New York State food regions map
We kind of feel sorry for the "bark" regions of the state.
Check out this food map of New York State created by Shannon Glazer. She's divided the state into regions based on the foods for which they're known. For example: Utica and chicken riggies. She also marks the ever-important pop/soda demarcation.
Here's a large-format version of the map.
Shannon's started a Twitter feed related to the map: @NYS_food_map.
(Thanks, Shannon!)
Earlier on AOA: Martin on candidates for the quintessential Capital Region food.
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Comments
Woo!
... said Slacker on Feb 6, 2012 at 12:10 PM | link
Missing Beef on Weck in WNY and Utica Greens, but otherwise pretty accurate and amusing. Props to Shannon.
I also love that Connecticut is blank, with no distinguishing cuisine. After living there, I can attest to that!
... said Jessica R on Feb 6, 2012 at 12:17 PM | link
This is making me hungry.
... said Profex on Feb 6, 2012 at 12:18 PM | link
I dispute this. I grew up in Orange County, and the first time I had an egg cream was last year. NO ONE in Orange County knows what an egg cream is. Probably best to extend the CIA loop around the OC, or just leave it blank. Glad I moved away from there.
I would also suggest adding a Fried Dough/Pizza Fritte circle around Schenectady.
... said Wendy V on Feb 6, 2012 at 1:07 PM | link
This is a great combination! I love maps. I love food.
... said Bob on Feb 6, 2012 at 1:23 PM | link
Jessica, isn't New Haven supposed to have good thin crust pizza? I haven't had it.. though I can attest to Hartford's complete blandness.
... said Emily on Feb 6, 2012 at 1:32 PM | link
Syracuse really should be salt potatoes. When I came to Albany no one knew what salt potatoes were, they are the true regional food of Syracuse, it wasn't known at the "Salt City" for nothing.
... said C on Feb 6, 2012 at 1:45 PM | link
Michigans for Plattsburgh and rest of North Country. Here is an article from Gourmet magazine talking about them:
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2006/10/putting-on-the-dog
... said jh on Feb 6, 2012 at 2:30 PM | link
Thank you to jh, who said michigans for the North Country. I can't believe the best the author could come up with was "bark," how very unoriginal and disappointing.
... said cc on Feb 6, 2012 at 2:52 PM | link
This map is a great mix of accuracy and tongue-in-cheek (bark, Long Island ice tea)! Well done!
And before somebody says it, no, an open face calzone is not just a pizza. It's made like a calzone, with a much higher cheese to sauce ratio than pizza, as well as ricotta. Then it's sorta chopped up, so it could be said to be "open face."
Also, the cartographer is hot. Wanna go out some time?
... said KeeHawNuh on Feb 6, 2012 at 2:54 PM | link
Given the translation of the word Adirondack, I think "bark" for that area is clever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondacks#Naming.2C_spelling.2C_and_pronunciation
Love the list!
... said Casey on Feb 6, 2012 at 3:21 PM | link
I love this map, especially the soda/pop line. But I am also from Orange County and the first time I ever heard of an Egg cream was on AOA. I can also assure you that there was no CIA influence on the cuisine of the OC when I lived there. I thought that maybe local foodies could replace the CIA polygon, as it is a hotspot for artisan farms, dairies, breweries, distilleries, wineries, etc, etc.
... said biodiva on Feb 6, 2012 at 3:26 PM | link
I also lived and worked in Orange County and never had an egg cream there, including in my dad's Brooklyn style shop. I'm not sure it migrated too far from Brooklyn.
I do love the designation of LI Iced Tea coming from Long Island. That is pretty awesome.
Also, since things like Brooks Chicken and Saratoga chips made it onto the map, can we get apple pie a la mode added for Cambridge? :)
... said derryX on Feb 6, 2012 at 3:39 PM | link
Grew up in the "North Country" and poutine is NOT a thing up there. Michigans on the other hand is a big thing.
I'm disappointed.
Also no little hot dogs?!
... said Olivia on Feb 6, 2012 at 3:41 PM | link
I'm from Rockland County, and I have never seen egg creams on a menu, or hear people talk about them.
As for the Michigans, my boyfriend (from Michigan) told me that's what they also call them along the border in Canada.
... said Rochelle on Feb 6, 2012 at 4:22 PM | link
I grew up in the "North Country" near the border of Canada and poutine is definitely a thing there. Olivia - maybe you weren't north enough in the North Country?
Also, I would love a delicious Sergi's pizza roll right now.
... said Rachel on Feb 6, 2012 at 6:50 PM | link
This is great! You can add white hots (white hot dogs) to the Syracuse area,
... said Barold on Feb 6, 2012 at 7:11 PM | link
If you're doing local products like Croghan's bologna and Brooks' chicken, then the area around Warrensburg (from Glens Falls all around Lake George should be marked for Oscar's Bacon -- truly outstanding stuff.
... said chezjake on Feb 6, 2012 at 9:29 PM | link
I agree with @Barold, except that they're called coneys -- coneys are a white variety of hot dog popular around Syracuse and Oswego (and they're awesome). Coneys should totally be on the map.
... said KB @ Home-Baked Happiness on Feb 6, 2012 at 10:04 PM | link
Please add the Club Sandwich to the Saratoga Springs location !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_sandwich
... said spiritoflife on Feb 6, 2012 at 10:33 PM | link
Yeah, right, foodwise there's nothing going on in Connecticut.
... said Herbert on Feb 6, 2012 at 11:31 PM | link
Yay Shanny!!!!!
... said Arielle on Feb 7, 2012 at 7:30 AM | link
3 suggestions:
1 - Queens, NY should have a small circle labeled "UN". You can get EVERYTHING there. Thai, Ethiopian, Viet, Polish, Egyptian, Brazilian, Russian.
2- Red Hot Dogs along the Northway, like in Maine.
3- Central CT: Steamed Cheeseburgers!
... said Cheeseburger on Feb 7, 2012 at 9:51 AM | link
Why is Jersey the home of Diners? Diners were invented in, and remain a staple of Rhode Island. Not Jersey!
... said Jenna on Feb 7, 2012 at 10:50 AM | link
@Casey: I grew up in the Adirondacks and have known the translation most of my life; "bark" isn't clever, it's lazy and frankly somewhat derogatory.
... said cc on Feb 7, 2012 at 11:20 AM | link
RE: "Bark"
I, too, grew up in the ADKs, and think it was a clever addition to the map.
... said Slacker on Feb 7, 2012 at 11:43 AM | link
who said CT should be blank?!?!? They invented the hamburger for frick's sake. Not to mention the steamed cheeseburgers and Pepe's pizza. Damn I could go for some of that.
sorry people, I love the capital district but CT blows us away foodwise.
... said smally bigz on Feb 7, 2012 at 12:00 PM | link
My two (or three) cents:
1. Adirondacks should be "Maple Syrup" (certainly not "bark").
2. "Brooklyn Egg Cream" should not extend into Orange County (probably not Westchester or Rockland either). If anything, "Diners" should extend into these counties.
3. Warwick NY (in Orange County) should be identified with a little circle labeled "Black Dirt Onions".
... said shannon on Feb 7, 2012 at 12:26 PM | link
Glad to see Albany Sticks made the map ;-)
... said nicole on Feb 7, 2012 at 2:01 PM | link
I'm so glad that other mentioned the need to include Michigans for the Plattsburgh region of the state: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_hot_dog
... said Troy on Feb 7, 2012 at 4:09 PM | link
Where the hell did these "North Country" people grow up that they're mystified by poutine? Also... as a born-and-bred on-the-border northerner I have to ask: What the hell is a Michigan?
... said Almighty Ernst on Feb 7, 2012 at 4:39 PM | link
Michigans and poutine and pizza rolls (coughfatbagscough), the official food of the North Country. Anyone who says differently is wrong.
... said AJM on Feb 7, 2012 at 6:07 PM | link
White Hots are a Rochester thing. And I do not believe salt potatoes are solely a Syracuse thing. I come from Rochester and have probably eaten more salt potatoes than my Syracuse born boyfriend. Must be more like a central/western NY thing.
I also have to say, Rochester loves its hot sauce, and on everything.
... said Nicole on Feb 7, 2012 at 8:55 PM | link
If nothing else, let this be proof: New Yorkers give a sh*t about food.
... said B on Feb 8, 2012 at 1:01 AM | link
Attention those who are upset by this map: Pretty sure this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek and not an accurate historical record meant for the library of congress.
... said Arielle on Feb 8, 2012 at 8:20 AM | link
WOW "Arielle", seriously?? you mean to tell me this is NOT a historical account of every single food eaten in every region of the state of New York??? whoaa, thanks SO MUCH for that information!!!!!!
(p.s. - the official food of Albany is beer)
... said Overly Sarcastic Man on Feb 8, 2012 at 8:59 AM | link
@smally bigz
The history of the Hamburger is highly contested. As a former resident, I've been taught it was invented in Hamburg, NY.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_hamburger_in_the_United_States
... said Jessica R on Feb 8, 2012 at 10:25 AM | link
Also for Binghamton area - City chicken (breaded/battered veal on a stick) & Sharkeys mussels
... said Lisa A. on Feb 8, 2012 at 10:25 AM | link
Wine! You nailed the Finger Lakes.
I'd recommend Wegmans, especially around the Rochester area.
... said Gin P on Feb 8, 2012 at 10:42 AM | link
Salt potatoes might not be a solely Syracuse thing anymore, but they certainly originated there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_potatoes
In fact there are many recipes online that are specifically called "Syracuse Salt Potatoes".
... said C on Feb 8, 2012 at 10:54 AM | link
Every time I come back to this post to catch up on comments, I get hungry!
... said Slacker on Feb 8, 2012 at 12:07 PM | link
You are missing white hots from the Rochester area. And no, we don't call them coneys, we call them white hots.
... said Stacy M on Feb 8, 2012 at 12:47 PM | link
I had those raspberry sticks for the first time a couple weeks ago and they were mighty disgusting. Please don't tell the world that's what we're know for. It makes us look bad.
... said Tim on Feb 8, 2012 at 1:17 PM | link
But you forgot about Chicken French, another Rochester tradition in Italian restaurants.
... said robtodd on Feb 8, 2012 at 3:24 PM | link
Fried cakes around Rochester
... said Jack on Feb 8, 2012 at 3:48 PM | link
Turkey Joints (candy) - Rome, NY
Mexican Hots (Burger with special sauce) - Central NY
I am from the New Hartford-Utica area, can't you tell?
... said Uncle Laurie on Feb 8, 2012 at 5:26 PM | link
Fish Fry is a Rochester/Buffalo custom on Friday nights. Rochester cuisine is so much more than Garbage Plates.
... said Billcody on Feb 9, 2012 at 9:52 AM | link
Grew up in Keeseville, went to school in Plattsburgh. Poutine is not common in Plattsburgh. Maybe in Champlain or Rousses Point. :P
... said Olivia on Feb 11, 2012 at 12:12 PM | link
I wish the Adirondacks got labeled with maple syrup instead of bark. I grew up there and almost every family had their own sap boiler.
... said Carolyn on Feb 15, 2012 at 2:45 PM | link
@Tim where did you have bad mozz/razz sticks??? They serve some great ones at Beff's, and I'm sure others have recommendations on other local places with tasty versions. It's not a weird combo at all - think warm brie + fruit. Maybe it's not your thing, that's fine, but they aren't universally disgusting, not at all!
... said Nicole on Feb 15, 2012 at 4:26 PM | link
This map ROCKS! Makes me homesick. Any food listed is better than I can find in WI! I miss REAL pizza & hot dogs/w the greek meat sauce @ Broadway Diner in Schenectady. And anything from Petta's!
... said BonnyB on Feb 16, 2012 at 4:08 PM | link
Glens Falls: Breakfast at Poopie's, Dirty John's Hot Dogs,
Martha's Dandee Cream, Zak's Hot Dogs and definitely maple syrup on anything. We try to hit all of them when we are "home" on vacation.
... said Kathy on Jun 17, 2012 at 10:40 AM | link
Great Map!
Two comments:
1. You nailed the Pop/Soda dividing line! I have always placed it around Auburn or so.
2. Connecticut should be Grinders.
... said Joe Kupe on Oct 11, 2012 at 8:17 AM | link
what's peppermint pig? Never have seen it on a menu.
... said jon on Oct 11, 2012 at 9:41 AM | link
Umm, the white hot dog was invented in Rochester NY who had a rather large German community so it really should not be in the Syracuse circle to whoever mentioned that.
... said Limer on Oct 11, 2012 at 10:31 AM | link
Seem to be missing Salt Rising Bread also around the cheese curd area.
... said Jim on Mar 21, 2013 at 10:36 AM | link
Yes to bark for the North Country!!
I actually HAVE eaten a lot of bark there, though it was mainly bits that fell into the homemade balls of spruce gum. It's good and turns purple.
... said Justin on Feb 26, 2016 at 3:38 PM | link
I would have put that soda/pop line a little further east- closer to Syracuse
... said Nancy on May 8, 2017 at 2:12 PM | link
Where's the Salt Rising Bread! It is a western NY staple.
... said Rhonda MacLaughlin on May 8, 2017 at 5:24 PM | link
Personally I love the fact that Canada has Labatts!
... said Denise on May 8, 2017 at 8:29 PM | link
Syracuse, would be Hoffman Dogs FIRST, then Dinosaur BBQ!!! Around A LOT longer!!!!! But that's my opinion!!!
... said Jim Amdion on May 8, 2017 at 9:26 PM | link
Hello! No Glaziers hot dogs? The quintessential regional food.
... said Dean Francis on May 9, 2017 at 10:12 AM | link
I lived in Ithaca for 6 years and seen salt potatoes but never tried them to see what the fuss was about.
... said Charles S. on May 10, 2017 at 10:28 AM | link
Friends, Syracuse is salt potatoes. Salt city, salt potatoes. Served with an obscene amount of melted butter.
Up until recently I would have agreed to share that with Hoffman's hot dogs, but since they've gone national they just aren't the same. Still love the annual pilgrimage to Heid's, though.
Much as I enjoy the (one, true,) original Dinosaur, referring to it as Syracuse's regional food is kind of like saying that Nick Tahou's or Wegman's is Rochester's regional food. That Duff's or The Anchor Bar is Buffalo's. It doesn't work.
... said Z on May 10, 2017 at 1:54 PM | link
Ok,,,Western NY should be:
Niagara County (Niagara falls and Lockport) Vernors Ginger Ale and Beef on Weck
Buffalo...Genesee 12 horse Ale and Polish Sausage (Kielbasa)
... said Dick Butz on May 10, 2017 at 5:59 PM | link
Chocolate Jumbles for the Schoharie County area!
Just about every family that has been living in the area for several generations has an heirloom recipe.
... said Laurel on May 11, 2017 at 7:58 AM | link
Western NY / Finger Lakes area also has the Cornell recipe Chicken BBQ. Found at many firehall cookouts during the summer.
... said Mike on Dec 26, 2017 at 8:25 PM | link
Delaware/Greene co. Stuffed Pizza.
... said Karen on May 8, 2018 at 6:41 PM | link
Let's not forget Buffalo Wings . . . that's a huge one.
... said Chester on May 8, 2018 at 9:24 PM | link