternatives have found to make them so?

In New Hampshire, where I live, I only recently learned that the very popular black raspberry ice cream is not common outside my region. The same is true of Fluffernutter sandwiches, which consist of bread, peanut butter and marshmallow fluff (marshmallow creme). There is a company that makes vegan ricemallow creme, so I am able to re-live this childhood treat as a veg*n adult, if I so choose. I have yet to see a vegan black raspberry ice cream locally, although I am sure some independent vegan scoop shops in other parts of the country may have concocted something equivalent.

I invite you all to share and swap ideas for your own regional favorites!

 

[MadamSarcastra]

The one & only Vernor's Ginger Ale! No other even comes close. Also Faygo (and it's pop, not soda). Superman ice cream... possibly Blue Moon ice cream. Made Rite potato chips, now Better Made (I think... unless Made Right is still kickin' in Detroit). Michigan coney dogs, of course. And, mostly in the U.P.... pasties! Cornish immigrants working in the mines had these "hand-pies" (ground beef & root veggies in a pastry shell), wrapped in cloth or a towel, nestled in their lunch pails or even in a pocket, and the filling would still be hot by lunch-time.

This actually reminded me of an idea for another cook-fest I brought up a while ago... making veg*an versions of our local/regional dishes!

In Michigan, The Pasty Isn't X-Rated. It's A Portable Pie With History Baked In

13 signature foods of Michigan cities
<---- That's what Superman ice cream looks like, by the way.... LOL

 

[Amy SF]

One thing I learned watching the Harry Potter movies: Pasty is pronounced pAHsty, not pAYsty.

I read elsewhere that the pasty was brought to northern Michigan by Welsh miners. I'll bet most Americans who think of the pasty as strictly British don't even know they can find pasties in Michigan.

As for regional Southern California food, I can't think of anything, really.

 

[silva]

Oh yeah, I love Vernors! I like to keep a 6 pack for tummy aches! I don't drink pop anymore, but ginger ale is great for upset.
Blue Moon ice cream has been my favorite since the little Cannon homemade ice shop of me childhood. I got Blue Moon, my grandfather black walnut, grandma Whitehouse cherry, and my mother butter pecan. It was close to a park and must be my most favorite family memory!

Cleveland has po'boys. Keilbasa on a sub roll topped with cole slaw, bbq or hot sauce, and french fries. I've done this with Morningstar BBQ riblets and it's divine! They are vegan BTW. (do they still make those?- i haven't seen them for a long time!)

 

[MadamSarcastra]

One thing I learned watching the Harry Potter movies: Pasty is pronounced pAHsty, not pAYsty.

I read elsewhere that the pasty was brought to northern Michigan by Welsh miners. I'll bet most Americans who think of the pasty as strictly British don't even know they can find pasties in Michigan.

As for regional Southern California food, I can't think of anything, really.

Here in Michigan, it's all nasal, with a short A sound. Just think "nasty pasty".... LOL

Oh, and then there's Paczki... pronounced poonch-key. I'm not Polish & I've never liked jelly doughnuts (which is what they are to me)... but Paczki Day (Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras) is kind of a big deal here... the "South End" here in town has a heavily Polish heritage... and if you're from there, you say "da Sowd-end"....

And many, many folks here used to "work to da Chevys".... My dad just told me that one, I'd never heard of it. Not many people workin' to da Chevys nowadays.

Oh, a little silly trivia: Those who live in the Upper Peninsula (da U.P.) are known as Yoopers. Those who live in the Lower Peninsula are known as Trolls ('cuz we live under the bridge)....

<---- A popular bumper sticker north of here. LOL

Sorry for gettin' off topic.

 

[silva]

Cleveland has Pierres ice cream- which is very significant because they have a great variety of vegan sorbets including Dark chocolate! It tastes like a bowl of fudgesicles!
I sent an email thanking them for being vegan, they sent me the nicest response and a few $1 off coupons. It's not even a pricey brand

 

[silva]

Oh geez-- paczki . "pooonch-ki" Yeah, it's a big thing here too. Yuck

Pierogis though! That's more my thing! They are usually made with egg I'm pretty sure, but I love the sauerkraut, and the plain potato and chive! I mentioned wanting to make them, I have a press I never even used!

 

[Amy SF]

I've had Vernor's...something. My father liked to try different things, and he let me sample the ginger ale or whatever it was.

 

[silva]

I've had Vernor's...something. My father liked to try different things, and he let me sample the ginger ale or whatever it was.

Ginger ale! Stronger than most- cask aged

 

[GingerFoxx]

I remember my coworker returning from a trip to Michigan with some of that ginger ale. I had not heard of its fame prior. Also, my grandmother is from Poland. She lives in Connecticut. Maybe I should travel to Michigan one day and check out the Polish scene, as it were.

 

[GingerFoxx]

Oh, another New England exclusive I just thought of is what we call "American Chop Suey" but in other areas is known as goulash or by other names. It is common school lunch fare. A casserole of elbow macaroni, canned diced tomatoes, ground beef, bell peppers, onions, herbs and spices. The recipe could easily be made vegan by swapping any veggie crumble substitute for the meat.

 

[MadamSarcastra]

Oh, another New England exclusive I just thought of is what we call "American Chop Suey" but in other areas is known as goulash or by other names. It is common school lunch fare. A casserole of elbow macaroni, canned diced tomatoes, ground beef, bell peppers, onions, herbs and spices. The recipe could easily be made vegan by swapping with any veggie crumble substitute for the meat.

Yeah, I'd definitely say that sounds like goulash to me.... LOL

 

[GingerFoxx]

Yeah, I'd definitely say that sounds like goulash to me.... LOL

It is one of those foodstuffs that exists all over, but people get in heated public "discussions" on social media platforms about the appropriate name of the dish.

 

[MadamSarcastra]

I've had Vernor's...something. My father liked to try different things, and he let me sample the ginger ale or whatever it was.

If it was Vernor's, it was ginger ale. That stuff ain't for the faint of palate either. LMAO

10 Reasons Vernors Ginger Ale Is The Best Drink You've Never Heard Of | HuffPost

 

[MadamSarcastra]

I remember my coworker returning from a trip to Michigan with some of that ginger ale. I had not heard of its fame prior. Also, my grandmother is from Poland. She lives in Connecticut. Maybe I should travel to Michigan one day and check out the Polish scene, as it were.

Well, there's the "famous" Krzysiak's (pronounced kree'-zhacks)... Home - Krzysiak's House Restaurant Again, it's VERY slim pickins for vegan fare around here, but my folks have had lunch there several times this past year, and my father (now lacto-ovo veg) says the salad bar is quite good.

And of course there's the yearly St. Stan's Festival... St Stan's AC Polish Fest - Bay City, MI - Welcome

That's just here in town. Don't forget about the city Hamtramck! (pronounced ham-tram'-mick)

 

[silva]

Oh, another New England exclusive I just thought of is what we call "American Chop Suey" but in other areas is known as goulash or by other names. It is common school lunch fare. A casserole of elbow macaroni, canned diced tomatoes, ground beef, bell peppers, onions, herbs and spices. The recipe could easily be made vegan by swapping any veggie crumble substitute for the meat.

Ewwww. I don't know what we called it, but that is why I hate elbow macaroni so much
Seems like I've disliked most everything made with elbows! Even mac and cheese was worse with elbows.
I also associate elbow macaroni with spoilage and stink. I came back from a vacation with a horrible smell in the kitchen and it was one piece of elbow macaroni spoiled in the sink

 

[GingerFoxx]

Ewwww. I don't know what we called it, but that is why I hate elbow macaroni so much
Seems like I've disliked most everything made with elbows! Even mac and cheese was worse with elbows.
I also associate elbow macaroni with spoilage and stink. I came back from a vacation with a horrible smell in the kitchen and it was one piece of elbow macaroni spoiled in the sink

Oh my! Isn't it amazing what a difference pasta shape can make...

 

[Amy SF]

Well, there's the "famous" Krzysiak's (pronounced kree'-zhacks)... Home - Krzysiak's House Restaurant Again, it's VERY slim pickins for vegan fare around here, but my folks have had lunch there several times this past year, and my father (now lacto-ovo veg) says the salad bar is quite good.

And of course there's the yearly St. Stan's Festival... St Stan's AC Polish Fest - Bay City, MI - Welcome

That's just here in town. Don't forget about the city Hamtramck! (pronounced ham-tram'-mick)

I was introduced to the name Hamtramck watching an episode of Home Improvement, which is set in Detroit. Isn't the city of Hamtramck entirely within the city of Detroit?

Also, there's a restaurant called Traffic Jam & Snug in Detroit that I learned about years ago that's vegetarian-friendly. I decided I wanted to visit this restaurant just because of the adorable name.

 

[MadamSarcastra]

I was introduced to the name Hamtramck watching an episode of Home Improvement, which is set in Detroit. Isn't the city of Hamtramck entirely within the city of Detroit?

Also, there's a restaurant called Traffic Jam & Snug in Detroit that I learned about years ago that's vegetarian-friendly. I decided I wanted to visit this restaurant just because of the adorable name.

"Detroit" is a vague term. There are many districts, regions, neighborhoods, suburbs (Ferndale, Royal Oak, et al) that one might consider within the Detroit region. But you'd know if you were in D-town, local....

 

[Moll Flanders]

Pie and mash. I used to work in Greenwich (south-east London) and there was a delicious pie and mash cafe there and they did a veggie version.

I also like the vegetarian Jamaican patties, like pies/pasties but with spicy veg and potato inside. There were a lot of British Jamaican people living in that part of London so I used to eat that type of food a lot too.

Cornish pasties too...

Mmm, pastry!