Food Associations

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“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there.” – Maya Angelou

My mention of our trip to New Orleans brought a lot of comments about trying the beignets there. Which reminded me that in addition to my favorite word associations, I also have food and drink associations for cities. Here are some:

Bagels in New York City

Pizza in Chicago

Baked beans in Boston

Rocky Mountain oysters in Denver

Irish coffee in San Francisco

Key lime pie in Key West

Arroz con pollo in Quito

Coca tea in Cusco

Momos in Kathmandu

Fish and chips in London

Prosecco in Venice

I’m curious if these match yours or what other ones you have. Tell me what’s good in the places you frequent!

P.S. for Mark from Mark My Words, I know I should put Cheese in Wisconsin – but I’ve never been to Wisconsin…yet).

(featured photo is of Miss O enjoying a beignet)

87 thoughts on “Food Associations”

  2. I lack any associations in this way, Wynne, but I’m glad you enjoy it. In the places I’ve been, there are always fine restaurants even when associations you describe apply. As to Chicago, yes to pizza, but what tends to distinguish them is the deep dish style pizza, even though the other types can be obtained.

    The first such deep dish pizza parlor here was called “Uno.” In other words, #1.

    Their website says, “Were the Guys that INVENTED DEEP-DISH.” Uno’s can now be found in many other places west of the Mississippi.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Love! And yes…pizza…deep dish as Dr. Stein pointed out and Chicago. Synonymous! But for San Francisco…such a beloved place when my parents lived there. Not being much of a seafood lover, for me it was all about the sourdough bread. Yum. Love the pic of Miss O. That right there – that’s a beignet moment! 🥰

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Yes, those definitely match my experiences (though there’s a couple places on your list I haven’t been). Of course you know I agree with the Key Lime Pie for Key West! Yum!!!

    Also.. the Rocky Mountain Oysters – hah!!

    Cod – Alaska
    Whoopie Pies – Rhode Island
    Lobstah – Maine
    Cajun Food – South Louisiana
    Boring, bland flavors – anywhere in the Midwest
    TexMex – San Antonio
    Coffee – Seattle
    Southwest flavors – Santa Fe
    Shave Ice – Kona

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Let’s just be clear – I didn’t eat the Rocky Mountain oysters. Just made the association. 🙂

      Love the list, David. Whoopie Pies? I’m not familiar with that one. And I’ve never been to Rhode Island so maybe that’s why. Intriguing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They’re definitely a Northeast kind of thing. The best ones I’ve had are from Rhode Island, and made from scratch! Hard to describe… large chocolate cake-like “wafers” with white frosting sandwiched in between. Mmm

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Oh food associations. Everybody has their opinions and it’s always hard to argue with any of them — except for pizza! Chicago’s monstrosity might make an interesting casserole but it is NOT a pizza. For the best pizza, go to its origin and my ancestral home, Naples. As for the rest of your list…yummy. 😋

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You have a good point about Chicago pizza. So different than Italy. I haven’t been to Naples but the pizza I had in Venice had the most delicious thin crust. Thanks, Michael!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That pizza in Venice was probably close to a Neapolitan pizza. There are a couple places in NYC that made themselves famous doing a Neapolitan pizza and I’m sure there are old school pizza parlors here and there that can duplicate it too

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Bagels (and the coffee) in NYC are the BEST! Ms. O looks as if she’s about ready to slip into a food coma while enjoying that delicious hunk of pastry. I’ll have what she’s having! 😋😋😋

    Liked by 3 people

  10. This is a fun post. 😋

    Oysters on the half shell in New Orleans

    Cream tea in Exeter England

    Maple candy in Montpelier VT

    Fish tacos in San Diego

    Grits in Atlanta

    For me, Bagels are in Philadelphia and Prosecco is in St George Bermuda

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Personally, I was SO disappointed by the beignets when I visited NOLA. My friends and co-workers RAVED nonstop about Cafe du Monde. It was a big letdown.

    I’d add Prince Edward Island Lobster to that list, Wynne. You could also say Maine Lobster but the people in PEI are a little stuck up about their lobster. A friend of mine from PEI said “And don’t be giving me any of that Maine Lobster.” UGH.

    Oh, and Baltimore Crab Cakes are to die for!!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. How interesting about the beignets, Michelle. We didn’t go to Cafe du Monde in NOLA because I was up for the lines I heard about with two kids in tow. So we went to Cafe Beignet and they were good. They were also hot so who can beat that?!

      Funny about the lobster – I’ll be happy to try it all! Baltimore crab cakes sound wonderful as well.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, the night we went to Cafe du Monde was a hot, humid, sticky night and we waited quite a long time. I think that was part of why I was disappointed. Hot donuts on a hot summer night didn’t really make sense to me. Maybe I need to go back in winter. LOL

        Liked by 1 person

  18. What a fun trip Wynne, the kids will have great memories! Tacos in Sayulita, Mexico. Salt Water Taffy in Santa Cruz, CA. Mussels in Portland, Maine. BBQ in Austin, Texas! Pizza in Naples, Italy. Hugs, C

    Liked by 2 people

  19. Yep, fun post. You can add cheese once you visit Wisconsin. And Brandy Old Fashioneds. They really don’t make them anywhere else.

    Based on my extensive travels, I would add:

    Chislic in South Dakota
    SPAM in Hawaii
    Chili in Cincinnati
    Tomato pies in Trenton
    Donuts in Portland
    Geoduck in Seattle
    Runzas in Nebraska
    Green chili in Colorado

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Montreal, Quebec, gotta try not only all the different flavors of poutine, but the different “Beavertails” which is a fry bread with different sweet toppings! French fries are served with different flavors of mayo, the favorite is aoli!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Such a good question, Ritish. I haven’t been to India. Seattle has pretty good Indian food – but when I think of the places I’ve traveled, I’ve had great Indian food in Washington D.C. and London.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You should totally consider a trip sometime to India. I would highly recommend you try some Palak Paneer or a creamy Malai Kofta which is kinda vegetable dumplings in sauce. Both are delicious.

        Liked by 1 person

      1. I guess, it depends on what you’re craving. As far as I know, you should check out “India House” or “Dhaba”, I’ve heard they got killer butter chicken and Dosas (which is one of my favs).

        Liked by 2 people

  24. Miss O looks like she’s in heaven savoring that sweet treat! I like all the food associations you came up.

    We did a trip to Seattle in 2010, with a stopover in Chicago for a few hours, landing at 10pm and we left the airport just so we could try the famous deep dish pizza. Definitely worth the memory and experience.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I love that you went in to get pizza in Chicago. Food tourism is worth it! When I think of our time in the Philippines, I remember drinking Calamansi juice. Is that an americanized thing or something that Filipinos drink too?

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Love the image of Ms. O enjoying a little of New Orlean sweetness! Here in Texas, we love our barbecue, especially Texas smoked brisket! Tex -Mex is hugely popular along with pecan pie, peach cobbler and Texas sheet cake!

    Liked by 4 people

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