50 state picnic: What are you bringing?

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

Seen this question posed from time to time on Reddit and Facebook, and decided to bring it here:

Say there was a nationwide picnic, and each state had to bring one delicacy to be represented. What would you choose for your state? Me, I'd go with BBQ, both Lexington-style and eastern-style.

[Bruce]

Teriyaki from a random strip mall in the suburbs. The only authentic kind.

[1995hoo]

Heh. This topic brings back some high school memories I hadn't thought of in years. Back in the summer of 1988 I was on a school trip to a convention in Boulder and one of the guys from our state was running for a national office. His dream was to be a chef when he grew up and his speech's theme was "Robbie's recipe" in which he was trying to mention some signature dish most associated with each state (he made the list by asking people from each state). I recall him mentioning Virginia hams and Pennsylvania shoo-fly pie, but I can't say as I remember anything else at this point.

[hotdogPi]

Knowing that Maine will probably bring lobster, I will have Massachusetts bring locally grown cranberries.

[GaryV]

There was a show on cable, probably Food Network, a series called "State Plate" or something similar. Each show would visit one state and put together a representative meal of main dish, side dish, dessert and something else, maybe appetizer.  Some of the selections to me seemed pretty generic - you could get that food in any state, not just the one they were highlighting.

Anyway, for Michigan I'd pick a pastie. 

[bandit957]

I'd pick bubble gum.

[Flint1979]

I'll bring some Coney's. Hot dogs from Koegel's and coney sauce from Abbott's meat. Genuine Flint style Coney.

And since we are approaching summer fire up the grill and serve the curve.

[Roadgeekteen]

Boston creme pie

[kphoger]

Venison jerky

[ozarkman417]

Springfield style Cashew Chicken

[kphoger]

If hot dogs are already coming from another location, might I request that Illinois bring some Italian beef sandwiches?  Preferably in all the varying degrees of "wet".

[Max Rockatansky]

California Burgers

[texaskdog]

Brisket

[Flint1979]

If hot dogs are already coming from another location, might I request that Illinois bring some Italian beef sandwiches?  Preferably in all the varying degrees of "wet".

That's a hell yes I love Chicago's Italian beef

Dipped with hot giardiniera.

[Max Rockatansky]

Personally I think that a Chicago Deep Dish out of Illinois is the way to go.  Michigan could be represented by some of those Coney Island Dogs from downtown Detroit. 

[kphoger]

Personally I think that a Chicago Deep Dish out of Illinois is the way to go.  Michigan could be represented by some of those Coney Island Dogs from downtown Detroit. 

I had thought of pizza first, but I figured New York would probably be bringing that to the picnic, and one can only eat so much pizza.

[Max Rockatansky]

Personally I think that a Chicago Deep Dish out of Illinois is the way to go.  Michigan could be represented by some of those Coney Island Dogs from downtown Detroit. 

I had thought of pizza first, but I figured New York would probably be bringing that to the picnic, and one can only eat so much pizza.

Yeah, but Chicago Deep Dish (IMO) is so much better than New York style.  I tend to be of the mindset that there is no such thing as too much pizza. 

[Max Rockatansky]

With Florida I'm thinking a good old box of Publix fried chicken. 

[kphoger]

Personally I think that a Chicago Deep Dish out of Illinois is the way to go.  Michigan could be represented by some of those Coney Island Dogs from downtown Detroit. 

I had thought of pizza first, but I figured New York would probably be bringing that to the picnic, and one can only eat so much pizza.

Yeah, but Chicago Deep Dish (IMO) is so much better than New York style.  I tend to be of the mindset that there is no such thing as too much pizza. 

Solution:

Illinois brings Chicago deep dish pizza.
New York brings hot dogs.
Michigan brings pasties.

Unfortunately, that leaves us without Italian beef sandwiches.

[NWI_Irish96]

I'm not coming to the picnic if Kentucky doesn't bring bourbon.

[kphoger]

Well, this thread just took a turn.

Question is:  Will Washington or California bring the wine?

[Max Rockatansky]

Well, this thread just took a turn.

Question is:  Will Washington or California bring the wine?

California, there are way more wine regions here than just the "Napa Valley"  stuff you hear of.  I still have eight bottles from my own wedding in the San Joaquin Valley region.  The assortment here probably can't be matched in the other states. 

[kphoger]

Well, this thread just took a turn.

Question is:  Will Washington or California bring the wine?

California, there are way more wine regions here than just the "Napa Valley"  stuff you hear of.  I still have eight bottles from my own wedding in the San Joaquin Valley region.  The assortment here probably can't be matched in the other states. 

True, but I'd be open to trading that variety for some good Mission-style burritos.

[vdeane]

Personally I think that a Chicago Deep Dish out of Illinois is the way to go.  Michigan could be represented by some of those Coney Island Dogs from downtown Detroit. 

I had thought of pizza first, but I figured New York would probably be bringing that to the picnic, and one can only eat so much pizza.

Yeah, but Chicago Deep Dish (IMO) is so much better than New York style.  I tend to be of the mindset that there is no such thing as too much pizza. 

Solution:

Illinois brings Chicago deep dish pizza.
New York brings hot dogs.
Michigan brings pasties.

Unfortunately, that leaves us without Italian beef sandwiches.

I would think New York style is different enough from Chicago style to qualify as separate (but really, I'm a NY girl, and who can have too much pizza?).  That said, NY style pizza might be tied enough to North Jersey for NJ to bring it, leaving NY free for something else.  Not sure what hot dog ties you're talking about, unless you mean white hots from Rochester?  I would think the most famous non-pizza thing from NY would be Buffalo wings.  Other options would be garbage plates (also from Rochester) or Utica tomato pie.

[kphoger]

Not sure what hot dog ties you're talking about

Sorry, I've never been to New York, but I have an image in my mind of hot dog carts on the street in Manhattan.  Perhaps TV lies to me.