I am originally from Brooklyn New York, and I try to get back East at least once a year to see family and friends, but when I come into town the other thing I have on my mind besides seeing people is getting my “Food Fix”. When I say “Food Fix” I mean eating food that I can’t get back on the West Coast. Regional food is what I call the food that you just can’t get anyplace. I’m sure there is food that you have to travel for that you love in order to get.
Here are my top 5 “Food Fixes” that I must get before leaving New York, or I am not a happy camper.
White Castles: This is usually my first stop. The only other places in the country to get these tasty little burgers are in Chicago and Cleveland. I know that you can buy them in any grocery store’s frozen food section, but they are just really not the same! Also you can’t get the yummy onion rings or chocolate shake in the frozen section either.
Sicilian Pizza: Maybe because I am biased when it comes to NY pizza is because it’s my hometown, but I personally think the NYC has the best pizza on the planet. There are some great pizza joints that I have found on the West Coast and here in the Pacific North West where I live, however the only place that I know to get a Sicilian is in New York City. I remember I actually bought back a couple with me on the plane ride to Seattle, and I overheard a women say “ Oh my gosh, is that pizza I smell. I really want a piece of whatever that is now”
Drakes Cakes/ Wise potato chips: I am not a big sweets fan and I don’t consume much junk food, but before I fly out of New York City you better believe that I have a box of drakes cake yodels and devil dogs. I heart chocolate just like most of the world, and when I bite into either one of these I am in chocolate heaven with a bit of delicious cream filling that orbits my taste buds into outer-space.
Jamaican Beef Patties: A friend of mine asked me to explain to him what a beef patty is, and basically I told him an empanada filled with spicy meat. I was just in North Carolina during my Christmas vacation and found out that the beef patties that I enjoy so much were sold at store in Raleigh. Better believe I flew back with a box full. In New York there are a couple of places I like to get them from, and these patties are something I could never get tired of. The best of the best however, are by the company Tower Isle.
Mr. Softy Ice-cream: Every time I see a Mr. Softy Ice cream truck, or even just think of the yummy soft serve ice-cream with rainbow sprinkles on a cone it takes me back to my childhood. My face would like up like a Christmas tree when I would either be outside playing or in my apartment and I would here the song coming from the ice ream truck. My friends and I would scramble for our loose change and take off top speed in the direction of Mr. Softy. On my last trip to New York this March I was really excited that the weather was rather nice, because the Mr. Softy truck was out and about in Union Square. On my last night I made a point to get out there and grab me a cone, and that was the perfect end to my trip back East. v(Mr. Softy I believe is located in other E. Coast States too)
What kind of food do you enjoy that you can’t get locally where you live?
Recommend
Comments (33)
If you really like White Castle, we have them here in Louisville. And according to their website, White Castle was in Louisville long before they were in NYC.
Yeah, I live in New Jersey and there's about 3 White Castles near me! I haven't been there in forever. So sad. And I saw my first Mr. Softee riding around my town last week! You better believe I got myself a soft serve vanilla with rainbow sprinkles! :D
I like going to the city for deli sandwiches and pizza. In jersey, pizza is alright and I only know of one place in my area that serves great sandwiches/subs.
I did one too!
There's a hot sandwich restaurant called Potbelly's that's in the Dallas area and then some areas of the northeastern U.S. It is my FAVORITE place to eat, but I only get it when I'm in town... so I have been know to eat there more than once a week on my visits home!
NYC is definitely one of the best places for food!
I'm from Jersey and there's only a few places I'd have to go to like Sonic. But, for NYC, gotta have pizza on 1st avenue between 22nd and 23rd. Also, chicken and rice on 53rd and 6th
@Itinvolvedwhippedcream@xanga - I had Potbelly's in VA and I loooved it.
you know i'm all about the golden krust!
NYC favorites- Spinach Fettuccini Alfredo from Yaffa Cafe on St Mark's street,....Eggs Florentine from Balthazar in SoHo.... and Rice Pudding from Mama Gyro's on the ues.
DC favorites- Peach Cobbler from Kramer's Café at Dupont Circle.... Moules frites and belgium beer from Granville Moores.... Chili from Obama's favorite Ben's Chili BowlMy REAL hometown (Cape May County- The Jersey Shore) favorites- Soft served Ice cream from the Custard Hut, Hard Black Raspberry Ice Cream from Springer's in Stone Harbor, Cheese Pie (not cake!) from Busch's Seafood in Sea Isle, Pizza from Mac and Menco's, annnnnnnnnd...... my Italian grandmother's kitchen. How I miss all of her cooking!I'm with you on everything but the White Castle. I've tried it a couple of times, because I didn't wanna judge it on one visit...but its nasty. The meat in the sliders tastes like shredded newspaper.
i'mma have to go withh a Big G's sandwich. they are amazinggg and HUGE.
....White Castles are everywhere
I believe Mr Softy = Mr Whippy in the UK. And you get them all over the place in summer. Only in one flavour though >.>
Of course, I only get Cornish pasties or Cornish ice cream when I'm in Cornwall. Because it'd be sacrilege to get them elsewhere.
@Itinvolvedwhippedcream@xanga - Potbelly's is actually all over the place. They opened up in Chicago originally, spread out pretty quickly from there (for good reason).
I can't get a great pizza (Chicago deep dish, naturally) in Austin to save my life. Also, there are no Portillo's - so, no great Italian beef either. We used to have a Chicago food trailer that would at least sell some decent Italian beef, but I think that guy closed up shop. Austin has some of the best food I've had in my life, but the lack of Chicago-style food's a little disturbing.
Bakers! Its only in the Inland Empire.
I was born/raised in Brooklyn too. I go to school in the Northeast, so it's not far, but there's no replacing some things.
I miss Otafuku tremendously; it's this little hole in the wall that serves takoyaki
I don't think Pink Berry or Red Mango has made it here either. If it has, nowhere within walking distance.
They sell Wise chips and beef patties here in SC lol.
I was kind of hoping for more local places when I clicked on this link, like the kind of hole in the wall restaurants that make each city awesome.
Saint Louis has white castle too...
...There's a White Castle in Springfield, OH..
@Itinvolvedwhippedcream@xanga - There's one in Beavercreek, OH too..
@boxedwine@xanga - I suggest Carolyn's Kitchen in Georgia.. not sure exactly where it is though lol. It's pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but she is an amazing cook. It's the typical fried chicken, green beans, southern food, but it is good. =)
I think there's pretty much White Castles across the entire country xD
I don't think there are White Castles everywhere. There aren't any in California, according to White Castle's website, they are only in 11 states. But that's ok, there are plenty of burger places here.
Molca Salsa, King Taco.
I crave mexican food if i'm away from where I live. they just don't have it as good elsewhere.
I never heard of someone actually liking White Castle. It seems like the grossest place for burgers and even that picture just looks unappetizing
Sicylian pizza is where it's at